Doris1334

Go to Wal Mart or Joanns and buy the leather thimble.
It fits over your finger instead of on the end. I have never been able to use a regular thimble beause of my nails.
The leather thimble works great for me.
Doris1334

bettysew

I always sew with a thimble and wrap paper tape around my finger and then put the thimble on. The tape keeps it from slipping off my finger as it is hard to find a small thimble.

Wunder-Mar

Thimbles are just like shoes - size/proper fit, material and style all come into the mix.

Leather, metal, china, plastic, rubber, nylon ... to dimple or not to dimple ... fingernail slot or open end ... rim or o rim ... round or flat on top ... flat on one side or curved all around the "barrel" - LOTS of factors. Or, maybe what works for you are the thimble "dots" for just the pads of your fingertips.

I can sew with very few styles of thimbles - but it's been a process oftry-try-try to see what works best with the type of sewing I'm doing at the time.

jitkaau

Use a Japanese one.It is like a ring,and leaves the fingertip free.Clover sells it.

jrhboxers

I used to be addicted to the leather thimbles. Used them all the time. And always made sure that I had three or four around. But that has changed.

I found these -

http://www.colonialneedle.com/qsgrap...traThimble.jpg

I use them all the time now. Much more comfortable than a thimble. And I can position it EXACTLY where I want. Usually with the other thimbles, I would hit it in a weird angle or something and would have to readjust my thimble over and over.

The other thing that I have found that works MUCH better than the finger cots -

http://www.nexcare.com/wps/portal/3M...gl874M7PK6N0bl

I can make the coverage exactly what I want. I usually have the Underthimble on the top inside corner of the middle finger of my right hand and overlap the edges of the waterpoof tape so that the Underthimble is covered with two layers of tape. The thimble does move in the least and the extra layer makes the end of the needle really hang on.

I also have the Underthimble which is smooth. I use it for my under hand when I am quilting - especially in a frame.

Baloonatic

Yes thimbles are an acquired habit. I fought it for years and have finally succumbed. Got tired of not just the pain but actually HEARING the back end of my needle punching through my finger!! (kind of a 'crunch' sound) Can't hand sew without one now! But I still use my thumbnail for quilting away from me. It's fine...till I wear a hole in my nail, then I have to wait a week or two till the nail grows out enough to keep going. LOL

svenskaflicka1

i've gotten so used to thimbles through the years that i forget it's on my finger. i've gone shopping for an "emergency" fabric or thread purchase, or to get some urgent "need" for the family, and realized when i was checking out that i still had the thimble on my hand, and/or tape measure around my neck. cheap, unique accessories!

New knee

If you will lick your finger before putting on the thimble, it will form a sort of vacuum and not come off.

Jo Mama

I am so thimble -challenged.

Patchesnposies

I had to chime in here with a hearty "AMEN" and my own endorsement testimony of these products, lol. I don't know what I would do without my ultra and under thimbles, they are all I use any more.