Not too long ago, I purchased a set of Quilter’s Grips when Joann’s had their notions half price. I’ll be honest — I was probably tempted to buy them because they were blue, but I always like trying out new gadgets, too.
The manufacturer says, “Using Quilters Grips gives you a rigid grip for pushing fabric when free motion quilting. Their easy on-off design provides the flexibility to control your machine and your fabric while maintaining your grip.”
Again, I know I have fairly large hands, and I definitely felt my fingers were squished with them on my finger tips. I tried to wear them with my little finger free, but then they were too big. I also felt like I had much less control. Their surface is fairly smooth, so I didn’t feel like I could control the fabric at all. Maybe it would have been better if the surface was more rubbery, or if there were nubs on the bottom surface similar to the finger tips I reviewed yesterday. In addition, I’m used to spreading my thumbs and fingers out wide so I can smooth out the area I will be quilting. With the Quilter’s Grips on my hands, I found that I ended up guiding the quilt sandwich with the heals of my hands instead of my finger tips. Plus, I couldn’t feel through the quilt to make sure there were no bumps or lumps. I felt like these were a huge hindrance, so here’s one more tool I can weed out of my studio!
By the end of the day, I had the baby quilted, the baby quilt he’s laying on, the reaching arms, and the mother’s clothes. I was working on her hair when I broke a needle and then a little while later the thread broke, so I called it quits for the day. I’m not sure if I’ll have much time to quilt on Monday, but I hope to be back to work on it on Tuesday.
Comments
9 responses to “Product Review: Quilter’s Grip”
Hi Maria! Sounds like these grippers are not really a workable item-thanks for sharing the info!
My favorite “tool” for guiding my quilt sandwiches is the product Diane Gaudynski favors, Neutrogena’s Norwegian Formula creme. Non-greasy, and you really only need to apply it to fingertips. Great on dry winter skin, too!
Thanks, JanetT! I’ll look for it next time at the store.
It’s available most anywhere–pharmacy departments of big box stores or grocery stores as well as drugstores themselves. I don’t know if quilt stores have caught on yet. ๐ I like the unscented version myself.
My hands have been especially dry lately, so I’m ready to try a new lotion.
just looking at them without reading your comments made my claustrophobia crop up!!! I like my gloves–somehow they don’t bother me unless I’ve been fmq’ing for an hour or so.
Have you ever tried the gloves that have the grippers on them? I even saw in Pinterest a way to make them by taking gloves and putting that puff paint (I used to use years ago) on the spots you need some ‘grip.’ Thought that might fit your fingers better and maybe you could feel through it better too.
I have a pair I’m going to be trying soon.
Eeek! They look uncomfy. Thanks for trying them so we don’t have to ๐