I had trouble with thimbles until I got the little plastic one that you can boil and adjust it to your finger. But then I found TJ Lane thimbles and she makes them to size. Over the years I have bought 4 of them. (I love the different designs and decided I needed a heart, then the angel, then the fairy and a butterfly.) She doesn't come to San Diego so have to find what is new at the Road to CA show in Ontario. I have tried to use the generic ones now and they just fall off.