Inattentive Quilting: A Cautionary Tale

November 8, 2013
Xray Sewing Machine Needle in Index Finger

 

Xray Sewing Machine Needle in Index Finger

I like to say that quilting is in my blood–(My grandmother, mother and sisters are all quilters.)–but now I can say  quilting is in my bones as well!

On Monday, in a rushed, unfocused nano-second, I stitched right through the middle of my nail.  I launched out of my chair and ripped the broken needle out of the pad of my finger.  I quickly wrapped my finger and sat and sulked for a while.

By Wednesday, my finger still throbbing, I decided to see a doctor and get an antibiotic.  The doctor  ordered an x-ray and imagine my surprise when this is what it revealed!

Xray Sewing Machine Needle in Index Finger

Several hours later, I was carted off to the operating room.   The surgeon said the needle went into my bone and shattered.  He found the thread and removed it along with most of the metal shards from the needle, but he was forced to leave a small metal shard embedded in my index finger.

So… six x-rays… thirty minutes of surgery… one small bottle of pain meds… one large bottle of antibiotics…and one tetanus shot later…This is my cautionary tale!

Below –my favorite image-taken during surgery-reveals the thread still attached to the needle!

Xray Sewing Machine Needle in Index Finger

The good news:  Doctors orders:  No dishes for six to nine months!?

My new motto:  Make haste slowly!

Lori

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171 comments

  • LauraBC

    Holy smokes woman! Didn’t you learn the first time??? The xrays are very cool though. Glad they could get most of it out, and I’m still cringing!!

  • Roxanna

    Love this week’s photos!!! I’m sorry you hurt yourself. AND so sorry you cannot do the dishes, whatever will you fill that time doing? Can you wash your hair?

  • Karen

    I am still shuddering at the thought….. Oh my god! Lori, I hope that I NEVER experience this! Am wishing you a speedy recovery!

  • Leslie Schmidt

    Yikes! Thanks for the warning. Too bad it had happen to make a point. (No pun intended.) I sure hope it doesn’t take too long to feel better. I like Fiona’s idea of using the x-ray for a label. Good luck!

  • oh my gosh lori, I am sitting here in agony just reading about that…. …. that looks really sore…. very effective pictures though!!! you should print it on fabric for that quilts label!!!
    Hugz

  • Beth Presnell

    I’ve done that also! All I could think about was…don’t get blood on the Christening Gown. No dishes, but how soon can you sew?

  • oh my goodness – what a lesson to learn ! hope your finger is feeling better soon 🙂

  • Ouch!! Feeling your pain. Take care and heal quickly!

  • Helen

    So sorry about your finger and all that you have been through. Thanks for the cautionary tale…I have stitched my finger twice and will heed your warning! Healing Hugs!!

  • Chris

    So sorry, not again LorI! not only do we have to remember how powerful our machines are but be careful leaving needles around my step dad stepped on one thankfully not mine and ended up in surgery. I have also heard of friends sitting on pin cushions and ending with a painful rear. I’m the one who sewed through my finger while sewing in my coat in a rush to get a present finished, not doing that again. Take care much love xxx

    • that sounds painful! praying for your speedy recovery!

      • I almost did this once, but didn’t involve the bone. I have a Pfaff 7570, on which I had set the program to stop with the needle in the “down” position. I forgot about that while putting in an invisible zipper ,stitching intently. I fed the seam as closely as possible to join with the stopping point of the previous seam. And then, in order to stop with the needle down, it TOOK ONE MORE STITCH as programmed. I am still angry at myself. It was like when you bite your own tongue or lip, and you’ve no one to be angry with buy yourself!

  • Kathy Kray

    did the same thing once sewing completely through may finger only the needle broke in the down position in the machine. Thought I’d have to take the machine with me the the ER. Fortunately, I finally removed my finger only to have a needle still completely through it. Went to ER and they did all sorts of x-rays only to find I didn’t hit the bone. I was on antibiotics that the pharmacist said was like taking a cannon to a mouse. I guess they were very afraid of bone infection. Hope you heal quickly and get back to sewing real soon!

  • Bonnie Reed

    I learned to sew on Grandmas Singer treadle. I loved it and got over confident and sewed right over my index finger. The way Grandma tells it, you could hear my screams down the block. And that needle didnt even break. Those vintage Singers are tanks! Maybe this explains my passion for vintage machines (i have, cough, cough, um, several) but never bought a treadle! Once those babies get going, they wont stop! Feel better and moan a lot when its dishes time!

  • Maria

    Oh, Lori…
    Hope, it heals well without any complications

  • Oh my goodness! That is crazy! I hope your finger heals up quickly. As a side note- you have really perfect-looking finger bones. I wondered if this was a drawing at first because they look like they came right out of my Anatomy & Physiology text.

  • Joann Verdeyen

    I have to share with you what my grand-daughter said when I was having her use my machine-Moots you have to keep your fingers away from the pointy thing !!! She was 5!!!! So glad to hear your recovering and PLEASE keep your fingers away from the pointy thing we need you.

  • Paula

    Ouch!!! Best wishes for a speedy recovery Lori! But not too speedy if it gets you out of doing the dishes!!

  • Oei oei oei! That must have hurt!
    I have not had an accident yet like this, and I hope I never will LOL!
    Hope it heals well.
    Esther

  • The lengths some people go to to get out of doing the dishes! Seriously, I hope you heal quickly and well, and it doesn’t cramp your style for too long.

  • OUCH!
    Lori! so sorry to hear (and see!) your little accident! The X-Rays make me cringe…..I think you should take a break from cooking too. hehehe. You don’t want to get an infection…
    pssst! I would still try to sew with the finger covered.
    Get better soon!
    HUGS
    Patti

  • Pamela Wynfield

    Oh, goodness, amazing x-rays but I’m so sorry you’re going through this! I love your work–so creative–just amazing. I look to your post for inspiration and eye-candy. Heal quickly!

  • Lori hope your finger gets better soon! You need to slow down because this is number two you really need to slow down, and watch your fingers. One good thing is you don’t have to wash dirty dishes. Hope you have a speedy recovery!

  • Oh my gosh! OH my gosh! OH MY GOSH! You have my cringing nerve just a singing!! I hope it heals fast. You know what I always say…safety Third! haha! I haven’t done this yet but I’ve had close calls. I did take my glove off with a huge saw once! Isn’t it funny we walk around for a couple days…think that’s the little bit of fearless we have left over from our youth! :)….and then we go to the DR. I wish I lived closer…I would come help with you dishes…Heal fast. I am pretty sure dusting, sweeping and vacuuming are just a little too dangerous right now too. 🙂

  • billiemick

    I think I feel faint! I was just telling my DH I need to practice my FMQ……maybe not. Heal quickly! and OUCH!!

  • Marianne

    Oh Lori,

    Hands are so important, and my empathy for you goes deep!

    In my quilt group, I have heard tales of this happening. However, your x-rays made a deep impression. Your ordeal made an impact because your regular entries impart wonderful ideas, experiences, inspiration, interaction, encouragement, and tutorials woven with your expert and charming rendering.

    You are truly brave to endure this ordeal with your graceful, outstanding attitude.

    Thank you for sharing your story, which will help many of us be more vigilant for the well-being of our fingers.

    Best wishes for a a quick recovery and a joyful Fall and Winter 2013 family and quilting season.

    Marianne

  • Your X-rays says it all, OUCH!!! Wishing you a speedy recovery, and time away from dirty dishes will do you good. I wonder why someone hasn’t come with needle resistant quilting gloves? Lol love your blog

  • Dang! There’s sewing your finger and then there’s sewing your finger, wow. I wonder it you will set off the metal detector at the airport security now? ;o)
    Hang in there.
    Always, Queenie

  • Sandy

    I got queasy just looking at the x-ray and I’m an OR nurse! Speedy recovery and I hope you are able to get someone to do the dishes. “Make haste slowly” is a good motto for all of us.

  • Big ouch. I think many of us have experienced stitching a finger, but I’ve never known anyone to break a needle and needing surgery. This is definitely a cautionary tale. I’m so sorry. Hope you feel 100% very soon.

    Quilting is a dangerous hobbie!

    SewCalGal
    http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

    • A

      My friend, Patty gave her finger a whirl in an immersion blender last month. Her comment was “homemaking is not for the feint of heart!” LOL!

  • OMG!!! I am so sorry for your injury.
    My nursing friends in the office are all amazed at your impressive x-rays!! But ….. as a sister… the second time this month!!! ?
    Just sayin.
    Love, Pat.

    • A

      Pat, I know, I know! Maybe the X-ray should have included the area above my neck? If it happens again, I may lose the keys to my sewing machine!

  • Oooooh Lori. That must have hurt after the shock wore off. My brother has a tiny part of a sewing machine needle left in the bone in his finger after playing with mum’s sewing machine when he was a wee child. He’s fifty years old now and there was no lasting effect. I hope you heal quick so you can do more freemotion quilting. Thanks for reminding us to treat our sewing machines with respect.

  • Super cool! And, as my mom would say “But did you avoid getting blood on the quilt?”

    😉

    Hope it heals well from now on out.

  • Annie L

    Oh Lori,
    I feel for you. I have only done that once and I know the pain!
    Wishing you a speedy recovery so we can enjoy your great posts. Not so speedy that you have to do the dishes though!

  • Claudia

    Oh, Lori, I am so sorry. Those x-rays look so painful and scary, and I can’t believe you had to have surgery. You poor thing. You have seemed very quiet this week, and now I know why. Please take care of yourself and thank you so much for the reminder to be careful with these powerful machines!

  • I did that not long ago too, but I was fortunate that the needle just went through the fingernail and the fleshy part of my finger top, barely missing the bone, and then came back out on its own. I was horrified! I knew I was lucky, but seeing what you’ve gone through, I have a new appreciation for just how lucky! Healing prayers sent your way!!!

  • Laura D

    I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it! It somehow reminds me of chem class and the asbestos trick we pulled off! LOL

  • Barb E

    Wishing you a quick recovery and that your finger is soon feeling better. It sure makes us all slow down while sewing. I heard that when you do this your fingers should stay out of dish soap for a year, LOL

  • Oh Lori! I know the feeling! That was my mistake in 1994 at the end of the machinequilting – same way – same broken needle. The quilt was a gift to a 50th birthday at the same day and I named the quilt “Three drops of blood”. There was no blood on the quilt, but the knocking in my finger…well you know yourself.
    Hope you feel better soon. I feel with you!
    Bea

  • Oh, no! I grimace looking at those x-rays. Such a difficult way to get out of doing the dishes, girl! Hope you mend quickly.

  • Susan Stanton

    Wishing you a speedy recovery so that you can get back to your passion quickly. Take care!

  • Jeanne Crea

    I am so sorry to hear that! Miss you at class! I have a book in my bag for you next time I see you. Heal quickly!

  • Ava Keeler

    Yikes! I did that once, but only went through “meat” so no surgery required. Hope you heal fast and will soon be able to get back to quilting!

  • How painful. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

    • A

      Thank you, Lea! I have so many Christmas ideas that I can’t wait to quilt again. Of course, I will try to net let my ideas move ahead of my fingers–which caused my inattentive quilting this week!

  • Sally stobaugh

    I am so sorry to hear about your injury. Praying for a speedy recovery.

    • A

      Thank you, Sally. I’m already feeling better and plan to clean my sewing room and do some quilting today. My Bernina is just fine–proves how sturdy they are!

  • Ouch!!! So what needle were you using? Top Stitch, Microtex, Titanium? Actually, have you mentioned your favorite Machine Quilting needle?

    • A

      Ironically, Needle selection was supposed to be our topic today–post poned until next Friday. I was stitching with a Universal needle. It is my favorite, unless I have problems…I will discuss that more next week…

  • JoAnn Clapacs

    Lori, Ouch. I hope you heal quickly enough to stitch again soon, Christmas is coming; but that you don’t have to do any dishes. My neighbor did that to herself when I was young, so I have been aware of those nasty needles since. Take care!

  • Patti

    Lori, I am so sorry to hear about your run in with an errant needle. I hope you are recuperating well. Put your feet up and read a good quilting magazine.
    Warmest regards,
    Patti

    • A

      I like how you call it an “errant needle” makes it sound like it was the needle’s fault and not mine!

    • A

      Thanks, Patti. I am much better already–now that the needle tip is out. I didn’t know it was in there so I walked around for two days before going to the doctor.

  • Ohhh that hurts my heart! But, the x-ray is so cool looking.
    Thanks for sharing your lesson, I will be more respectful of that needle that goes up and down.

    • A

      I think you are right–I need to be more respectful of my sewing machine as a heavy piece of equipment.

  • Pat (Sparky's Mom)

    Owwwwwwww! I’m glad you decided to go to the doctor. It could have gotten a lot worse and you STILL would have to go. Not sure if ‘no dishes’ is a fair trade.

  • Laura

    Oooohhh – Lori! Ouch! Feel better soon!

  • stipplequilt

    Oh my gosh Lori you really, really got it!! Enjoy the no dishes part!

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