Originally Posted by Gal
I used the nail on my thumb to push the needle through it is very strong and I had no trouble, however I was quilting away from me instead of towards myself, I realise that now since I watched a lady on Utube!
Gal
I too struggle with thimbles and do exactly what you do. I push the needle with my thumbnail or my index finger nail. So I quilt away from myself when using my thumb and towards myself when using my index. I eventually "drill" a hole through my fingernail and have to wait for it to grow out a bit again. I use #11 Roxanne betweens and hand quilting thread. It takes a long time to hand quilt for me. I am currently on my 4th handquilted bed size quilt and I have been quilting for 20+ years. I have gotten to the point where I can not sit idle in front of the boob tube. I must have some handwork. Be it a tied quilt, hand quilting or a bit of hand applique. I truly suck at applique so I don't tend to do too much of that. I did spring for some hoity-toity sterling silver thimbles that have the back cut away for the fingernail. I can use those kind of. I can't start the stitch with a thimble, even these fancy ones. So I start it with no thimble, take a stitch or two then slide the thimble on. Because I am self-taught I still have to push the needle with index or thumb and those are the two fingers I bought the thimbles for. I have mild carpal tunnel but it is from working on a computer not from sewing and so far it has not caused me much trouble when sewing other than the numbness in my fingertips.