they make thimbles for people with long nails,ito open on the end so it lsips over the nail

I just discovered those, also, and think they are wonderful! I thought I was the only person in the world who used the side of my finger to push the needle! They are Clover, I think.

I use an open ended thimble so my nail goes past the thimble, not in it. Love it !!! I have worn out 2 of them and am on my 3rd.

I use the rubber ones and absolutely love them. Can't imagine pushing a needle through the binding fabrics without one. I've gotten so used to them, I use a thimble when I sew on a button.

I have tried just about everything and still can not use a thimble. I will keep trying but as long as I get the desired finish I can suffer through.

I can't use them either! For some reason they drive me crazy. Maybe it's a sensory thing. lol :roll:

I use a leather thimble with a metal spot; a bit pricey but well worth it; works great! I get them at JoAnn's with the 40% off coupons.

i use a bandaid with the pad at the sore spot,,sometimes the needle goes thru but it does help in the long run

I have the same problem. I found these, which are called "Nimble Thimble" and they have a slit that your fingernail goes through. I have a tendency to push with the side of my middle finger, and this one comes down to the first knuckle and protects the side of my finger. As with most things, the small is too tight and the medium is not tight enough, but I found that if I put a finger cot on first, the thimble fits good.

http://www.clotilde.com/detail.html?...348&cat_id=143

too Much, I went to stanssewing and found how to measure a thimble and I'm sossss confuuuuused. They show it on a thumb. Is that how to use a thimble? I thought it was for the middle or ring finger???

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.

There seem to be as many different kinds of thimbles as there are quilters. Keep trying them til you find one that works for you. Maybe yours isn't the right size? I like the new gel ones but usually use a metal one with a ridge at the top.

Me too , only leather thimbles for me, the othes are so cumbersome to handle.

I have long fingernails too, but I bought a pack of thimbles from Walmart. The pack has three thimbles in it, they are made of leather, and they just fit around the tip of your finger. It does not make you have to clip your nails at all.:-D

I bought every thimble out there, plus I have long fingernails. I tried putting one thimble on one finger, and I would just use the next finger I didn't have one on. I tried three thimbles on all three fingers, and I was trying to use my pinky. I did find one that worked for me finally. I bought it from Walmart, and it has three in the pack. It is called Leather Ring Thimbles, made by EZ Quilting, it goes around the tip of your finger, not on top of the tip of the finger. I found them very usefull, Good Luck to you. I hope it works for you, too. :thumbup:

I use rubber tips from Staples too. I would cut a piece of moleskin and stick them inside in the place where I push the needle through. It help keep the needle from poking through.

I have sore fingers tonight because I cant use a thimble.

I totally understand what you are saying!! As much as I love the look of hand stitched quilts, I have not been very successful because of my inability to use a thimble. I have bought all sorts of "thimbles" except the expensive ones that are made especialy for your own finger.

When I hand quilt I push the needle as far as I can with my thumb and index finger, then I send it the rest of the way with the tip and nail of my index finger. When that gets sore I have to stop. Rocking the needle is almost impossible without a thimble. Now this sounds foolish, but when I am wearing a thimble, I have a problem holding the needle with the thumb and index finger. Crazy, huh!

A BANDAID is what I use!
I put the little "blood soaker" on the area of my finger that I need the cushion. Works wonders and the bandaid looks like hamburger not my finger. I can leave it on to do things around the house and easily change it if it gets to many poke holes. lol Just go to the bathroom and grab another! For 96 cents per 60 I haven't found anything better.

I use about 5-6bandaids. I put two on each finger and 2 on my thumb. It works like a charm.
Janie

My grandmother was an excellent hand quilter (born in 1900) and she always put white (first aid) tape on the tips of her fingers. I cannot use a thimble either, tape still works great for
me, too! Inexpensive, too!

I have a metal allergy so metal thimbles are always a problem.
I've tried the leather thimbles and they are OK but for some reason, they make my finger sweat. Don't laugh, but I tried one
of those gummy thimbles. They look like a molded gummy bear.
They are comfortable, light and they work great. I got mine at my LQS. I liked it so much I now have a red one and a blue one.
Good luck, M.E.

I,too, had trouble using a thimble until I bought one made by Tommie Lane. They are custom made for your finger. It has an opening for my fingernail and dimples in the top of the thimble. Also, you can get the plastic tape that is used in the doctor's office for drawing blood from your vet as well. I have seem rolls of them for sale in some shops as well. The plastic does work well; it does not puncture easily. You could also put a dot under the tape before you wrap your quilting finger. Use a finger cot on your "pulling finger" to help guide the needle through the quilt. I use both my thimble and the finger cot for ease in quilting. I quilted a white qedding quilt, very elaborate, with feathers, etc. and it turned out very well using my thimble and my finger cot. If you can't find finger cots, go to the hospital pharmacy and buy them--much cheaper than buying 3 at a time from a dealer. ( I give my quilting students one for their first quilting lesson.

The thimbles I use has a plastic piece on the inside, and has the leather all the way around it, and has spaces like a thimble has to keep the needle in place as to not slip. It works great. Sounds like your idea is working for you too. If something happens to mine I think I'll give Staples a try. Thanks for the information.

I find too that at times when my thimble finger nail gets a little long my thimble wants to come off--after clipping that nail it really made a difference. I have used many different kinds and do find those colored rubbery or plastic work very well for me. The longer you use one the easier it gets. Good luck.

they have a thimble for people who have fingernails-lol
but i just cant stand one on any o fmy fingers, and i bought every kind i could. UNTIL I found these little leather dots, it sticks to my finger and i use it to hand sew everything. then when it quits sticking it cwn be glued onto a old ruler lol

I really can't do any handsewing without one on my middle finger of right hand. The only sewing my Mom taught me was how to darn my dad's socks, and was taught to use a thimble then, probably when I was 12.

I have long fingernails (my own, not fakes), and I have to keep that one trimmed somewhat, or my thimble keeps slipping off. I also lick that finger before putting thimble on, and it stays put better.

I tried the dots, and they didn't work for me. :cry:

I have my own fingernails also, I had them when I was in school 30 years ago, before all the fake ones were so popular.
I went to Walmart and found Leather Ring Thimbles by EZ Quilting, they come three in a package, They go around your finger tip instead of going on top of yiur finger, So You can have really long nails, because your nail is poking out the top. It works Great for us with real nails. :D or fakes

I too am thimble challenged, ( and likewise with embroidery hoop unless it is absolutely neccessary to hold firm what I am working on) I use stick on little finger pads called 'Thimble It'. just stick one to pad of working finger, can be re-used (quess depends on how much work). I got them from Craft Mailbox here in Oz. 64 to a pack, they weren't too expensive. On pack it has Sailor Corp. of America, Fayetteville. GA 30214, so come from your side of the world. I also use the plaster (band-aid here) idea which is really the easiest, get cheapies at discount store.

Everyone is very helpful on this forum, I could not use the dots, for some reason, I sweat alot thanks to power Serges
(menopause.) :cry: