Well.. It has finally happened folks. I say that because I feel like this is the thing that inevitably happens to all quilters. Or maybe that's what I am telling myself to feel better..
It was a normal night of late quilting for me. I usually retreat to my basement sewing corner once the kiddos are down for the night. My husband came up to retrieve our 10 month old and asked me the nightly question "Are you going to go sew"? I grimaced and complained that it was ALREADY almost 9:00pm (it was 8:30pm).
"It's so late.. I won't even be able to accomplish that much.. I am already tired..." I just started rattling off any excuse I could think of to NOT go down to the basement for the night. He scoffed and reminded me that we used to stay up late in our pre-kid lives. He took Louise down to the living room so he could enjoy a few hours of Zelda and baby cuddles and I reluctantly dragged my sleepy butt downstairs.
It started off well.. I got on a video call with my Quilty friend Haylie (@thethriftedquilter) and we began to work on a test block we were assigned to do that day. We were having a grand ole time sewing and chatting. She lives in Canada so I was asking her about what its like up there. Somehow we arrived to the discussion of her oldest son being obsessed with Donald Trump. I must have lost focus around this time because seconds later I looked down and saw RED. I didn't even feel anything but I almost immediately noticed blood beginning to pool on the side of my hand. I remember saying "Oh my gosh Haylie, I just did something but I can't tell you what it is".. still observing my hand as the pool of blood grew. I eventually said "I am so embarrassed but I cut my finger and I think I have to go now". (Because in my mind just hanging up would be very inconsiderate and abrupt)
I kept my hand cupped and quickly walked up the stairs.. trying to not wake up our sleeping baby and half asleep husband.. It didn't take my husband long to get the sense that something was wrong. He came upstairs to assess the damage and even complimented me on my ability to preserve our carpet (the kitchen floor was not as lucky). We came to the conclusion that there was no way we would be able to stop the bleeding on our own.
Long story short that is how I ended up in urgent care Monday night.
It took quite some time for the initial (and extreme) embarrassment to wear off but I have decided to look at this incident with a glass half full perspective.
I did not slice my finger open on an Instagram live. I instead mortified my quilting friend in a private video call.
I am now up to date on my tetanus immunization.
I have finally earned my "Quilter's Badge". I feel like I have completed initiation into a sacred group of fellow clumsy quilters.
I did not get ANY blood on my project. PHEW!
It was a brand new blade so I hardly felt a thing.
My project turned out wonderful and I was able to get some curve piecing practice in.
So maybe in my next YouTube video I should discuss some rotary cutter safety tips?
Has this ever happened to you before? What is your biggest sewing catastrophe?! Send me a message and let me know.
Happy and SAFE sewing everyone!
Beth
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