Thimbles are kind of a get used to thing. Took me a long time to get used to using a thimble, now can't sew without them. Think the tipping point was when my hands became to tender to sew without them. I started out with the semi-soft ones from JoAnns but went back to my mothers favorite the metal with a ridge along the tip. I have swelling in my hands so I have several sizes. Trust me, if you use it for a very short period, you'll never go back.