Thee is product out called "ThimblePad". "Works like a thimble...feels like a dream". Got mine at Hancocks. It is made by The Colonial Needle Co. (www.colonialneedle.com or #1800-9-needle) They are little leather pads with an adhesive backing on them. They are reusable and there is no slipping or thread catching. They come #12 to a pack and thought it would take all 12 to finish a wallhanging, but one went a loooong way and that was taking it on and off quite often. When I was 3/4 of the way through I started using a second one and it still has alot of life in it. I would highly recommend these.