VENT: Not quilting, Not working...GRRRR!

Well, I went to my cousin's wedding this weekend downstate....nice enough considering I didn't really feel like I was a part of things (and had a bad turn out of guest messages for her wedding gift but oh well, I'll figure something out).....anywhoo.....

Danced up a storm, although admittedly not as much as I normally would have as DH was tired and knowing he would be doing the driving back north the next day to get us home had him taking it easy.

Now I've got my right knee wrapped in an ACE bandage (my sewing pedal leg!) because two years ago some nut job wanted a ride in an ambulance so much she rear-ended DH and I and my knee went WHACK! into the dash. We all assumed I was only bruised and indeed with some excercises prescribed to me by my doctor my knee got to feeling better -- except for things like the changing weather and when I do things like dance (which I LIKE to do). Unfortunately, we had no idea it would be so lingering/reoccuring until after the claim deadline (so I can't even get reimb'd for the aggravation of days like yesterday and today).

So I hobbled into work this morning to get my check and find out the schedule for the week and the boss lady gave me my check and sent me home, telling me to put my leg up and call it was better because I wasn't gonna be able to do the job until I was more mobile. So no work....not the end of the world for today, I could really use some downtime after being on the run for a very emotional weekend....I need the downtime today that even the loss of potential hours and income doesn't bother me too much but.....

I am bumming big time because (besides the pain associated with walking) I was all geared to come back north here and get to work on a project for my mom (one of my Finishers 2006 goals). I had decided on what I wanted to do Thursday evening as I was getting off shift at work, well inspired by the patterns I was looking at there at the shop, etc. Well, I couldn't do it Thursday because I had to do laundry and pack for the trip. We left right after errands and DH's classes were done on Friday (wasn't even worth trying to take the machine with us -- I *knew* I wouldn't have any time downstate this trip), so last night and/or today was going to be the first chance I had to get rolling on this and I can't use my machine because of my friggin' knee and I can't stand to rotary my fabric for this either. I'm so upset about the woman who did this to me and will never know the lingering effects of what she did to get a fix for her ambulance addiction (admittedly, I never spoke to the woman but the emergency responder who I spoke to at the scene let me know that the woman "likes" to ride in ambulances and that they had just picked her up on a call the night before and she hit us just after leaving the hospital). Actually, I'm not upset about her per se but more that because of a stranger's actions to satisfy an addiction, I'm left to pay the consequences. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Anyone ever train themselves to use their non-dominant leg with the sewing machine pedal? Was it hard? Any tips for me?

Anyway, the project I have in mind for my mom is a whole new experience for me in many regards---

  1. it will include triangles that are NOT PP'd
  2. it doesn't have neat 90 degree corner angles in the finished product
  3. will be the first thing from conception to completion that will be for "use" (meaning likely to get dirty and therefore need to really be washable) rather than just to hang on the wall looking pretty (this one is meant to sit on a table/desk and look pretty instead *snicker*)
  4. following a pattern that isn't PP'd and isn't just a throw together as I go along
  5. I will *probably* use Warm and Natural for the first time unless I decide to use a length of flannel in there instead for a dense batting......hmmm......flannel is probably too costly....ah, decisions, decisions.....

It's a table runner comprised of triangles, plain squares, and 4 patch squares placed in such a manner where the 4 patch squares run down the long center of the runner and the triangles fill the side gaps and on either side of the 4 patches are the plains. at least that's what my memory recalls...I have to go find my jotted notes in my purse from when I sketched them out at work on Thursday waiting for DH to come pick me up.

I'm pretty sure that since I have FQs of all the fabrics in question (at least for the top) I should be able to adjust things creatively enough to make up for the fact that I don't have 1/8 yd of a full length/width of a bolt for strip piecing for the 4 patches --- I'll just have more than one strip pieced set to make up for it, right??????

bumming about the knee and lack of productivity today (I did sit in on one of DH's basic chem classes today, took notes, think I saw a student cheating on a quiz but can't prove it -- however, I have used my years of educator experience to let DH know how he can eliminate any likelihood of what I *think* I saw repeating itself so the situation doesn't arise again in the future)

I wanna sew, I wanna sew, I wanna sew.....=(

T.

Reply to
Tricia
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(((Tricia)))

I can and have used my left foot for sewing - it can be done just practice on some scraps first ;-)

if you can drive you have already used that left foot if you have a non automatic car ;-)

Reply to
Jessamy

Got an automatic -- never tried with a clutch and don't think I would do well with *both* feet involved at the same time (I had a hard enough time learning to drive with both hands on the wheel in driver's ed because they both kept jockeying for control -- best driving I did was when the instructor broke all the rules and told me to drive one handed. Did great, he had me put both hands on the wheel and we promptly ended up in a ditch!)

I'll have to practice some in the next few days until my left works as well as my right -- i've already taught myself to use my right knee when needed (ie no desk/table, had to do my sewing with the machine on the cedar chest -- been a while since I've had to do that though).

Gracias mi amiga!

T.

Jessamy wrote:

Reply to
Tricia

ekkk - I had a hard time but that was because I was scared of the power of the car - till my dear driving instructor (they are mandatory here) took me down a long skinny road flanked with huge old trees and told me to drive 80 km/h (about 45-50 miles/hour I think) and kept me going up and down that road till I did - best thing he ever did!

well it's really not much harder than doing it with your normal foot - just remember to move the pedal along ;-)

if you are a person who wears shoes normally try doing it barefoot as you can feel better what you are doing

you *can* do it!

Reply to
Jessamy

Last summer I fracture my right foot. I didn't do anything stupid like bungee jumping, all I did was take a step and heard a pop. I was told no long distance walking and to keep off of it and it elevated as much as possible. Well that was my "sewing" foot. I was bound and determined to learn to sew with the other one. And actually it wasn't hard at all. took about an hour to get use to it. All I did was put it on the other side of the sewing machine and went to town!

I'm back to the right foot now, but every once in a while when it gives me trouble I switch.

Get back to sewin'!!!!

Marie

Reply to
Marie Davis

No help on the sewing issue, but I can offer sympathy for the knee problems. (I tripped 14 months ago and still have major problems.)

One thing that helps me a lot when I do too much is a HOT bath. Really, really, really hot. I soak my whole leg until the water no longer feels hot (usually about a half hour), and I'll be completely pain free for at least

12 hours, often more. I do add bath salts -- not sure if that's necessary, but if I'm going to be in there, I want to pamper myself a bit. *grin*

Can't say this will work for you, but I was awfully delighted to get off the pain meds that weren't working all that well and to be able to DO things again. Plus it's nice to have some quality, undisturbed reading time now and then. :)

Reply to
Kathy Applebaum

Try one of the Kiss My Face Bath and Shower Gels in the tub. I love the "Cold & Flu" one in the shower when I have a cold. The "Early to Bed" one smells wonderful and is relaxing. I haven't tried the others but plan to try the "Early to Rise" one when my bottle of Dove stuff is gone. There is also an "Active Athletic Muscle Relaxant" one. NAYY -- just a satisfied customer.

Julia > One thing that helps me a lot when I do too much is a HOT bath. Really,

Reply to
Julia in MN

Shall we consider some sports medicine?

I have trashed my knees more times that I care to count: like hitting a patch of ice under snow when I was walking full speed to get to work on time.

If you can do it: ice packs and keep elevated for the first 12 hours. Then a heating pad for 30 minutes twice a day together with a dose of

200mg of ibuprofen. It completely eliminates the pain of changes in the weather, and stupid further damage. It usually takes me 3 days of the heat/IBP to get over a strain like dragging 500lb with a wonky wheel (does nothing for the ability to say "NO", wish there was a cure for that).

This cure was prescribed by an MD and I am eternally grateful. The other necessary ongoing bit is a walk of at least 2 miles every day.

Good luck--it's a bummer when you can't sew--Irene

Tricia wrote: (snipped)

Reply to
ellis_chem

Yes! yes! yes! I had just finished a quilt top on a nice Friday afternoon and went out to get the mail. Somehow tripped down the (2) front stairs and broke the right leg and badly sprained the left ankle. The quilt *had* to be quilted and bound by Monday week so it could be photographed. A very nice friend came over, got the top and basted it. I had a cast from ankle to knee on the right leg and an air cast on the left one -- they were put on that Monday. By Tues I was at the machine with the right leg propped up on a box altho it was swelling up anyway; the left foot was suddenly having to learn to use the foot pedal (with the air cast on) .. it was *interesting* But yes I did learn to use the left foot altho the biggest problem was not sewing my fingers cause somehow the left foot didn't seem to understand not to push when my fingers were under the presser foot :-) And yes I got it quilted and bound and it got photographed! The thing that helped was that I was able to downspeed the motor on the machine so the left foot didn't hit that pedal to the metal. BTW you might try without shoes on -- I think you get a better feel for what you are doing barefoot.

So yes it is doable but will feel weird at first.

Ellen

Reply to
Ellen

THanks all....

The knee is in better enough shape that I'm gonna tell the boss lady I can be put back on the schedule. I kept it wrapped and "somewhat" elevated on Monday. Then yesterday I kept it mostly up, though unwrapped, and at one point soaked it in a hot bath.....I still twinge a little every so many steps but am feeling fairly "normal" other than that.....

I dind't want to take my chances that standing on it for long periods to cut fabric yesterday would mess it up again so I dind't get any more except further planning done on the table runner for my mom.......didn't have enough fabric for the color layout I was originally going to do so I played with the colored pencils last night until I found a layout I liked that I had enough fabric for.

=) Less vent today, Tricia

PS thanks for the encouragement about left foot sewing....I have definitely made up my mind to learn how before it becomes necessary......

Reply to
Tricia

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