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There are telltale physical signs that go hand-in-hand with many professions and hobbies. Chefs' hands are scarred with burn marks and cuts from knife accidents. Guitarists have long fingernails on their right hands for plucking. Swimmers have goggle hickeys around their eyes. Vioinists have a dark callous under the left side of their chins.

I'm not sure what's the giveaway for pianists. My hands are rather big and strong compared to the rest of me. And I've never met a pickle jar I couldn't open. But I don't have any scars or callouses to prove it.

I did, however, experience my first real sewing injury today. I'm not sure how it happened, but - now brace yourselves for this one, because it is Not Pretty - I somehow sewed through my finger this morning.

Before you go any further, be warned that it's a little gross. But rest assured, I'm totally fine, if a little sore.

Anyway, I was working on a pile of tote bags that I have volunteered to make and sell as a fundraiser for a local non-profit. Making these bags was giving me fits, which is a saga I will save for another time, but after some frustrations and setbacks, I finally got back on track this weekend. This morning I decided to try using the walking foot on my sewing machine, but it made feeding the fabric more difficult and goofed up the tension. After I broke a heavy-duty needle, I decided to switch back to a regular sewing foot, and within a few inches of the first seam, somehow my finger got stuck underneath and the needle went. right. through.

This is where it gets a little icky. You've been warned.

That's right. The needle went right through my finger. More precisely, it went in on the side of the nail and came out the bottom. I was momentarily horrified but had the presence of mind to turn the side knob and get the needle out of my finger right away. I also managed not to curse (out loud) or freak out too badly, since the kids were downstairs and I didn't want to scare them.

Anyway, all's well that end's well. It didn't bleed too much (hooray for a brand new very sharp needle, I suppose - good clean puncture wound), and it's still warm and throbbing but fortunately didn't hamper the string of rehearsals I had this afternoon.

When I told my mom about it, though, she was completely nonplussed. "Oh yeah, everyone does that at some point or another," she said. I guess it just comes with experience.

Comments

Lisa said…
I did the exact same thing a few months ago! I have no idea how it happened, other than I must have been tired and not paying attention.
Naycha said…
EWWW, eww, eww!!! That made my stomach flip flop, and not in a good way. So glad you made it through without too much blood loss. I can't believe you managed to endure it without a stream of curse words that would make a sailor blush. That would have been my reaction.
Anonymous said…
Ah yes. Your Aunt Mildred used to say that you were not an experienced sewer until you put a needle through your finger. I myself am not an experienced sewer.

And be glad it bled a little, as that tends to wash any bacteria out of the wound. Notice I said "little", not gushing.

Sorry I am delinquent in giving a response. I will use the excuse that I am busy.

Dad

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