I understand your frustration since I'm also a hand quilter. We travel a lot from PA to FL and I've not found a LQS that teaches hand quilting. I also purchased Aunt Becky but I never could get the hang of it. I'm also NOT a thimble person. I use the thimble when I need to push the needle through a thick part. Let's keep on with our HQ and keep the art well and alive.