Coming to terms with a disability that threatens to curtail your enjoyment of sewing and in particular patchwork and quilting is not easy. First there is the inevitable question of will I ever be able to stitch again and if so how well? Then there is the frustratingly slow progress of even attempting to hold a piece of fabric and sewing a couple of stitches. Finally after much perseverance you look at what you have achieved and are horrified at the quality – did I really produce that? Well, if like me you have a determined streak and refuse to ‘give up’ there are ways and means of learning to adapt, which can make sewing just that little bit easier.

A couple of years back I suffered a horrific injury to my left arm (thankfully I am right handed), which has left me with impaired use of both arm and hand. One of the things I still have real difficulty with is using a rotary cutter and ruler. Due to an ongoing problem, I have trouble putting sufficient pressure on a ruler such that it doesn't slip. My solution has been to stick fabric grippers to the bottom of all of my rulers (effectively little circles of sandpaper or rubber) and then to place my old-fashioned kitchen weights to the top once I have positioned the ruler. It may not be an elegant solution but it works really well. Invisigrip™, a special 'peel off film' that you can add to the bottom of rulers to prevent slippage, comes highly recommended but I have yet to try this personally.

Another item that has proved indispensable is a walking foot for my machine - my 'sewing control' isn't what it was and this has proved one indispensable tool, worth the somewhat seemingly hefty price tag. I have recently tried a Pfaff with its IDT system and this is even better. Many sewing machines are coming on to the market these days with a similar system to IDT or offering some form of adjustable ‘foot pressure’ - one will certainly be on my wish list for my next machine.

What I have yet to solve is how to do free motion quilting without achieving awkward angles in my vermicelli - I will however persevere. A friend has recently lent me a 'Quilt Sew Easy' hoop and I am finding that quite useful. A large flat bed (usually an optional extra) is also a great help as this ensures that the quilt remains flat whilst you are working on it and avoids the likelihood of it trying to ‘fall off’ the side of the machine bed.

When it comes to hand quilting – my secret is to do a little and often, thereby reducing too much strain on the arm/hand but still building up the muscles and manual dexterity – it also makes you very popular with your physiotherapist! A hoop is essential to hold the fabric layers taut and need not cost the earth. I use a large embroidery hoop without a stand, but I am sure a stand would make life much easier - personally I cannot adjust to one after many years of hand held hoops. Threading needles was a problem until I discovered ‘Big eye’ quilting needles (by John James in the UK) – these are much easier to thread and if I still have trouble, the ‘larger’ eye can accommodate a wire type needle threader.

Gadgets and gizmos are great but nothing can replace the need to try, try and try again, after all ‘practise will make perfect’ …. one day.