Some tools that can help challenged quilters

[Annette R.]

Pd quilts (Paula) posted a number of wonderful suggestions about items that can help some of us quilters who struggle with various physical challenges. I hope everyone will read it.

However I am going to suggest that we post further suggestions and responses here so we will have the information all under one forum topic. Hope that is okay with everyone else.

Ann

[Annette R.]

It really hurts my back and hands to baste my quilts! And don't forget the knees, too, from crawling on the floor. Does anyone have some good suggestions for pain-free basting?

PS: I have Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease, Rheumatoid Arhtritis, and getting older every day! Quilting is my sanity-keeper and I intend to keep going for as long as I can.

Joanne

[Donna N.]

Joanne, have you tried contacting a local longarm quilter? For a nominal fee, he/she can machine baste your quilts. I do this for my customers using washaway thread. I run lines of basting about three to four inches apart (parallel lines, not a grid) from edge to edge. When they are finished quilting, they soak the quilt or wash it and the basting is gone.

[Annette R.]

I cannot promise pain free but if you can find a place where you can put two or three tables together and then do your basting off the floor. I live in a seniors park and we have tables in one of our recreation halls that we can put together and get our quilts off the floor for basting. You might check with your church or community center to see if you could use their tables. Another help is to have cut lengths of pvc pipe that you put on the legs of the tables to bring them up to a good height for standing up straight. Hope this is helpful.
Ann in misty southern Texas today but still in shorts. Better than ice and snow.

[Annette R.]

Sharon Schambers web page ( free videos) has instructions for using boards to anchor the quilt so it can be basted before sewing. The basting is done on a table...

Since Sharon is an award winning quilter... it is worth a try... take a looks at the web page. She also has that HALO thing to help machine quilters.

http://<br /> <a href="http://sharo...hamber.com</a>

Her site is worth looking at and she has physical problems that she has had to over come.

[Annette R.]

Thanks, everyone! I'm going to give Sharon Shamber's technique a try.

I'm going to be sticking to quilts that are lap size or smaller. That way I don't have so much bulk and weight to deal with...and it finishes faster so I can get on to the next one!

I wish I knew a teenager who could baste and wanted a few bucks!

[Annette R.]

You could always find a teen and teach them! :wink:

[Hannelore N.]

Joanne, any of the 'quilt-as-you-go' methods might help you.

By far the best buy for me: A nice and solid table from Ikea with adjustable legs. The table is now at a height (it's maximum) so I can work on it standing up without hurting my back (I'm 5'7), and I can even work at the table sitting down by using a stool that comes from a science laboratory and is the perfect height.

Lorchen

[Eileen K.]

I found this presser foot a couple of weeks ago and 2 friends and I have ordered it: http://www.creativefeet.com/ It's the satinedge foot. They also ordered the others, but I didn't think I'd need them. Besides, now I can borrow theirs if I need to

If you read the back story, a blind sewer was able to sew using this foot.

eileenkny

[Sue R.]

Eileen,

Are you using this foot for applique or for other uses ? Please let us know how you like it--always on the lookout for more cool tools, or is that toys ?


Sue

[Eileen K.]

The feet haven't arrived yet-3 of us went in together to save on postage. One friend did the ordering 2 weeks ago but they weren't shipped until last Friday. They're supposed to be delivered on the 22nd.
I'll post here how I like the satinedge foot.
eileenkny

[Elizabeth B.]

I found this topic and was hoping someone would know whether the creative feet would fit a 9mm janome 8900. Also, has anyone tried the hooping system? Thanks!!

[ANNE E.]

I have a Janome 6600 and the piping foot fits that.
When you buy the foot it comes with adapters that should make it possible for the feet to fit any machine as it says in the video, also there is a lot of information on youtube.
Good luck
Anne