I have also used big rubber bands the ones like they put around brocclie they work great for pulling needles through quilts.An it's recycleing to.I've also gotten the band they put around your arm when they go to draw blood outta your arm.Cause they can only use them once.SO I get the ones from when my hubby had surgeries on his armsanthen when my daughter had the grand babies.So i have enough of them to last me a life time an have memories while sewing.About the babies beibg born I was there for both of them.An when hubby had his shoulder worked on an other things like that.I can't use a regular thumble an I got one of just about any kind you can think of.