Tender Fingers

[Tartan Tess]

Marks Mom,
You are really going to have so much fun (maybe it is the release of the stress of waiting) or hanging out with me and Patti and Frances
and although all the hard work is true, it will all be worth it and I bet you will be "Jonesin" afterwards to do the next kilt.
P.S. the footstool is because you have a leg crossed over for DAYS and any change in body movement is gratefully accepted. That is when I start teaching Belly dance moves to get the blood flowing.

[Pleater]

I've not found it necessary to use a lot of force on the needles, but I use really thin ones for finely woven fabrics, medium ones at the thickest and always buy quality ones - cheap needles are often no good at all.

I also have a little tuft of fine wire wool to hand as twirling the point of a needle in that sharpens it. Fold the needle in the wire wool pinched between finger and thumb and rotate the needle slowly - heat is generated which can de-temper the needle. You can't keep sharpening some needles as only the outer layer is hardened and it is worn away, but it does lengthen the life of most needles.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Mark's Mom]

Thanks again, Anne! What is a good brand of needle? That's really interesting how you sharpen them!

[Pleater]

You'll probably not get the same brands in the US as here in the UK - I get into trouble with the machine knitting lists which are international when I recommend a product on the list to someone in the UK and then all the US contingent want to know where to buy it.

I used to say Google it - but then I recommended gun oil for lubrication and did not check just what might be turned up in the search (snigger snigger, nudge nudge, hee hee hee)

You are probably safe enough Googling sewing needles - probably.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[llyd]

I used to say Google it - but then I recommended gun oil for lubrication and did not check just what might be turned up in the search (snigger snigger, nudge nudge, hee hee hee)


Anne the Pleater :ootd:

Oh no...

[Mark's Mom]

Tess,
So nice to hear you will be there at Elsie's Camp. I am really excited about having so many experienced kiltmakers coming! Now I understand better why a footstool is recommended. It's funny, but my grandmother Mickey MacDonald always had a footstool near her chair and I never realized why. She did a lot of hand sewing, so that must have been the reason!