Thursday 17 January 2013

Suffering for my art

I am in pain, lots of tiny holes and flaps of loose skin on my fingers as I've been trying to sew together all my rose star epp blocks into a quilt top.

Rose star epp progress


Trouble is now the holes are there the needle keeps sliding into them when I try and push it through the fabic - ouch! I must naturally use the same spot over and over. I need a thimble I guess but I cant find anything I get on with.

I've been going since Sunday night, it feels longer and I need a break! But, I am so desperate to get this done, aside from the fact that it is in a very delicate state now and I have no where to lie it out except on the floor - where the dog keeps walking over it! I think it will be much safer finished and basted...if I ever get there!
Rose star epp progress1


All my background pieces are cut and basted and I just have one missing block to make up, I feel so close to being done yet so far!

Giving my fingers a little break tonight with something slightly larger than my epp needle - a crochet hook. I am trying to teach myself a little more crochet and finish a ribbed cowl in some lovely alpaca blend yarn, hopefully in time to wear when the snow arrives. We haven't had any yet so I am not holding my breath, its not called the English Riviera here for nothing!

22 comments:

Canadian Abroad said...

You may be in pain, but that almost completed quilt top is amazing! It will be worth it in the end, once our poor finger heals over. I can't get on with thimbles either so know how you are feeling.

dutchcomfort said...

I can’t work with a thimble either, but your EPP is looking amazing!

Jenny-Narcoleptic in a cupboards mum said...

You could try chopping the ends off an old pair of leather gloves - it might work. I recently tried a leather thimble and it was wonderful, fitted like a glove!
Your epp is gorgeous.

tubilinha tiacarminha said...

Está maravilhoso!!!Sou viciada nisso.Quanto a dedais... chega a um ponto que não dói mais,mas enquanto isso vá alternando com dedal de couro(você tem um sapato velho?)Faça o seu próprio dedal,é facílimo de fazer,se não peça ao sapateiro.BeijoGRANDE.

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

I know that pain, but it is looking lovely xxx

Gertie Pye said...

I hope your fingers get better but this quilt top is soooo worth it! Absolutely gorgeous x

Indianna said...

Those colour go so well together, looks fabulous. I don't use a thimble either.

Sarah @ FairyFace Designs said...

It's beautiful! So so pretty! I have a silicone type thimble / it is flexible and very comfy once you get used to it, have you tried them?

Annabella said...

I have exactly the same thing after using my sharps to sew down some binding. In fact my son asked me, "Mummy, why are you sucking your thumb?" Your quilt is looking like it will be worth all the pain - it's lovely!

Sarah said...

I use Clover Natural Fit Leather Thimble from Cotton Patch, and I love it - fits perfectly, doesnt smell, doesnt get sweaty! (surely I'm not the only one who finds some thimbles do that..eeewww) Its also the thimble that mum is refering to ;-)

I really love your Rose stars, the fabrics and colours you've chosen are just beautiful - soft, warm and pretty. Its going to be gorgeous!

Di said...

No pain, no gain eh? The EEP quilt is absolutely stunning. Di x

Kelly said...

Long after those holes have healed, you will the most gorgeous EPP quilt!

Celtic Thistle said...

Feel your pain, but the quilt is looking lovely definitely worth the agony!

Katy Cameron said...

Ahh, I have been that person! Bear noses literally put holes in my fingertips and I lose sensation for days! Hope they feel better soon, the stars are looking fab so far

Jenelle said...

Oh crap! I really hate when I do that to myself too, but once you get into a groove then well...the fingers suffer! If you're not finding a thimble that you like (I know what you mean), you may prefer to use stick-on thimbles or pieces of moleskin to protect your finger tips. It feels weird at first, but it really does help. :)

Lucy | Charm About You said...

Oh it looks wonderful! I like that we're working on the same thing at the same time :) I keep trying to work out if there's a quicker way of piecing it but I haven't yet, I seem to be attaching the shapes in the most higgledy piggledy way!

diegoagogo said...

Oooooooh pretty!! Worth the holes surely? I use a leather thimble that fits like a band aid & has a very small round metal disc inside. Fits very well & no sweaty fingers.

Charlotte said...

it's amazing! My rose stars are all finished but I can't seem to motivate myself to do the joining bits and it's been sitting in a basket for months. Eeeek!

Alex Palmer said...

that looks beautiful though! I'm sure it'll be worth it. I didn't use a thimble either when I made my hexagon placemats and boy did my fingers know about it!

Sarah said...

Have you tried little rubber dots? You can get them at stitching stores. They are about 8mm in diameter, come stuck on paper, then when you are doing hand stitching you stick it on the part of your finger that repeatedly pushes the needle through and gets a hole in it. Another cheaper alternative is a bandaid, I think you call them plasters in UK. just position the padded part over the site of repeated use and it protects your finger there. Where is the English riviera? Us Aussies just think of England as cold grey and wet!

Fran said...

That's stunning. I love the colours you've used.

Stephanie said...

I just came across your blog after browsing through your pictures of your amazing sewing projects on Flickr. I have a feeling I'm going to really enjoy following your blog. :)