Moving The Needle
How Do I ... Use Needle Grippers & Tuggers
There are so many things that I love about hand stitching. I love the meditative rhythm of passing a needle and thread through fabric. I love the sense of accomplishment I get from creating with my hands. I love experimenting with different threads, colors and stitches and allowing my imagination to play. But, there are also some challenges that come with hand stitching that I am always trying to find ways to work around or improve. One of the biggest ones in recent years has been hand fatigue and pain from repetitive use. Needle Grippers & Tuggers have been a big help.
This family of tools goes by many different names - needle grippers, tuggers, silicone thimbles, etc… but no matter what you call them they all basically do the same thing - they help move your needle through fabric (especially thick material or multiple layers) more easily. For at least the last 6 years, the number one best selling item in my shop has been the Little House Needle Grippers, so I know that many stitchers are looking for a solution to this common problem. Curious how needle grippers work? In the following video I demonstrate 4 different types of needle grippers/tuggers and when you might want to use each one.
If you’d like to take a closer look at any of the tools featured in this video they are …
While I use all of the tools mentioned in the video above in different projects, the one that I probably use the most is the 3-in-1 Needle Puller. This also happens to be one of the gadgets that I get asked most often how it works.
The 3-in-1 needle puller is (as the name suggests…) a needle puller, a needle pusher (thimble) and a thread cutter all in one. It takes a minute to get the hang of it, but once you figure out the rhythm of pushing and pulling it makes hand stitching sessions a breeze.
Since hand stitching is my primary form of stress relief these days, taking care of my hands has become a priority in recent years. I’ve learned a lot about the importance of stretches, strengthening exercises and taking more breaks during my marathon stitch sessions, and I am always grateful for useful tools that help make the process easier while lessening the stress that I put on my hands. If you know of any other great tools, tips or tricks for making hand stitching easier please share! I’d love to hear about them.
Thank you so much. I need all the help I can get. In the last year, I have developed carpal tunnel syndrome, I think. I am going to the doctor today so we’ll see what he says. Since stitching and gardening are two of my passions, I kinda need my hands!
Thank you Claudia for explaining how to use the 3-in-one to relieve a lot of stress when hand stitching 😖😣😊