Thimbles
 

Okay, I'll say it.....I have fat fingers. I have never met a metal thimble that my quilting finger liked. I've been using the Quilters Leather Thimble by Collins for years but now they seam (LOL) to have shrunk. I've tried the leather thimble with the metal in the tip (in which the needle always slips off). I do not quilt with a hoop so my method is probably not optimal for thimbles. Any ideas for my fat fingers? I need lots of room and lots of movement.

Try a pair of mens leather work gloves one of the fingers might work I just cut off the one that fit best.

Buy an inexpensive metal thimble and using a hammer, tap it into an oval shape around the rim. It will fit your finger tip much better. Finger are not round.

I use the round sticky dots made of leather. Sorry their actual name escapes me at the moment.

I have tried a bunch myself and like several. The leather dots already mentioned are good. The leather w/the disc is good to, it's made by Clover and the needle does not slip off because there is a ridge to keep it in place. But, I have settled on The Thimble Lady thimble. You determine the size when ordering., and they are not outrageous like some fancy thimbles are.

I use the Leather dots also, with my nails I have never been able to use a regular thimble. They last a long time.
Colonial Needle ThimblePad-12/Pkg
by Colonial Needle

Thanks so much! So many great suggestions. I thank you all!

I have large hands and have tried ALL the thimbles. For a while I used the Nimble Thimble, the second picture posted. But I have a tendency to push with the side of my finger, which is where the seam on that thimble is, so occasionally the head of the needle would pop through and cause me to invent some new words. Then I found these leather Clover thimbles - they're awesome!!

http://www.clover-usa.com/en/thimble...-thimbles.html

I use those round sticky thimbles. The little patch sticks where I want it too go and I forget about it in time. I tend to push the needle through with the inside of my nails, I don't have the strength in my finger to catch hold and pull through.

I use a stainless steel 'Thimblelady' thimble. They are relatively reasonable - about $25-35. The sizing instructions on their website are VERY accurate in my opinion. I started out with one of their plastic ones to see if I liked the configuration as well as to check for size (plastic ones @ $10 I think??). Sizing was perfect and I much prefer pushing with the pad of my finger vs the tip. Most times I use a hoop but sometimes not. I have also found service from their website to be quite good.