**enter my Cotton + Steel FQ bundle giveaway here, ends tomorrow!**
Back to sewing though...
Most often nowadays slow is my preferred sewing tempo but sometimes speed and ease are favourable. Today I started making some bunting and couldn't bring myself to make it the traditional way. I knew pinking shears would make the job faster and then in a stroke of genius I grabbed my Hex N More ruler, folded the fabric and used the triangle side of the ruler as a template (so I was actually cutting diamond shapes). My plan is to press them and put ribbon between the folds and sew along the whole length of the ribbon in one fell swoop.
I have continued working on my green tea and sweet beans quilt:
Though this and the epic vintage quilt I'm hand quilting are causing havoc to my fingers, I admit that *shock horror* I rarely wear a thimble but after hand quilting for any length of time it really starts to hurt and I have to use one. I have a Clover Protect and Grip Thimble but I often use the side of my finger so it's not great, though it's a very comfortable thimble if you only use the tip. I tried a cheap metal one but it's not so comfy and I found the dimples in it annoying.
Knowing that I am doing a lot of hand quilting I was getting a little desperate and decided to give the Clover Natural Fit Leather Thimble a try. This thimble is seriously my new best friend. I adore it, the snug fit, the comfortable feel and the fact I can use the tip and/or side to push my needle easily. Admittedly I've only had it a few days so can't comment on how long it will last but I will definitely let you know. If you're a thimble hater but lover of soft hands I highly recommend trying this thimble!!
* random aside, I used to manage a beauty counter and have tried/used a lot of beauty products but without the doubt the greatest hand product I've ever used is Crabtree & Evelyn's Hand Recovery Scrub. I just remembered it and will be getting some, I like the La Source one (currently out of stock) but I'm tempted to try the Pomegranate, Argan and Grapeseed one because yum! It is a lovely scrub, gentle but really effective and leaves your hands so soft. By the way that wasn't the company I worked for, I just love the scrub!
Back to sewing though...
Have you heard about the new quilt along the Fat Quarter Shop are doing? The quilt is made up of the cutest blocks of memories and 'snapshots'. It starts 15th January 2015 and a new block pattern and video will be released on the 15th of each month.
The patterns are free but they are encouraging everyone to donate $5 for each download in order to raise money for St Jude Children's Research Hospital, which you can contribute to here. Fat Quarter Shop and Moda Fabrics will match up to $10,000 of donations raised for this amazing cause.
There is a fantastic line up of bloggers and designers sewing along and you can even pre-order kits here if you would like to use the same Daysail fabrics. You can get all the details of the Snapshots Quilt Along here and see the introductory video here.
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i don't wear a thimble either! it aches at first and then i get a nice callous. usually right about the time i'm done with the handwork. i just haven't found a thimble i like.
good idea on your bunting! it's going to be super cute.
I can´t sew without my thimble.I have to try yours for handquilting!
I'm going to need a good thimble when I finally finish my mom's quilt top... I'm going to keep this one in mind!
That thimble sounds like my future best friend! I hate metal thimbles! And will check that hand cream as my hands are really suffering at the moment.
At one time I used a cheaper version of your Clover leather thimble (in quilting class we had a somewhat naughty name for it...hehe) but now I love the Nimble Thimble. I have tiny fingers and it fits well. I also, love, Crabtree and Evelyn...I like the Gardeners Friend...I think thats the name. Great stuff!
Really really excited to see your green tea and sweet beans quilt ; )
I tend to use metal thimbles (one with a ridge for my top hand and one without for the underneath hand) but I don't like the smell of them. Or the way they go flying off your finger (and you then have to spend precious quilting time searching for it in the folds of the quilt) when it's cold!
Your sweet tea quilt will be gorgeous in those fabrics, I love where you're going with it.
Your bunting idea is genius. I wear a thimble most of the time for all hand sewing and will have to have a trawl round to find that one, it looks so comfy. My hand scrub for years has been Olive Oil, Granulated Sugar and a squeeze of Lemon juice, it exfoliates, and softens and the lemon leaves a light fragrance. I use a lanolin rich hand cream as well.
that thimble looks like a tiny moccasin #toocute
Hi Lucy, have Fat Quarter Shop indicated how scary the UK shipping cost will be for the snapshots fabric kit - that is usually what puts me off buying anything from the US shops - that and any dreaded customs/PO fees! Very impressed with your hand sewing patience ....
I don't use a thimble either but my issue is that my finger joints get really really sore if I do too much hand quilting.
I am not sure if my comment went through the first time... so I am commenting again! ;)
I love the leather thimbles. Stocked up on some when the fabric store in town was moving to a larger location and they had serious markdowns. I am so glad I have them in my supplies now. They definitely come in handy.
Love all the fabrics in your quilt project here. I am sure it will all look beautiful!
I have been debating whether or not to join that quilt along. The patterns are super cute and I love the finished quilt, but I have been so bad about finishing projects lately, I fear this might become another unfinished project for my WIP shelf!
I am a thimble hater.. They do not fit, feel sweaty and irritate me horribly.. but if I am doing a lot of costumes I do get a hard little pad of skin on the end of my 'pushy' finger... That comes after the painful stage.. Let me know if the leather one is sweaty, please... If not, I might have to try it! I am not a fan of that hard pad on my finger either.
I'm a thimble hater too....mainly because I control the needle with my middle finger and find I can't sew with as much control if I have a thimble on. I might try the leather one though!
I have the natural fit thimble and used it a couple of times but it seems that my sewing thread catches on the leather stitching. I must have a weird way of positioning my hands. I don't generally use a thimble but what has worked for me is using one of the rubber finger tip pads. I turn it inside out so that the bumps are on the inside. The 'thimble' stays on my finger and the rubber grips the needle when pulling thread through the fabric which makes it easier for me.