I have not used a thimble much as I always felt they were cumbersome.....but, recently I have been doing more hand sewing and one night I was pushing the need through several layers and ended up pushing the needed right through my finger - literally in one side and out the other! So I pulled out the old metal thimble that I think used to belong to my grandmother. I really don't like how it feels so I am going to look into some of the others that y'all have mentioned. Good thread! Terina