The Perils of Sewing

One of my favorite hobbies is sewing, not so much because I enjoy having to alter and put pieces together,as much because I can create new outfits with vintage flair that cannot be found in stores. I love vintage '50s and '60s (particularly early '60s instead of late '60s) clothing. But sewing comes with some disadvantages such as pieces don't exactly match up the way they should, confusing instructions that make one question who wrote this guide sheet, and just the laying out and cutting out step. Another problem is accidents can happen, to the fabric, sewing machine, and you. I have accidentally snipped a hole in a skirt, melted polyester fabric with a too hot iron, gotten material stuck in the feed dogs of the machine, and most recently, gave myself a numb thumb and two blisters from cutting out fabric. The scissors I have made of hard plastic and are hard to open and close. They used to be good scissors at one time, such as when they were brand new. But these things came with my first sewing kit and scissors are expensive so I stayed using them. Combine tough to open and close scissors and tough to cut fabric and I get an injured thumb that is partly numb on one side. Apparently opening and closing the scissors caused a nerve to be crushed and now my thumb is still numb (but not in pain)and has been since Wednesday. It seems to be improving though. One would have thought I would learned my lesson the first time when I had injured my thumb the very same exact way three years ago. But I had forgotten all about the previous time and I went and did it again. I looked up online and for once Google M. D. had nothing to say about this type of injury. Instead I found advice from a sewing forum. Most say this injury can be common among those who have to cut with scissors a lot and that it can take anywhere from two days, two weeks, or two months to heal. I have been resting my thumb from grabbing much (not easy since it's my dominant hand, the left) and using cold packs. If it continues for longer than two weeks I probably will consult a doctor, but it probably will not since it already seems to be improving. Not only that, nerve injuries take longer than other injuries to heal. Surely for the sake of my thumb I learned my lesson this time. For one thing,I now have a brand new pair of scissors that are made for people who need gentler scissors. So bye bye hard plastic disasters for good!

Has anyone ever had this type of injury before it's (not just a sewing injury) and if so how long did it take to heal? Hoping I gain all feeling back it's definitely not the end of the world if I have to go through life with a partly numb left thumb.

[MadBunny]

Could you wear some kind of support for your wrist and thumb which leaves your fingers and thumb free to work while supporting the painful area? Rest is possibly the best thing for it. Amazon do several types.

[Hidden in reply to MadBunny]

How are you and Dylan getting on?

Baby is driving us crackers with her meows about the heat!

Tomorrow we have house viewings at 11.30 and 1pm and one on Tuesday at 11 and hopefully one on Friday at 11am.

[MadBunny in reply to Hidden]

Hot but ok. Tomorrow and Tuesday are going to be bad- 38-40°. Good luck with your viewings xx

[Hidden in reply to MadBunny]

On Saturday I had just come back from work and got a message from the property manager saying that a contractor is coming round this morning to fix something I reported a few weeks ago and she had tried to ring but got no answer and that had brought up in me anger and resentment!

I had thought with respect the world doesn't revolve around you and the phone and decided no I wasn't apologising for not having answered the phone as I was at work as point is I can't be available all the time and also I can't help out every time I am asked either.

When I had calmed down I wrote a polite message back saying that wasn't a problem and for them to knock on the door and if I'm not in come in and use the keys.

I had a think about what was it that upset me about that and why and came up with how it was the attitude that upset me rather than the call and notification in itself and also worry over moving as well doesn't help matters!

Yesterday I had lunch with my sister in law and one of the staff at the restaurant was rude and abrupt with us for no real reason and we went to the salad bar and she had cleared our table thinking we had left and we were furious!

OK I accept mistakes happen as years ago I worked in a canteen and had been asked by the manager to clear the tables and by accident I had thrown someone's coke can out as they had left the table and the chap said to me you threw out my coke by accident and I apologised to him and said I would get him another one for free to say sorry and that was fine and I was forgiven as that was a genuine accident as I hadn't been rude and abrupt with him prior to that like with yesterday which led us to believe that was deliberate and malicious doing that!

What we have done is we have written a letter of complaint to the manager of the restaurant and asked that we receive an apology for that as there was no need to have been rude and abrupt to us when we had done nothing wrong!

Say she hadn't been rude and abrupt prior to that incident and it had been a genuine accident we wouldn't have been cross as we do understand accidents happen but what upset us wasn't the table getting cleared whilst we were still eating no what did was being treated in a rude and abrupt manner when we had done nothing to deserve it!

I think it's the way these incidents are handled is what upsets people rather than the things in themselves!

[Hidden in reply to MadBunny]

Well, it's not painful just numb. A brace might help but time is probably the best healer for this problem. The tendon seems to have already healed up. It's just a matter of waiting for the numbness to go away, if it will. The area is still slightly swollen so I am thinking once the swelling goes down, the nerve will no longer be compressed and I will get my full feeling back.

[Nothing_but_books]

Worst sewing accident I had was carelessly allowing the maching to sew right through my thumbnail. I make patchwork quilts -- well, I did before my hands betrayed me -- and I was trying to get a seam perfect. Other than having to use a seam ripper to loose my thumb, all was fine.

Course I quilted the tip of my finger underneath the frame more times than I care to count. But you get used to that.

Love my Ginghers.

[Dolphin14]

Is there any way to sharpen those scissors? Cutting is hard enough. I can see how the dull scissors put more pressure on the hands.

Sometimes you can get some good coupons to get yourself some new scissors.

I used to sew all the time. You bring up the fabric stuck in the feed dogs. That's happened to me so many times and that can put a hole in the fabric.

I would love to see a picture of something you made if you feel like sharing.

🐬

[Hidden in reply to Dolphin14]

I tried sharpening them, but it did not do much good. Stainless steel can be hard to sharpen. Instead, I just went and got new scissors, a pair of that is made for people with hand problems such as arthritis or hand cramp. Nice pair of scissors.

Sure you can see a picture. This is a picture of the jacket that cost my hand cutting out the material. It is fully lined and is a Simplicity pattern. I just have to hem the sleeves and it is finished. And this is a picture of pattern envelope. I made View C (what the model is wearing). This is actually my second time attempting this pattern except I had made View B minus pockets last time. I was going to choose a different color of fabric and not go with a pink shade because the model is wearing a darker pink shade, but the light pink was on sale and my mom says light pink looks best on me.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Sorry I can't get the photos to attach. I will again on a different device later.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Hidden]

So happy you got the scissors. That's great they make some for sore hands. Now you can continue your craft.

I'm so excited to see what you have made I will wait patiently

🐬