Yes thimbles are an acquired habit. I fought it for years and have finally succumbed. Got tired of not just the pain but actually HEARING the back end of my needle punching through my finger!! (kind of a 'crunch' sound) Can't hand sew without one now! But I still use my thumbnail for quilting away from me. It's fine...till I wear a hole in my nail, then I have to wait a week or two till the nail grows out enough to keep going. LOL