Have a very hard time finding thimbles to fit for handquilting - so far, the Clover open end adjustable has worked fairly well but am looking at the Thimblelady plastic one. Has anyone used it and did you like it? Also, am intrigued by the long needle she uses as I tend to bend everything I use or it pops out of my hand. Maybe I just need to practice more :-} I machine quilt a lot but find hand quilting to be extremely relaxing when watching tv so would like to do a lot more. Have watched the short video on the stitch technique that Thimblelady uses and believe I can figure it out if I have the right needle. Any Thimblelady technique users out there?

I like leather thimbles for handquilting. They let me "feel" where I am without being poked. I haven't tried Thimblelady's way, but like everything else in quilting, whatever works!

I don't use a thimble. I push the needle with my fingernail (index and thumbnails). I do have some open thimbles that I sometimes slide on after I have started my quilting stitch. They are open where your fingernail is but have the little dimples to catch the needle. I can only use them when I have a straight line of quilting. If I am quilting curves I resort back to my fingernail. I use a lap hoop and have the quilt fairly loose in the hoop.
Needles, I use Roxanne size 11 betweens. Very tiny. I used to bend needles a lot. Not so much any more. I think it was because I had the quilt loaded to tauntly in the hoop.

I had a hard time getting used to a thimble, but I can't imagine how you would hand quilt without one, ouch! I started with the Nimble thimble, a small black leather one with a metal insert in the tip. It was great for a first thimble because it was more natural feeling. It does have a slit in it for a long fingernail, but that slit also allows a needle in, and after poking myself that way a few times, I decided to try something else. I used the clover flesh colored, open sided one for quite awhile and I liked it until I used the Roxanne thimble. Roxanne thimbles have a rounded tip which allows me to use the pad of my finger instead of the tip. The Roxanne thimble is expensive, so far I like it the best. It has an open design to allow for fingernails, but my fingernails are too wide and they hit the sides of it if they get past the tip of my finger. There is a clover metal thimble that looks very similar to the Roxanne, and I plan to try it. I need a second one because my fingers expand in the summer and get smaller in the winter, and I can't really afford another Roxanne thimbe. My favorite needles are Richard Hemming size 11 betweens, and Foxgloves 11's. You probably should start with a 9 or 10 until you get used to it. Hope this helps.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that does this!!!! :lol: :lol: I've actually worn holes in my fingernails. :lol: I do use the Nimble Thimble though. It has a place where my fingernail can go through and is most importantly, comfortable. I also use the little stick em leather pads (can't think of the name of them, sorry), they stick to your finger.

Oh yes I end up wearing a hole in my nail as well and then have to put aside my hand quilting until the nail grows out again.

Your comment about loading the quilt too tautly in the hoop makes sense. I have a small project I plan on hand quilting when I get the blocks sashed, and I will remember your advice.

wow, learning alot about handquilting thanks

I have tried SO many thimbles! Many have been leather and they either stretched out too much or I wore a hole in them. With longer fingernails, I had to find one that would fit over them. I can't yet afford one of the Roxanne thimbles, but it's high on my wish list. For the last couple of years, I have used the the Clover adjustable open-sided thimble and really like it.

I took a class about 2 months ago for the Thimblelady technique. I didn't quite get it during the class and haven't practiced since, but most of the other ladies in the class were very impressed with the technique and the thimbles and they were very successful. Some of them were long-time handquilters of the normal method.
The instructor said one of the most important tips is to hoop your sandwich as loose as possible.
If this method is done correctly, she said there is no bending or breaking of needles.