For regular hand sewing, like you are doing, I like the little leather dots that stick on your finger at the point where the needle hits. Even though I hand quilt and have learned to use a metal thimble (after trying many different kinds with different amounts of success) for quilting, when I hand sew (different motion than quilting) I would always use the finger that didn't have the thimble on it, to push the needle. About a year ago my aunt gave me the little dots to try and they work for me. For quilting I use the Clover bronze colored open faced adjustable thimble, and I use the Roxanne thimble. I love both of these, they are very similar in style, they allow me to push the needle with the pad of my finger rather than the end, and that is what is most comfortable for me now. The Roxanne thimble is pretty expensive so when I needed a different size for when my fingers swell, I found the Clover one and noticed how similar they seemed, so I bought it and I do like it.