Thimbles

This may have been posted before, i missed it.
I use leather thimbles, the white ones which wear out fast.
I also use the one with the metal dimpled circle in, it stretches out and i use medical tape to pad my finger.
I do not like the metal thimbles and since i have had progressive RA, I have been using a larger
quilt needle. I used to use 12 and 10. I think i am a size larger and these slide off the metal thimbles.

The question is, what thimbles do you use and would you recommend.
Thanks

I have never mastered the use of any thimble, so I don't use one; much to the detriment of my fingers. If anyone has any good ones, I would also be interested.

I haven't mastered the use of a thimble either. I always use a finger that the thimble isn't on to work the needle..LOL my fingers get confused as to what they're supposed to do when I wear one..if that makes any sense at all.
I have found that if I take some medical tape and put it on my fingers that need thimbles, I use them and it really helps. My fingertips aren't sore from being stuck with a needle all the time. You do have to be careful because depending on how thick you put the tape on, if you push the needle too hard, it will go through....ask me how I know that.....but for most jobs it works great. So, until I can find a thimble my fingers like, this will be my solution.

tried the med tape.we all become the human pincushion.

I don't use a thimble when I hand quilt, but if I did, I would use the silicone ones with the metal head. You can put these in hot water to soften them up, then kinda mold them to fit your finger.

Clover Protect & Grip Thimble, Large: Crafts : Walmart.com
this is the one I like

Dolores, havent seen these, like the look about hugging the finger. Marilyn where do you get the one u talked about?? I also liked the fact that you can custom fit these.

They are like the one Delores showed you. You can drop these in hot, not boiling water and then put them on, and they will mold to fit your finger. They come in different sizes. WM, and JoAnn sell them for sure.

Thanks, i am getting one.

I have yet to find one that will fit my small fingers and be adequate while hand quilting...I have mainly just quilted without thimbles and have acquired great callouses!

I use the metal ones and I have several, all different sizes. I can not quilt without a thimble.

I have been experimenting trying to find one that works for me now. When I was a lot younger, I used a metal one but now my hands are larger and swell sometimes, I have not found what feels comfortable anymore. I am beginning to think I just need to cover all my fingers as I have had a rough time lately of poking the ones that are holding the material not the one pushing the needle.

I like the silicone ones also. I just don't use a thimble as much as I should lol. I usually wait till I get myself and then grab it.

I love using thimbles, but use only the cheap metal ones with the rim..... They work perfectly for me.... I thought about buying a .Roxanne thimble once, but knew I would lose it....besides I really didn't like it all that well...

Good luck in your search for just the right thimble..

I used the leather thimbles when I did needlepoint. I tried the Clover Protect and Grip and really like them. I don't hand quilt but do use it for any hand sewing, like the binding. I purchased it at M* when I ordered some fabric. I would recommend them.

I love my leather thimble, but I have also used the plastic silicony ones too.

I use a metal thimble, i tried the leather ones, and silicone, but keep going back to metal. I cant imagine binding a quilt without one.

I use a leather thimble. I tried the metal, and rubber, thimbles but found this is what works best for me.

Amazon.com: Clover Natural Fit Leather Thimble, Medium: Arts, Crafts & Sewing

I use a metal thimble, but I don't know what kind because it was my Grandma's and I snatched it before anyone else could when she passed. I have very small fingers ( only thing small on me :icon_neutral:), and hers fits perfectly.

Wait... you are supposed to use thimbles?? I collect thimbles from the states I have visited, or even some the hubby picked up on his travels in his semi.

I use a sterling silver thimble that was handed down to me from my mom, so it has great sentimental value. I think of her every time I wear it. I use it all the time for hand hemming the binding on the quilt backs. I met a lady once who wears her Machingers gloves when she does hand quilting. JCY

Medical tape or some other tough type tape is what I use..several thicknesses. And sometimes I still jab myself. I had a nice leather thimble that I loved but it has disappeared over the years and I have not found one like it since. The last leather ones I bought eventually got stabbed through also. Guess I am vicious with that needle pushing!! Most of the time, the tape works. LOL


Brenda

The only hand-stitching I do is when sewing down my bindings. I have two different ones that work well for me: Poke-a-Dots sticky plastic that are reusable for quite a while and the other is (I think) a 3M product that a friend gave me. They are small round sticky suede-like dots. I place them just at the tip of my middle finger and sort of push the top edge under my nail a bit. I really like these as I was getting a permanent hole in the finger before I discovered these. I had a hard time finding a regular thimble that would fit well enough to stay on my finger.

Hope that helps - happy quilting!

I don't hand sew very much. I have not mastered a thimble yet. Have tried leather and the leather with the metal circle, metal ones and plastic ones. Might try the silicone ones. My fingers as was said before become stupid with a thimble on them and forget which finger should be doing what, so usually use none.

thanks for all the input. I drug my husband from store to store today and there must have been a run on the market, because I couldnt find any that really spoke to me and before i spend all that money on a sub, i keep thinking that the next store will have what i need. Monday i am going on a 2 hour trip for a medical visit, and they just happen to have a HUGE Joanns. What luck.
since i have to do this trip about 6 or 7 times a year, it is all good. RELEASE THE HOUNDS, LET THE HUNT BEGIN:icon_wave: