My grandmother tried for years to teach me to use a thimble and was totally unsuccessful. She insisted and I resisted. I just cannot keep a metal thimble onnmy finger. I sewed for years without one and pierced my finger countless times. A couple years ago I discovered the Clover silicone thimbles with the metal tip. Yeah! They stay on my finger and I don't even notice I'm wearing one. Many times I've left the sewing room and gone to start dinner only to find out that the thimble is still there when I go to wash my hands. :-)