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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: corinne annette
Date: 06-14-2004, 06:55 PM (1 of 11)
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Hello everyone ! I'm Corinne I live in Iowa and I'm here looking for help. 2 years ago I suffered a stroke following a neck injury when I was 30 I survived some how. and now I'm 1 handed as my left nondominant hand is still paralyzed I used to sew constantly and very well I'm a bit of a perfectionist. and I'm struggeling with sewing on-handed anyone have any suggestions for what I can do to help guide the fabric now that I've relearned how to thread my machine?I miss sewing desperately snd now have to force myself to sit at my Singer since it's so frustrating thanks for any ideas! -Corinne |
User: corinne annette
Member since: 06-14-2004 Total posts: 2 |
From: mamahoogie
Date: 06-14-2004, 07:17 PM (2 of 11)
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I'm so sorry about your stroke and although I don't have any suggestions for you I want you to know that if you keep trying different things, you will find what works for you. I know this because my dear aunt had a stroke when she had her son and lost the use of right side, and she was right handed. This was almost 50 years ago, before physical therapy, etc. and she had to teach herself how to be left-handed, one-handed and a new mother all at once. She did too. She learned to cut out material and sew clothes for herself and their kids (they adopted a bi-racial daughter). It was a struggle but she did it, and so can you. I remember when her and my uncle used to come over to play cards and one of the others would shuffle the deck for her but she dealt the cards when it was her turn. I tried to do that with one hand and couldn't at all but she did it perfectly. Good luck and don't ever give up. Violet I've decided to live forever - so far, so good.
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User: mamahoogie
Member since: 12-25-2002 Total posts: 461 |
From: MaryW
Date: 06-15-2004, 10:42 AM (3 of 11)
Hi Corinne, welcome to Sew Whats New.  You are a very determined lady. Can you use your left arm, say the elbow? MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 06-15-2004, 12:20 PM (4 of 11)
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Corrinne, I don't know if you know much about antique sewing equipment or not , but it seems to me that a 'sewing bird' would be a helpful tool for you.. You could also get someone to make you a substitute by hammering a spring-grip clothes pin onto a piece of wood and attach this in a firm manner to a table or something to hold fabric still while you cut out or pin or whatever.. I had a friend whose Mom only had one hand, and that lady sewed.. She did have an elbow she used for leverage, though.. Try the sewing bird idea.. Good luck to you..I admire your courage.. Keep it up, girlfriend. (I hope you will be my friend) I do love people who don't give up.. 
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: corinne annette
Date: 06-15-2004, 03:57 PM (5 of 11)
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hey all thanks for the suggestions ! I will come up with something, I use fabric tac instead of pinning that works okI had thought of putting a weight on a retractable arm I'll let you know what I come up with -Corinne |
User: corinne annette
Member since: 06-14-2004 Total posts: 2 |
From: stitchmd
Date: 06-16-2004, 09:50 AM (6 of 11)
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Corinne have you been treated by an occupational therapist? If so did you present this specific problem for help in working out how to do it? As a retired OT I know that very few know how to sew and the trend is towards straight exercise, like PT's, since that is what patients, family, other medical professionals understand. The heart of OT, though, is performing functional activities. You might have to shop around to find someone who is able to work with you on this specific task. You will have to deal with insurance issues to figure out how to get the therapy covered. I'm sure you will work out strategies as you go along, but two heads are better than one and having someone puzzling this with you will help you continue rather than give up in frustration. A therapist knows how to use a partially paralyzed limb to assist with the task, knows how to position things, can suggest more tools to help stabilize materials, etc. Please stay patient and determined. Stroke recovery continues lifelong, but is so slow at times you can't see the progress. Using your body for everyday chores helps stimulate your brain and increases your improvements. |
User: stitchmd
Member since: 02-25-2003 Total posts: 226 |
From: beach girl
Date: 06-16-2004, 11:43 AM (7 of 11)
| If your wanting a sewing bird, Clotilde sells them in her catalog for $ 6.98 plus S&H. She calls them the third hand. I got mine from JoAnn's. Are you looking for something on the right side or the left to guide your fabric ? I take it you want for the left but might have misunderstood. If on the right & your machine is not computerized theres a metal magnet that fits onto your machine to guide fabric. If on the left side, I'm wondering if you'd take a narrow piece of sanded wood the length you needed & higher than the base of your machine,clamp it down so it wouldn't move on you. Then you could move it to the width you need it each time. Hope I explained it so you know what I mean. Theresa |
User: beach girl
Member since: 11-08-2003 Total posts: 72 
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From: paroper
Date: 06-16-2004, 09:04 PM (8 of 11)
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I think the OT idea is a good one! Most would be thrilled to have someone to help who wanted to do something...many of their patients are not as motivated! If you approached your doctor, they might give you a referral for OT help. I worked with a woman who had a stroke on the delivery table with her fourth child (all four were in diapers). Her whole left side was useless...and so was her husband. She took care of those children diaper to college with one hand...and she was a wonderful mother and an amazing person! Good luck to you!
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: MartySews
Date: 06-18-2004, 11:48 PM (9 of 11)
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At age 24 (in 1977) I had my first stroke and went thru intensive physical therapy to regain the use of my paralyzed side. I have regained most of the function and only experience occasional weakness in my left hand (cannot grip anything). I have had 4 more strokes and 12 heart failures since then. I still sew as much as I can but it took me almost 2 years to regain use of my left side. Do explore an occupational therapist to help you learn to use the muscles in your paralyzed hand. Ask a sewing buddy or DH to help with the pinning and cutting of fabric. Try not to get discouraged and give up. Happy Stitching! Marty
It takes one moment to change a life.
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User: MartySews
Member since: 02-23-2003 Total posts: 504 
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From: Is2sew
Date: 09-19-2004, 08:00 PM (10 of 11)
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Wow.. just wanted to say thank you to all the ladies who recommended Corinne try some Occupational Therapy. We usually dont get that much good press. I have been an OT for 9 years now and have helped several ppl learned to do their arts and crafts one handed or in a different manner. I wish you lived closer Corinne as I would be glad to help you out. But I will be thinking about this issue and see what I can come up with. Is2sew 
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User: Is2sew
Member since: 09-19-2004 Total posts: 1 |
From: Sewhappie
Date: 09-23-2004, 10:51 AM (11 of 11)
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lt's a posting like this one that makes this site so great!!!!! Blessing to all of you for your advise to this great lady. Mary, I don't think we tell you enough just how thankful we are for this site. Your "angels" are at it again.  Something I would like to add for Corrine, if you are not able to lift the presser foot with ease talk to your repair man about putting a knee lift on your machine. This item is on Industrial machines, and enables the operater to lift the presser foot hands free, with just a lite shift of your leg. Bernina makes their machines presser lift ready. Being left handed myself and having gone through OT for a bumb left shoulder and arm, I will try and do some things at home, without my hand to see if there is anything I could help with. I do know alot of people swear by weights instead of pins for patterns, industrial electric sheers for cutting out patterns. I can check with my old Supervisor about companies that make them and sell to the public. What about using tiny grips that you can get at Home Inprovement stores to hold the pieces together , once they are cut ( instead of pins). Take a wooden yard stick and have someone cut it into strips the length of your machine bed, front to back. Glue 3 or 4 on top of each other then check to see if there is a guide screwhole on the bed of your machine, if the wood covers it, drill holes into it, at various spots to allow you to move it in and out for seam depth, and use a screw to attach this to the bed with a extended wingnut screw. The height will help your good hand, as a resting place to be able to use your fingers to work the material through and as a fabric guide. We used this trick at work when someone would have problems with their hands or wrists, and still had clean even seams. Also try starting your sewing with a piece of heavier material under the foot, sew it through following with your project, once the piece is clear of the foot, hook a sewing bird to it, or something else that is weighty to help pull the fabric behind the machine. Just don't give up, make sure you try each day to practice!!!!!! |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
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