I just love all kinds of hand work, knitting, crocheting, embroidery hand piecing, and quilting. Way back when Simply Quilts was on TLC, they were taking about quilting and Alex said that it was good to learn to quilt with your thumb. Your thumb has the most muscles in it,or at least the most strength. So I decided I'd thumb quilt. I HATE thimbles and use one only when I quilt. I use those black leather ones that have a little metal tip in them, but don't use the tip as I use the flat part of my thumb. I quilt away from myself, as is the case when thumb quilting. I also use one of those yellow plastic and metal Needle Pullers to pull the tip of my needle through the fabric. And I use a smaller hoop as it's more comfortable for me than a large one.
I think the theory of thumb quilting is so you can quilt toward you with your fingers, and away from yourself with the thumb and not have to turn your work as much. Does this help or give anyone new ideas of how to quilt?
Janis