I have had a thought about learning to use the thimble - it's how I learned to use one.
Back many many years ago when I was in the Army I had a need to sew patches on my shirts. I had a small sewing kit which contained a cheap plastic thimble. After almost bleading on my new shirt and patches, I finally got out the thimble.......it solved my problem. Sometime we have to be forced to do something to learn how to do it.