An unfortunate “incident” that occurred on a Friday afternoon
You will notice that there will be no Tuesday Tutorial this week…
You will also notice that this post will be one of fewer words than normal…
This is because one of my fingers in currently incapacitated….
You see, last Friday afternoon I was diligently trying to finish this weeks Tuesday Tutorial (I usually try to finish up my blog related stuff by Friday afternoon so I can just relax and spend time with my family over the weekend)…
As I was cutting the binding for this weeks project, the rotary cutter slipped, and I cut the side of the top of my left index finger…
there was panic,
there was blood,
there was crying,
and maybe some swearing (but if you ask me about it, I won’t admit to it)…
I will spare you the gory details, because yes, they are gory (lets just say it was a deep cut, I have a partial fingernail, several stitches, and I nearly passed out when I saw my finger with a flap… okay that’s enough details *wink*)…
So I can look forward to 2 weeks of stitches and a follow up with a hand specialist…other than looking a bit awkward, and trying to type with one hand, I’m doing fine…
The doctor said no washing dishes for 2 weeks (darnit! *wink*)
Sooo….. this weeks tutorial has been postponed a week (oh, and it was a good one)… until I can get up the courage to touch my rotary blade again…(and get the blood out of the fabric… oh sorry, I told you I’d leave out the gory part).
in the meantime,
I think I’ll scrapbook this week…
oh— also, my dearest husband is not too fond of the idea me cutting fabric again, (it might have something to do with putting up with my hysterics while they sewed my finger back together and getting stuck with 2 weeks of dishes duty……) does anyone know of any “saftey” device to prevent this from happening in the future?? When they started talking to me about hand surgery with a specialist, I realized this hobby is just a bit dangerous!
….don’t forget you have until midnight Sunday to enter the Lisa Leonard giveaway!
Oh NO!!!! That is just terrible! I hope your finger feels better soon. Personally I’m pretty sure I would have sworn too…..
I have a friend that was using her sewing machine and she sewed her finger!! Yes crafting is a rough hobby sometimes.
Take care!
I’ve seen – but never used – Klutz gloves from Fons & Porter. Here’s a youtube linky. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG_OvQGlxbs
ouch! that doesn’t sound good, hope it heals quickly though. At my quilt shop they use this little handle that suctions to the top of the clear ruler, that way you’re holding the handle and your hand is out of the way. I think I better find something like that, I’ve had a few too many close calls.
I’ve not used it yet, but my Nana bought me this cool handle that has suction cups on it. You stick it to your ruler and hold it instead of putting your hand on the actual ruler. She was afraid I’d do that very thing. You may want to try that…Sounds painful…
Poor you!!! (Well, except for the dishes part.) ;o) I have been paranoid about doing this very thing after watching a girl cut the end of her finger (and 1/2 her fingernail) off while cutting fat quarters to put in the store I was shopping in.
Enjoy scrapping and take care of your finger!!!
I’m so sorry to hear about your finger! Best wishes to you with a speedy recovery!
I also use the suction cups with a handle to my ruler. It does help to keep fingers out of the way. I can’t cut fabric without it.
My mother in law did the exact same thing (she’s a master quilter and uses the rotary cutter and ruler regularly.) She had to have the tip of her finger..super glued.. back on. To solve her problem, she bought a l-shaped plastic guard that glues right onto the ruler, so her fingers can’t slip into the path of the cutter. She hasn’t had an accident since…she’s very paranoid now!
I hope your finger feels better. 🙂
OH no! I’m so sorry = and it’s so easy to do! I’m a klutz, so I don’t use those circular cutters.
I used to be a theatrical costumer, and once I ran the sewing machine over my finger, the needle right through the end of my finger. The head of my department reacted by this flat response – “Don’t bleed on the costume.” Heh.
Ouch! Who knew that sewing was bad for your health? I hope you are feeling back to normal real soon. I’ve never cut myself that bad, but I worry about it. You should try those gloves you’re not supposed to be able to cut through. I’m sure they’re a big pain, but not as bad as stitches.
How scary i hope you are doing okay. Im not sure what i would have done if this happened. At home most of the time alone with kids.
Take care
Michelle
I would have flipped out! I am paranoid about stuff happening to my hands because I play the flute. I hope you recover soon!!! I think you should ask the doctor to extend your dish washing ban for a few more weeks.
Oh my goodness. I hope your finger recooperates rapidly. I have always had a fear of doing exactly what you did. Now I am going to be just more causious. I wish you a speedy recovery. Take care!
Sheesh, Melissa, I’m so sorry this happened. I think I’ll be happy I have a dull blade on my rotary cutter from now on. Stitches on the finger are no fun. I cut my middle left finger with new knives my hubs bought for Christmas with a similar result. As things heal, crazy glue is the best way to keep things together. Best wishes and happy thoughts your way.
Get better soon. I love your tutorials. I put the sewing machine needle through my finger 10 days ago and it is finally healing. My nail will take a while to grow back though.
How terrible. I am so sorry. I only wish I was there to drive you to the hospital like you did for Dylan and I. That was still the best part of that whole experience. I hope you get well soon. You should have the hand specialist excuse you from dishes for at least a month!
I have seen those suction cup handles, and also I’ve seen rulers that have sort of a ledge so that the side that is next to the blade is really tall.
Yikes! Doesn’t sound fun! Hope you get feeling better!
Yikes! What a horrifying injury. I second (third, fourth) some of the previous comments about the suction cup thingy that attaches to your ruler. It will help keep your fingers out of harms way. Also, some of the women in my local quilting store swear by those Fons & Porter Klutz gloves. I saw that the hosts of their show on PBS used those gloves every time they cut using a rotary cutter. I love you blog and all the info you share – but please do take care of yourself.
I did the same thing in January…except that it was my right index finger (since I’m left handed). It actually cut a piece completely off, but didn’t get my nail. No stitches, since there wasn’t anything to stitch on…ugh. Lots of antibiotic ointment and changing bandages. It was wrapped up for 6 weeks and looks completely normal now. It’s still pretty tender to the touch sometimes, but looks great! Never fear, you’ll be back to sewing in no time! 🙂
Get better!
So sorry to hear about your accident. I hope the healing is quick and you are back to stitching again soon.
Oh, I’m so sorry! Gosh, I really never think about doing something like that, but apparently it really can happen to the best of us! I haven’t been a big fan of those “suction” things, but maybe it would be a good idea. They’re called “Gypsy Grippers”. We use them at my work. There is a big one and a smaller one. I don’t love it because it covers up some of the numbers/lines on the ruler, but you can deal with it. So sorry about that. Hope you feel better soon!
OMIGOSH!! Wounded in the line of duty! Hope it heals fast!!
hydrogen proxide gets blood out wonderfully!! Just pour a little on (or if you nervous about it, like me–use a cotton ball)
heal quickly!
Ack!! I’ve done that same thing! (and I swear I am always careful- but now I am MORE careful.) Yours sounds much more deep, gory and serious. (Surgeons!?!)
I hope you heal quickly!!
Hope you get better quickly!!!
I’m a little twisted though, I love blood and guts and was only slightly disappointed to see just a picture of the fabric. I’m almost a paramedic, the bloodier it is, the happier I am!
And BTW, try peroxide to get the blood out of the fabric. Doesn’t harm my uniform blues, shouldn’t harm the quilt fabric.
Heal quickly!
Oh no!!!! I hope everything heals OK and you are able to get back to doing what you love. Scary…but at least no dishes.
OUCH!!!! I did something similiar about a month ago making a birthday gift for my daughter’s friend … took the tip of my pointer off with the rotary! YUCK! I feel your pain. I wore a short metal splint on my finger for about 2 weeks getting it to heal. i mayb should have seen the dr. , but since I got the bleeding stopped I decided I would live. BUT I am VERY careful with that little sucker now than I used to be. My finger sends your figer a big hug and kiss!!
HOLY HECK! sorry to hear about your mishap … no fun injuring yourself, especially when you’re doing something you love to do! hope it heals fast and you’ll be back in no time!
Oh……I hope you are feeling better. Something similar happened to me a few weeks ago but it involved a kitchen knife. Well, it was not pretty and I cried and possibly cursed as well. I hope you feel better soon.
Oh dear! So sorry hun. I’ll be praying for quick healing.
((feel better hugs))
Anita
Ooooouuuuccchhhh! I seriously did the same thing this week…I just changed my rotarty blade and 2 seconds later…whoops! Not nearly as serious as your incident, but it did hurt and I could NOT get it to stop bleeding.
I hope for your sake (and ours!) that it heals quickly!!!
whoops…that would be rotary…not rotarty. Sounds like I’m calling my cutter retarded. Which I’m totally not.
*ahem*
Oh! that gives me the willies. I have done that and also found the handle. But I wanted to share my thrifty tip on the handle with you. Most craft and fabric stores sell the pink or purple handles for around $25-30.00. The exact same product is sold at Walmart near the canes and walkers, except it is used as a handle for people who need help getting in the bathtub. Get this its $11.00 and is blue. I compared it to my friends pink one…. Same thing… Hopefully this will help prevent any future hospital visits!!!
oh and i LOVE your blog!!
Oh my, hope everything is okay. On a side note peroxide gets blood out of fabric like a charm!
I’ve done that EXACT thing! I had to walk around with my finger in the air so it wouldn’t hurt so bad. My husband kept saying “who’s number one?!” and “how old are you?” Drove me nuts! But I do think that sewing my finger with my machine and having to pull the needle out with my teeth was a little bit more traumatic. Hope you get better soon!
I did it too! I thought I was the only klutzy one! I got the little suction cup handle thing It was real small about three inches. It did not stay in place very well. I got the little L shaped stick on things that you put your finger on the other side of the L and it keeps it out of harms way. I also found at HMQS in 2012 It is called Quilters Slidelock. Here is a link to buy or watch a video. It is a great tool. One it keeps your fingers safe and Two it keeps your fabric and ruler from sliding! Wonderful! My finger was sensitive to the air for over a year after my stitches came out…UGH It feels better now SMILE
OOH! Thanks for the recommendation, I’ve been using a cut glove since then and it works okay as long as I don’t lose it in a pile of fabric, a guard might be a better idea.