I'm glad to see that someone else doesn't use a thimble. I have yet to find one that fits properly, is comfortable, and doesn't make me feel clumsy or claustrophobic. However, I find that if I cut the fingertips off of the clear vinyl exam gloves and slip them over my thumb and forefinger, I get a good grip on the needle. Lightweight and comfortable. When you're done sewing for the day, just throw them away. Cut more when you're ready to get back to sewing. Buying a whole box of them from Walmart, drug store, etc. is cheaper than buying them from some of catalogs. Plus, the ones in the catalogs appear to be a little bit thicker.