My grandmother tried to make me use a thimble when I was a child learning to sew. I never liked them and didn't use one until I started quilting. I have a leather thimble that I took a stitch or two in at the top to keep it from coming off my finger. I still have a couple but my favorite one now is the Clover silicone one with the metal top. It fits, doesn't get hot, doesn't stretch and stays on my finger.

I use a metal thimble with a rim around the top for hand quilting. Since I taught myself how to hand quilt - I found a thimble that fit - and found that putting it on my ring finger worked the best for me. I just couldn't manipulate the needle with the thimble on any other finger. And since I was teaching myself...there was no one to tell me that it wasn't the correct thing to do! Anyway, this is how I have always quilted and I have hand quilted 20-25 quilts in years past. The other thing that I do is put a rubber finger tip or the tip cut off a rubber glove on my index finger. It helps me grip the needle and makes my hand less tired.

Oh yeah, and I am left handed - I taught myself to do all sorts of things creatively - you should see me knit and crochet - ;)

I have tried every one under the sun...the only work I use when I am desperate is the small metal disc...with replaceable adhesive round inserts...better than nothing...

my favorite is the soft plastic with metal tip, don't know the name but I think it is made by Clover and my size is pink. I am thinking of buying a second one with a coupon I have as the price has really gone up on them.

me too! I must have a dozen thimbles but my favorite is an old red plastic one and even then only use it occasionally

I tried every thimble we had at the shop and Joann's, then I was introduced to Roxanne's thimble love them. Roxanne, daughter trained me to size the customer (most shops will permit you to try it a week and if you need a different size you can exchange.
They are expensive....worth every penny. If you never used a thimble you need to give yourself time to get used to it wear it around the house after you stop quilting for a short time until you get comfortable with it. I am a hand quilter.

Leather, leather, leather. The ones with the coin where the pad of your finger is. I have large, blunt fingers and the metal ones just don't get it. After the new one is used for awhile, it conforms to the shape of my finger.

I've wanted to try hand quilting and was told to get a good thimble...but how does one know what size to get.
Good ones tend to be in a package and can't "try it on". I've seen the plastic ones but wasn't sure if the sizing was
comparable from them to the metal ones and the leather just didn't appeal to me to even try. So, how does one know what size to get?

OUCH! I shiver just visualizing it!!! You need a thimble dear.

I also have used a Roxanne thimble and loved it but my finger joints have gotten so big that I can't keep a thimble on so have not been hand quilting any more. It's disappointing as I enjoyed it.

Nipakk - leather thimbles or silicone like mine (see comment #40) will allow you to wear them with arthritis. The silicone was my choice because the leathers all seemed to tight. I have actually walked into stores wearing the silicone one because I forgot I was wearing it. ( I was sewing the binding on a quilt, while DH drove, on our last road trip.) I hope this is helpful to you.

I don't use a thimble for piecing. For quilting, I use a basic Hemline metal thimble, the cheap ones you can find everywhere, and I use an Aunt Becky on my underfinger. The Hemline ones come in a few sizes, and since there are sizes smaller than the ones I wear (and I'm 4'11), it's probably a pretty wide range.

One thing that puzzles me is when people talk about using the top of the thimble for quilting. Surely you're meant to use the side, not the top? It sounds really uncomfortable. I'm looking at that silicone thimble and thinking, "But how are you meant to use it when the working part is silicone rather than metal?"

I tried an open-sided metal thimble made by Clover, in the hope that it would be less sweaty, but it was horribly uncomfortable. I've not tried leather since I'm vegan.

I am not good at thimbles, but I love the Clover Protect and Grip Thimble. It is very comfortable, use a Joann 50 % off coupon and it really is a good deal and worth it.

I tried this and can't believe how much better the thimble feels and fits on my finger! I had a cheap metal thimble so I thought why not? I'm so glad I did. The oval shape is the shape of my finger. It didn't take but a couple of whacks to get it just right. Thanks!

I use the thimble dots. They are little adhesive dots and you don't feel like you have armor on! I use them for hand quilting.