I have tried every type of thimble and can't get used to any of them... when I get desperate I wear duct tape and bandaids..I have tried liquid bandages..those dots, leather, plastic, metal, nothing feels good and I just can't get used to one..when I do a lot of applique or hand sewing my finger gets sore and full of holes...any suggestions...you guys know everything...

Ouch! I feel for you :(
The only thimble I can use is the leather one that's kind of long. I learned with that one so maybe that's the reason. I wish I had some advice for you!

I was the same way, for years and years I never wore a thimble, then a gal told me, get a good fitting one, wet the end of your finger, put it on and wear it ALL day, you will find you really will get used to it, now I can't do any hand sewing with one, love my thimble, good luck!~~~~~~~

Get an old pair of leather gloves and cut the finger off. Use that instead of a thimble. It will eventually wear out,as the needle pokes a million holes, then just cut another finger off.

Look for leather gloves in thrift shops. When you find a pair, you have lots of "thimbles"!

a good fitting thimble is key... but for me.. I use the leather one..... I have finially gotten used to it. But it did take along time to adjust to it.

I buy heavy gloves (the kind you buy to wash dishes) and cut the fingers off one by one to use. Protects my fingers just fine.

I used to fold up strips of cardstock and shape it to my finger and keep it in place with a 'flexible fabric' band aide. LOL I finally forced myself to get used to the leather thimbles --- now I use them all the time. The cardstock and band aide will protect your finger and you can remove it and reuse it several times ----- I hope you can find a thimble that works for you. (those band aides can get expensive! LOL)

I have never been able to use one since I learned to sew at 16 uears old. I don't think I will ever learn to use one.

I can't use a thimble very well either. I do use super glue on my fingers for under the quilt, seals holes & helps keep needle from poking in sore places.
I have tried all types of them, i can manage a little with leather ones, but I make my own and put a piece of thin metal in the tip for pushing needle.

That is what I do, too. It won't completely protect from punctures, but does keep your finger from getting sore.

Doesn't that feel gook when the needle keeps going into the same hole in your finger? OUCH big time.
I also can use the leather one but most of the time don't.
After awhile my finger gets calloused but I still manage to run the needle in beside the callous spot. :thumbdown:

Take a hammer and whack the rim of the thimble to form an oval.
It will fit your finger and not feel awkward. Use an inexpensive one to try it.

THanks, I am going to try a couple of these ideas....wearing the thimble for a day...and whacking a thimble into a different shape...

I have never been able to use one but I get acrylic nails put on and use them to push the needle. Works great for me and looks nice too!

There are so many different types of thimbles to try. Keep looking and trying them. What ever works! If you can sew without a thimble, go for it!

You need to get the Colonial Needle Ultra thimble. It is a little curved disk that stays on your finger tip with an adhesive dot. I love them, like you I couldn't get used to the reg. thimbles and I wore holes in the leather ones. They were all bulky and I didnt think I would be able to quilt by hand. So glad I found these and they are very inexpensive too.

I've never gotten the hang of a thimble either. I use needle-nose pliers. I got a few weird looks the first time I was quilting with my in-laws but I noticed that they quietly added a pair to their own sewing gadgets. I just have to keep mine away from the "borrowers".

I like the silicone ones.

I can't seem to work with a leather thimble so I use a product called Thimble -It. It's is oval in shape & you stick it on your finger, holds really well & works great for me. It's made by Colonial Needle Co. www.colonialneedle.com Tel # 1-800-9-needle

No help here. I can't use a thimble at all. I can't breathe with one on!

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

I use the metal one with the rim around it. If you just make yourself do it, you'll soon get used to it. If it wants to slip off your finger, simply wet your finger and put it back on. This creates a vacume that will keep it on your finger. If you are right handed, put it on your third finger. You can do it.

I do the same thing. I cut the fingers off and have different sizes. I also put a bandage or a small piece of cloth inside or a small piece of cotton. This also enables you to pull the needle out easier when sewing thick material. In reality I wish I could use a thimble, like the suggestion of wearing one all day to get used to it. Good luck.

I have many thimbles and have had the same problems that the rest of you have had. Found a new thimble by Clover - tip is metal and sides are that silicone or rubbery stuff. It doesn't fall off. $8.95 My only problem is that I tend to use the side of my finger for lots of stitches as well as the tip and occasionally it will go through the rubber and prick a bit.

I use the little leather dots that stick to your finger. They are reusable and have been a blessing for my hand quilting. I never could get the nack or comfortable with a regular thimble.

I have trouble with thimbles as well. I use a small piece of plastic cut from the top of a Christmas card box, and cut small strips of tape from the first aid box, criss-crossing them across my finger. I was sewing the binding on a very large quilt a couple of weekends ago, and had this on my push finger all weekend, and my DH finally asked what was wrong with my finger Sunday evening. LOL

I also use the Thimble-It, but I purchased some rubber fingers at an office supply store and use one of them over it. I can still feel the needle but it is a little extra protection. Good luck!

Another here who never learned to use a thimble. Quilting can be a real pain and that needle seems to find the hole it punctured over and over! I think I have one of every thimble produced plus some other ideas such as a banjo pick! I finally decided I liked the leather thimbles but those get full of holes. The one I really, really like is the coin thimble that is leather so it fits to my finger but it has a dimpled metal circle in the tip that the needle hasn't punctured yet. Best thing I've found yet.

I can not wear a thimble either.

After months of frustration, I tried a baby spoon on the underside of the quilt and it works well for me. Hold the handle in your hand and put your thumb in the spoon. For the top, I use my fingernail. Hope this helps someone.

Get one of the Roxanne thimbles. The top is open so your nail can show through and the end of your nail is outside the thimble. It is so comfortable I forget it's there except for the weight.

And always wear it on your THIRD finger, not your index finger.

you know the rubber fingers you use in an office to sort papers? I use one of those with a little leather "dot" in the end...thats the only one I can use LOL