A John James Magnet Top thimble is the favorite around Casa del Quilter. This one stays in the stitchery/embroidery case as it is a great thimble to use when away from homebase. A dropped needle stays on the thimble and not in someone's carpet. Then there is the quilting thimble with the recessed top that makes the rocking motion so easy. Neither one suitable for the job at hand. Surely there is a thimble in the sewing room that would work for plain sewing.
Nope, nada, ziltch. There are the porcelain ones, the silver ones, the Cloisonne ones, the wooden ones, the leather ones, the rubber ones, the big ones and the little ones. But not one thimble that would comfortably fit the ring finger of my right hand.
EBay! to the rescue! I bid and won a lot of ten thimbles from a gentleman in Illinois. One thimble was rusty and another had a strange partial patina. Those went to work with me and were cleaned up by experienced metal workers. The thimble pictured above was one of two in the lot that fit.
I rebelled against using a thimble for as long as I could stand it. But when I began hand quilting in earnest, I just could not avoid it any longer. Now I wouldn't know what to do without one. I haven't made it out the door with one on my finger . . . . but I do sometimes find it there while doing chores or working in the garden *s*
ReplyDeleteLike Libby I find the thimble to be a must. I have a favorite that was passed down from the grandmother of my DH. I tried several thimbles, most remain unused...there should be a thimble exchange at some point to match up these poor castoffs with a lovely quilter who can use them.
ReplyDeleteIt's an open-ended tailor's thimble for me. I use the side of my finger to push anyway, so it's a good fit. (pun!) :)
ReplyDeleteNope, no thimble for me. But I don't do much hand sewing and I have never really used one. It would probably be good to have though for those darn bindings!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the book rec, I will put it on hold at the library!
Great post about finding the right thimble for you. I have several even an open top one for my thumb....LOL....but I still prick the finger that "nothing" protects!
ReplyDeleteI tried to use a thimble again lately - to hand quilt, but I still haven't gotten a feel for it.
ReplyDeleteMy, your stitches look an awful lot like machine stitches! :)
My thimble is a straightforward, utility type, with a good ridge, but I did not know about a magnetic one - I will check that out - great idea - thanks! 8-)) Maybe I can drop down a size needle if 'something' holds the needle in place.
ReplyDeleteThimbles were the bane of my sewing for many years, I tried and could never quite get the hang of it... I do alot of embroidery and never did use on, then on a whim I took a class on hand sewing -- which included what needles to use when and for what and how to use a thimble -- the instructor had the process down to a fine science and with her explaination I finally learned to hold and use a thimble properly! But I still don't use one regularly, only for hand quilting -- otherwise my 'thimble' is generally my fingernails... they are very hard nails...
ReplyDeleteI have 2 thimbles...one for hand sewing and one for quilting. The hand sewing one is just a cheapy one and my quilting one is a Roxanne thimble...which is bliss to quilt with.
ReplyDeleteThimbles don't work for me-whichever finger I put it on-I use the other bare finger,lol.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I was just mending socks, and looking for a thimble. I couldn't find one and decided to forge ahead. It was after 4 socks, that I put everything else away until I could go buy a thimble.
ReplyDeleteA must have, even if I don't use it much.
Vicki
I only use a thimble when I do hand quilting. I have never really tried to use one when I am doing regular sewing or piecing I guess...maybe I should try one sometime!
ReplyDeleteI never knew I needed one until I started using one! Some of the cheaper ones don't have deep enough ridges or dimples to be much use. My favorite is a Dritz slip stop. I keep several spares because I'm always afraid I'm going to lose it. I tend to slip it into my pocket, and so have rescued more than one from the washing machine. I've never heard of a magnetic one before--sounds like a great idea
ReplyDeleteI have tried several thimbles, and end up frustrated and taking it off. I have seen some quilting done with a thimble, it seems more even or something...I will have to try again!
ReplyDeleteI only use a thimble when I do hand quilting, but then I must have my leather thimble. Yeah, I've found it on my finger away from home. :o)
ReplyDeleteGlad to see I'm not the only one.
I don't thimble. I like to feel the needle with all my fingers, even if I do prick them once in a while.
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