Originally Posted by ckcowl

so, i have been sewing for something like 45 years, and still do not know how to choose a thimble that fits....i have probably a dozen thimbles stashed here and there, ones i've purchased that were too small...too big...pinches my finger, fall's off, catches the thread with every other stitch....
i did finally learn there are times when i wish i had a thimble that fits...
looking in catalogs some are sized with small, medium & large...and some have numbers...7,8,9???what do these mean? how do you know what size you should get?
i would love to order a good, fairly expensive thimble but when i can't even find a $10 one that works for me???
i just don't know what to do. most of the shops around that carry them have them packaged so you can not try them on before you purchase them; i have tried adjustable ones...the thread gets caught in the opening. Is there a standard sizing chart? is it just trial and error until you find "the-one?"
i know there are dozens of different styles, but how do you figure out a size?