I wrap a band-aid around my thumb and middle finger. It really helps. Never could use a thimble.

They now make leather thimbles, that work much better for those of us who are thimble challenged, or like me, have my father's stubby fingers.

Now I think I understand the concept of collecting thimbles -- we keep buying ones that we can't or won't use, so we just say we are 'collecting' them!!

I can't use one either. I have long nails and use the back of my index fingernail. I have a little callous on the middle finger from pushing the needle. I am left handed but sew righthanded. I know it is very strange. The only thing I do with my left hand is write.

I, too, swear by the leather thimbles.

I have a leather one too and I like it very much. Also they make bright colored rubber ones as well as little rounds (what ever they are called) that have sticky on one side to stick to you finger instead of using a thimble. I have never tried those.

Hi, I share your hate of thimbles but have found a perfect solution. Go to www.colonialneedle.com and click on Thimbles and then on Fingertip. They have a wonderful product called Thimble its. It is an oval shaped sticky back piece of hardish plastic. They come in packs of about 100 if I remember correctly - they last so long, I haven't had to reorder for ages. They a absolutely fantastic. Cheap too.

I use a leather one on my middle right finger, nothing on any of my other fingers. I tried one of the plastic ones that slipped on the finger, didn't like that at all.

I can't sew without one either! When mine is out of pocket, I search until I can find one. I have my mother's thimbles but her hands were a lot smaller than mine so I can't use hers and I always know where they are.

It took me a long time to get used to wearing a thimble. I now comfortably wear a metal one (indentation in the end to "catch" the needle) and it has to be a snug fit; one that does not fit right is impossible to get used to.