thimbles aren't expensive, but it needs to suit your finger and your style.
i couldn't figure ti out for the life of me until i took an afternoon workshop. three hours of instruction (or at least it was a three our workshop with a lot of doing) really made the whole process make sense to me. it was well worth the money to take that class
i am still slower than empires, but i am consistent. i love it, though sometimes i wish it was much much faster.
it's so meditative. i feel like handquilting stitches your thoughts and feelings right into the fabric.
but don't get sleepy...then you also stitch dna samples in (poke poke).
aileen