Reddit reviews Band-Aid Brand Hydro Seal Adhesive Bandages For Toe Blisters, Waterproof Blister Pads, 8 ct

I've sewn a number of garments entirely by hand (by choice, not necessity). Back stitches are absolutely strong enough! Sometimes I've even found them to be stronger than machine stitching.

On a basic quilting cotton or equivalent weight fabric, my backstitches tend to be between 1/16" and 1/8" long. On something heavier like a denim, canvas, or heavy twill, they're a bit larger, somewhere between 1/8" and 3/16". On very lightweight fabrics (which you're probably not putting under much stress anyway), you can even use a tiny running stitch with no problems.

The key for me seems to be in the thread. Using a low-quality thread will cause endless frustration. Use higher-quality thread with a uniform width and smooth surface, that doesn't fray or snap or untwist itself when stitching. You don't have to double over, but you might want a slightly thicker thread than what you'd use on a machine (totally optional).

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other miscellaneous tips:

• Don't cut your thread lengths atrociously long -- try keeping it under 18 inches, and just knotting off more frequently. Long lengths of thread are unwieldy and more likely to form knots; they also get very weak halfway through, as the thread closer to the needle has been pulled through and subject to far more fabric friction by the time it actually forms a stitch.
  
• Beeswax! Get a little beeswax block, and coat each length of thread by pulling it through the block a couple times. You don't need much. This helps keep the thread from tangling as you're stitching.
  
• Figure out your preferred thimble variant. Even if you're only sewing lightweight fabric and don't have any difficulty pushing the needle through, the constant repetitive motion will wear down the skin on your fingertips. Some people like the traditional metal bucket thimble, some people like that same shape but prefer a rubber or leather version. Some people use any of a variety of ring-style ones that don't cover your whole fingertip. Personally, I find them all a little cumbersome and distracting, so I like to use an adhesive hydrocolloid bandage on the pad of my right middle fingertip (my needle-pushin' finger). I don't have to worry about it shifting or falling off, and it's similar enough to natural skin texture that I don't lose any sensitivity in my fingertip. It's like an artificial callus, just thick/strong enough to prevent the eye of the needle from digging into or piercing my skin.
  
• You have a vast variety of hand stitches at your disposal, so don't feel limited to just backstitch/running stitch. Try out some new decorative or functional stitches and how they might replace machine functions (like using a blanket stitch on a raw edge instead of a zig-zag, or closing a cuff with a whipstitch, or using a simple embroidery stitch or saddle stitch instead of machine topstitching).
  
• When sewing a long straight seam, try anchoring the fabric to something to free up some dexterity in your hands. I usually handstitch cross-legged, so I'll pin the seam (the knot end, with the first stitches I made) to my jeans and use that to tension my fabric. My right hand holds the needle and makes the stitches, and my left hand pulls the fabric taught and manipulates it to make the right hand's job faster. You could also try clamping the fabric to a table to the same effect.
  
  Be patient, and good luck! I'm glad there's someone else here who likes doing things the long way!
  
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Hydrocolloid dressings are a self-adhesive gel-forming dressing that allow for a moist wound healing environment and pull out drainage from a wound. You can find them in the pharmacy marketer as blister bandages. They also sell some meant for blemishes. CVS sometimes carries Peach Slices acne patches and you can find various sources for the COSRX acne pimple master patches. The main idea is to try to leave on at least 12 hours, but 24 hours is better. I also get cystic acne and this technique works a treat for me!

Just poke the tiniest hole in it, cover it with a hydro colloidal bandage (you can get specific “pimple patches” from Ulta, etc or just use the Band Aid blister bandages), then leave it covered as long as needed. The bandage holds in moisture but also sucks out the pus. You can cut the Band Aid kind down to size.

https://www.ulta.com/acne-pimple-master-patch?productId=xlsImpprod16661021&sku=2517360&cmpid=PS_Non!google!Product_Listing_Ads&cagpspn=pla&CATCI=pla-459819642948&CAAGID=41574836298&CAWELAID=330000200001239843&CATARGETID=330000200001464274&cadevice=m&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIv_qm2oaU5AIVFNVkCh1hgAuGEAUYBCABEgKZYvD_BwE

https://www.amazon.com/Band-Aid-Adhesive-Bandages-Blisters-Waterproof/dp/B077TQR37W/ref=asc_df_B077TQR37W/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309765225568&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8881100639377960379&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9029376&hvtargid=pla-568486703883&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=70155173228&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=309765225568&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8881100639377960379&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9029376&hvtargid=pla-568486703883

I use hydrocolloid blister band-aids (like this one) preemptively when I'm breaking shoes in, and start to get blisters, or even rubbing indicating an oncoming blister.

Hydro Seal bandages are amazing, well worth the extra money.