Pity Party--All Invited. Not entirely OT.

Good Morning Sherry,

Prayers are being sent your way.

I am not a hand quilter however I do know of a few who love to quilt using the hoop. It is easily moved, taken to different areas of the house and just completely portable. If I were you....I would give it a try. The Peony quilt sounds beautiful and would probably help keep you and your mind busy on something creative.

Keep us posted.

Peace,

Marsha in nw, Ohio

I have a friend who uses the lap hoop because of stiffness and pain in her hips and legs and she really likes it - she gets a super comfy office style chair and a little footstool and just reminds herself to get up and move around every 20 minutes or so. I use a pvc square hoop that I hand quilt with the way I used to do jigsaw puzzles (no time for them now that I quilt, to say nothing of having no place that isn't occupied by a sewing machine or cutting board) and I just pick it up and do a little handquilting now and then, but never for a long stretch at one sitting

Musicmaker

Sherry,

I'm so sorry to hear about all you're going through - and thanks for inviting us to your pity party. You shouldn't do this alone.

I use a lap hoop for hand quilting and really love it because you can turn it any direction you want so that you're able to quilt toward yourself or sideways - whatever is more comfortable for you. It's also very easy to set aside so that you can get up and walk away from it as needed. I've often used one while sitting in a comfortable chair with my feet propped up on a footstool, so it might be just what you need.

Good luck!

Can't help you with the hoops, I do it without anything. Prayers that your health improves.

Sherry, I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time ... as to blood clots and Lovenox, I've been (and still am) in your shoes.

About a year ago, my leg swole up to three times it's normal size, and turned blue. So off to the hospital I went - to find out that I have a BC in my left leg the size of a large walnut. I've been on several meds since then, to control and reduce the clot - and since then, have developed clots in my other leg and my lungs.

I'm not telling you that to try to play on your sympathies - rather, to give you some hope. If the main issue keeping you from hand-quilting is the clots and keeping your legs elevated and uncontorted, then that shouldn't be a problem. I hand-quilt (wish I could machine-quilt, but my hand-eye coordination is apparently reserved for the odd game of Battlefront with my DS) and I use a large (18-24 inches - my math STINKS) wooden hoop and though I *do* have to move about a bit to relieve pressure on my back, it's not been harmful to my BCs or my health.

I would suggest a lumbar pillow, if you already have back problems ... it worked for me. I'll often spend about 3-4 hours (practically non-stop) hand-quilting ... legs relaxed and elevated at least slightly, back straight (bend or curve your back and you're looking at being stooped over the next day!), and arms relaxed. And I'll tell you ... having a quilt on your lap while you're recovering does *WONDERS*!! I think I would have gone insane were it not for my handy (but cheap) little hoop!!

But obviously, don't forget to take potty-breaks, move about to keep up your circulation (so I don't "forget" to move enough, I'll thread three needles ... once I use up those needles/thread, that's time to get up and move a bit), and keep hydrated. Keeping hydrated also reminds me to get up - potty breaks!! ;)

But do start out small and short, and work your way up to fevered quilting ... don't try to do a marathon or a king-size in one evening! :) Eventually, you'll find your "groove" and you'll find fabric-y, quilty happiness once again! ;)

Anyway, Sherry, I pray that your body heals FAST and that you can discover a "routine" to allow you to quilt without hurting yourself - after all, quilting heals the soul, mind, and heart!! :)

Warm, quilty hugs!!

-- Connie :)

ooohhh, Sherry, so sorry to hear of your illness. my sister has DVT in both legs and a rogue clot in her chest. not a good thing to have. i use a hoop to hand stitch, it's a little cumbersome with a bigger sized quilt, but it works for me. i dont have room for a frame. try the hoop, it may be good for you.

prayers your way...

amy in CNY

*THank you* for this post. Not because "misery loves company" (although at 6 a.m., in the middle of a pity party of epic proportions, it probably does!)....but mostly to hear that someone else deals (very well) with the same thing. God love them, but sometimes family and friends just don't "get it." Crazy as it sounds, too, I just keep thinking that when spring finally gets here, I'll feel better. I hear all the time people handquilt in their laps, without hoops. I've seen the beautiful work they turn out. I know I can do that, too, if I just get the hang of it. No?

Sherry

Sherry,

Yes you CAN handquilt! Baste well. Drape quilt over ironing board or table and quilt what hangs over the front. Use a chair behind the board or table to support the rolled part of the quilt quilt that's not draped. Sit in a comfy chair with your feet up and the quilt at a comfortable level. Take breaks at frequent intervals and walk around. Fiddle around until you see what works. DON'T GIVE UP!

Hugs, Monique in TX

Replied to privately. :)

Warm quilty hugs!! Connie

*THank you* for this post. Not because "misery loves company" (although at 6 a.m., in the middle of a pity party of epic proportions, it probably does!)....but mostly to hear that someone else deals (very well) with the same thing. God love them, but sometimes family and friends just don't "get it." Crazy as it sounds, too, I just keep thinking that when spring finally gets here, I'll feel better. I hear all the time people handquilt in their laps, without hoops. I've seen the beautiful work they turn out. I know I can do that, too, if I just get the hang of it. No?

Sherry

Sherry, I'm sooooo sorry you are having to deal with all these health issues. Man, that sucks. I will pray that your health improves by spring- that's a great goal for you. Spring is a new awakening from the long, cold winter sleep and all things are bright and new and possible again. I love spring and watching my flower beds wake up and come back to life- it's like magic!

Maybe you could do hand piecing or hand applique and send your quilt tops out for quilting? That's a more expensive alternative, but it would keep you busy and eliminate the problem of sitting too long. When I handquilted the very first quilt (king sized!) I ever made- and my *only* hand quilted quilt- I used a large oval hoop and sat tilted back in my recliner. Would that position work for you? Another thing I discovered- I was cooking a large pot of soup and set my timer for 30 min. so I'd remember to go stir the soup and check if it needed more water added to it. That made me get up from my sewing and walk from one end of the house to the other every half hour. Now I use the timer every time I sit down to sew- my leg with the hip replacement tends to swell if I sit too long. The timer is soooo annoying that I *have* to get up to reset it and make it hush.

Hope things improve for you!

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.

PS: The funniest thing- I am a hunt and peck person when typing out my messages. I must have a very specific rhythm when I type out my siggie. The dogs always know when I am finishing up a message and they swarm me for some lovies before I get back to reading and answering! Clever, super observant critters!

Prayer going to Right Foot, by the fender... (Thank you Alice in Wonderland)

It sounds lovely. I don't do much hand quilting, but perhaps this one could be done by machine and you could do some smaller, lighter projects by hand?

Proper prayers on the way.

Sherry, I hope it all goes well for you. I hand quilt with my feet up on a footstool. It is difficult for me to quilt when I can't put my feet up. I don't use a hoop, just quilt in my lap and having my feet up means the legs help support the quilt. (not too nice in the summer in Phoenix, but winter is wonderful.)

I am sure you can work out a way to do what you enjoy. You could set a timer and make yourself get up and move every so often, when the timer goes off.

Good wishes for a good outcome and continuing to do what you enjoy.

Pati, > OK, it's cold, dark, and early and I woke up to a pity party of one.

Sherry, can you lay on the couch with your feet up and quilt like that?

Cindy

Dear Sherry, I don't hand quilt, but I completely understand about quilting saving your sanity. That's how I turned to quilting, too. Had to quit working in early 2003 and turned to fabric torture to keep from going nuts. You must feel that you're in danger of losing your lifeline.

Hang in there, dear. If you become too depressed, talk to your doctor. Sometimes depression is a physical side effect of various medications and can also effect those who have had heart trauma. Treatment is easy and life will feel so much better.

I will be sending prayers and good thoughts your way. Anytime you want to pity party, message me off board and I'll bring the virtual chocolate. >BEG< Don't forget that many people love and care for you.

And if you are learning how to use a hand quilting hoop, try Ami Simms instruction. She is so funny. I just read How NOT to Make A Prizewinning Quilt. Good grief I laughed.

Keep us posted on your progress. Take lots of pictures of the quilting hoop.

Hugs, Sunny

If you need a laugh while you're being good and staying quiet, buy, borrow or steal the Stephanie Plum series of books by Janet Evanovitch. It runs from "One For The Money" thru "Lean Mean Thirteen" with a few non-numbered books thrown in here and there. If those don't have you ROFLOL then

*nothing* will! Good fun, easy reading and just a wee bit naughty- but *not* graphic.

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.

Can't you just get you a kitchen timer? Timer bings and you hop up (right in the middle of that tricky bit that is giving you trouble no doubt) and scoot aound the house for a minute? It would be sort of like quilting while baking cookies.

NightMist

(((((Sherry)))))) Sending prayers and get-well thoughts your way. I don't hand quilt, so I'm no help regarding the frame - BUT I hope you will find a good, healthy way to keep up with your quilting.

Sherry, I think it's time for you to use a different method to assemble your quilts. How about quilting block by block and then assembling all the quilted blocks into a whole quilt? You could hand quilt while laying down if you are only quilting one block.

The second method on this web page shows how you can do the joining

Debra in VA See my quilts at:

Healing thoughts are winging your way! I don't hand quilt, but I'm sure you can find a way. Quilting keeps my sanity intact, so never give up or give in.....