I couldn't use one before I started quilting. Now it is out of self-defense, and aching fingers that I started wearing one. I found that most of them were simply too big and kept falling off. When I got one small enough so that it didn't just fall off, then I could wear one.

My fingers are very average sized. I'm not sure why they make the thimbles around here so big. I have about three that I can use and am afraid of losing them. One has been kind of shaped into an oblong shape. That makes it stay on better.

You have my sympathy.....I too, am thimble challenged. :shock:

My mother always had problems with thimbles until (at a quilt show!) she found a neat open-back thimble. Maybe it was designed for someone with long fake nails, but she loves hers.

I don't know if this was the company, but hers is like these:http://www.maliasneedle.com/thimbles.htm

I can't wear a traditional thimble either. I have found that Japanese thimbles are the best for me. There is one that is shaped like a ring, with little indentations all over it. I can hang it on a chain around my neck when I am not using it and it fits firmly around my middle finger, between first and second knuckle. I push with the underside of the ring instead of my fingertip, whilst my fingers hold the needle. There is a leather version which has hard plastic inside it. The other one I use is a Sashiko thimble, which is also Japanese. It is also in the form of a ring, with a small disc on it that fits into my palm. Clover make all of these, so why not give them a go? With a little practice, they are easy to get used to.

Same here.....sewing off and on since 9yrs old, never could wear a thimble.

I use one of the rubber finger tips for paper. works great for me.

I started sewing for my dolls when I was 8 or 9 and just couldn't manage with a thimble. My mother urged me to keep trying and over the years I finally got used to wearing one. I think a big part of the problem was the fit. My hands were always smaller than mother's so her's just didn't work for me. Now I keep several thimbles around in different styles and sizes because my hands can be 'fussy.' Sometimes they're swollen and when I'm a little cold they're smaller. Sometimes they just don't want to work at all, but I don't have a thimble for that!!:)

I cant wear a thimble either, but I do love whats called an 'under thimble'. Its a small metal dot that sticks to your finger,,, meant to be used on the hand that is under the quilt. I use it on both hands and it stays on very well! LOVE IT!

i learned to sew w/ a thimble & now can't sew w/o one, but istarted having acrillic[sp] put on my nails& they grow too long[i'mlazy about going in to have them re-done lol]antway i found the leather ones w/ the ends open & they really work great!
dar

I thought I was the only one who could not wear a thimble. I found a small thimble dot that sticks (with a little dot of tape) onto your finger. Could not live without that. It's great.

Lynn