Monday, December 14, 2009

War Wounds

Sewing is serious business. We all have burns from irons. Well, I got the mother of all wounds on Friday. I sewed through my finger. Yep. Twice. Don't ask me how it happened, because I honestly don't know. All I know is I was sewing away and my machine stopped. I looked, and the needle was down...through my finger! Here's a little pic:I was the most popular patient in the ER. They removed the larger of the three pieces (yes-three). It took 3 people and a pair of heavy-duty pliers. Here's what they pulled out:
As I was sitting in my room, I heard the nurse yell down the hall :

"BARBARA! You should see the SIZE of that needle I just pulled out of that girl's finger."
...pause...
"The GIRL! The GIRL WHO SEWED THROUGH HER FINGER!!!"
Well, I'm glad I could be entertaining.

In case you're wondering, it didn't hurt at all when it happened. That came later. What hurt even worse was when they shot me up with Lydacaine. After some tetanus shots and a prescription for heavy duty antibiotics, I was sent home. I have to meet with an orthopedic surgeon to have the rest surgically removed. The worst part is I can't even sew with this huge metal brace on my finger!

In other news, the giveaway is still on schedule. Due to the huge turnout, I am thinking of adding two more prizes. Yep. That's right--FOUR chances to win!!
Watch your fingers-please!!

30 comments:

Alyson said...

Oh, I just keep waiting for the day this happens to me! So sorry about your injury; you are handling it so well! Hope your finger is in sewing shape soon...

Jessica said...

Um, ouch! Hope you feel better and are able to sew again soon!

PamKittyMorning said...

Yikes that's horrid! I was machine quilting when I sewed thru mine. Glad I could get the needle out myself, the cure sounds worse than the wound.

Sweet Baby Jamie said...

So sorry to hear that, oh dear! The pain of the wound, and of not being able to sew, too much to bare!! I always have that fear that I'm going to do that someday, I will be more careful!! Heal fast!

Tricia said...

Oh my gosh! OUCH! Surgically removed?! I fear the day this happens to me :(

Mia's Cottage said...

OMG!!! how sad for you! Anything is possible though, ouch! Hope you feel better!
Donna

Linnea said...

Ouch, ouch, ouch!I hope you heal up fast and can get back to your machine soon.

Sherri said...

I am so afraid of this happening...soo sorry...get better soon!

Angela Nash said...

That's the second finger I've seen sewn! Things always happen in threes - and I have a huge gift to quilt. I will be wathing my fingers very closely!

Anonymous said...

I will never forgive you for telling me on the phone. I still hear my own scream in my ears. Glad I was alone in the store at the time! I'll be by for a sympathy visit soon. :)

Kaye Prince said...

Poor Jennifer! Sewing "incidents" (we shall now refer to this as "the incident") are not fun! A couple of months ago I was sewing away, the needle broke, shot up in the air and cut my lip open. Dunno how it happened, but it did. I should have went your way and took a picture! Hope you can get back to sewing soon!

Joy said...

Oh Jennifer you poor thing!!! Ooooh just the thought of it makes me shudder ~ ouch!!
Sending great big hugs and I hope your poor finger is feeling better soon!!!
Hugs,
Joy :o)

SewAmy said...

oh Jennifer, that is awful. I feel the pain in my finger for you. Ouch. Hope it heals fast.

Jeanette said...

Ouch girl, that's horrible! Hope the surgeon is able to get you all taken care of and you heal quickly!

bettyp said...

Hahaha !! I have done this so many times while free motion quilting but never had the needle break in the finger !! You'll be up and sewing in no time !!

SheilaC said...

Y-ouch!!! I have sewn my finger before, but never got the needle stuck in it like that!!!

Glad they took care of you at the ER!

hugs
SheilaC

Lissa Jane said...

Oh dear.. Oh my gosh... OUCH... I haven't done this yet but apparently its a rite of passage if you are a sewer????? take those drugs and take care of yourself... I cannot even fathom how painful it would be to do that.. my grandma used to be a seamstress and had done this on more than one occassion!


take care and quilty huggers to you


Lissa
Australia

Amy said...

Oh my goodness, my stomach just flipped over on itself. I think I'll be minding my pinkies when I'm next at the machine!

Hope you get better soon.

I just found your blog by the way and have been happily reading old entries - your work is beautiful :)

Melanie said...

Oh My! I must admit - this has been a fear of mine ever since high school. My home ec teacher told the story of how she sewed through her finger one day, but the needle got stuck in the bone so she had to get her neighbour to pull it out with a pair of plyers.

Kris said...

Oh my goodness! I hope the recovery and surgery continue to go well!

Petit Design Co. said...

OUCH! I'm sure it hurt afterward! I got my finger caught by the shuttle race hook and that hurt like, well it just hurt a lot. I can't imagine having the needle through my finger and stuck! I think I would have passed out!

Stitched With Prayer said...

Oh my word! I can't even imagine how bad your finger is hurting now. I'm so sorry to know you suffered this injury. I have sewn through my finger a couple of time, years ago but the needle, fortunately did not break, I was able to lift it out of my finger and only required a tetenus shot and a few antibiotics. Yes it throbbed for a few days but NOTHING compared to what you are going through. Then to read you have to have the last piece removed by an orthopedic surgeon!!! This has to be some kind of record for sewing/quilting injuries. I'll be keeping you in my prayers that everything works out well and you heal up quickly so you can get back to some serious sewing. Sending big hugs your way.

Joyful Quilter said...

I did that when I was about 10, the first time I ever tried to quilt anything. I don't think I got 2 squares sewed together before I put the needle in my finger. I was so surprised that I jerked my hand away breaking the needle at the top. A neighbor pulled the rest out (I don't think I was suppose to be sewing since no one was home - talk about getting caught). Hope your finger is better soon.

Anonymous said...

OMG....I'm just catching up and reading this incident and feeling absolutely ill. Did somebody get you to the hospital? How are you feeling now? Ouch...I just keeping thinking ouch and you seem to be handling it all very well... I'll be looking at my machine a wee worried today....hee!

kimland said...

HOLY COW... I can sew see this happening to me. That looks very tender. That is a true war wound...shudders with chills. I hope this is just an inconvenience and doesn't spoil your holidays. Keep us updated.

Kate D. Spain said...

Yikes! i hope you're feeling better, Jennifer. Things like that happen so quickly, don't they? Not quite the same, but the night before last I had gone to pick up a pan that only moments before i had taken out of a 375 degree oven (it didn't LOOK hot!) Anyway, take care and thank you for the reminder to be careful.

arlette said...

Holy cow!!!, your machine almost kill you, geez!, I'm scared it happen to me because I'm amateur, I'm really sorry to hear what happened to you. Hope you feel better soon, ouch!, hugs!

Gloria J W said...

ooohhh Jennifer... and again...ohhhhh, you poor, poor thing!! I've come quite close a couple of times and wondered how I could possible do it...it's easy..right!! Hope you're better soon and a Merry Christmas... rainbow smiles... Gloria

prashant said...

I hope this is just an inconvenience and doesn't spoil your holidays. Keep us updated.
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Joyce said...

Oh my, so sorry this had to happen so near the holidays. I hope the healing is quick and your back to the machine soon.