my advice for starting hand-quilters is get thimble that fits well and has a ridge on the end to catch your needle as you make your rocking motion, otherwise the needle can slip off the end and cause all kinds of headaches-knot the end of the thread that is closest to the spool-thread has a grain to it if you knot the end you put into the eye it is like pulling the fur on a cats tail the wrong way and the thread will knot and twist. Take your time and grow a callus on your under hand and you will no long hurt from pin pricks. It will become a very relaxing passion --good luck