I learned to hand sew with a thimble, but my hands got too fat for the one from my teen years. I have bought lots of thimbles since but none of them work for me. I don't like the ones with the ridge around the top, leather wear out too quick, etc, etc. Someday maybe I'll find one like my old one and I can use a thimble again. In the meantime I'll keep using my fingernail.