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Monday, March 23, 2015

What Thimble Do You Use?...It's a Linky Party Too

I love English Paper Piecing! It's a method of hand sewing hexagons together and perfect for a "take along" project. I keep some in my purse and beside the couch while watching tv. You just need a little fabric, paper hexagons, needle and thread. One more thing I always use is a thimble. I also use a thimble when I'm sewing on a quilt binding, but haven't done that in a while.

I've tried different types of thimbles over the years and there are still some I'd like to buy. Here are a few that I have stored away and the one I like to use the most.

Leather, metal, rubber and plastic. They come in all shapes and sizes...

types of thimbles

Come in to see and share yours too...



This one is my absolute favorite. It's leather, not bulky and over time conforms to your finger. I never liked a metal thimble, because the needle always slips off.

types of thimbles

I keep it on my middle finger.

types of thimbles

Not sure which finger you keep your thimble on, but I use my middle finger to push the needle through.

types of thimbles

Here are thimbles I purchased, but just can't use.

A plastic one that resembles the typical metal thimble.

types of thimbles

It has half of the thimble missing if you have longer finger nails.

types of thimbles

Then there is the leather strip thimble.

types of thimbles

It just ties around your finger. It's ok, but can't get it tight enough to stay where I want it on the pad of my finger.

types of thimbles

The classic, old stand by...the metal one I just can't use.

I feel like a trader to the sewing world that I can't wear this one!! lol

types of thimbles

This was a bad purchase for me.

types of thimbles

I love the leather pad on my finger tip...

types of thimbles

but it's just too much leather. Feels like I broke my finger and I'm wearing a splint.

types of thimbles

These are the thimbles I'd like to try. The adhesive stick on type.

Anyone use these??

types of thimbles


What types of thimbles do you love to use and which ones aren't your favorite??

I'd love to hear from everyone.

I also would love to "SEE" your thimbles, so I'm adding a linky party to this post. If you have a blog and have shared a post about thimbles, you can share it here. If you haven't done a post, you can write a quick post then come back and link up. I will leave the party open for a long time, so you can do it anytime!

Thanks for stopping by,
~Karen~


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21 comments:

  1. I can't wear the metal ones, either. I used a leather thimble for many years. Now I prefer the brown stick on thimble pad. I tend to leave them in handy places like spool ends, pincushions and on the button on my needle case. They last longer than I expected.

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  2. I am probably one of the very few that doesn't use a thimble. I have tried several, but nothing feels right.

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  3. I did a blog post back in October on the conundrum we quilters have with our thimbles. Here is the link. I will try attaching to the Linky Party, but I don't know if it will link to that particular post or the current one.
    http://www.jaynesquiltingroom.blogspot.com/2014/10/a-study-of-thimbles.html

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  4. I've every thimble pictured even the all various types of pads. The thimble pad works best for me. A little bit more expensive than the old reusable thimbles but for me its a much needed expense. If I don't have thimblepads I won't do handwork.

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  5. I love the stick on ones, they hold really well and I peel them off and use them again later. I have the brown leather circle stick on and I have the metal stick on one that I have used a few times, but prefer the little leather ones.

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  6. I tried the leather ones, but they eventually allow the needle eye to pierce to my finger. Ouch! I can't use a metal thimble with a top for some reason; they just aren't comfortable for me, and my finger gets too hot. I've also tried the ones with a cutout for the fingernail, but those don't work for me, since I "push" with the pad of my finger instead of the top. The cutout doesn't allow the thimble to turn as I do that, and it ends up hurting. However, I *love* a tailor-style thimble, which is one with no top at all. Some years ago I splurged on a simple one in sterling from TJ Lane, and I love it; it's perfect for me.

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  7. No metal thimbles work for me, but I have some that are taking up space. I prefer to use the longer leather thimble that you described as a splint. It stays on my finger, and I get good coverage on my middle finger.

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  8. I have tried all of the above, but my all time favorite and the one I use all the time now, is my Roxanne thimble. It has an open space for your finger nail to fit through.

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  9. I use the leather one like you have but I wear it the other way (upside down compared to you, so the elastic part is over my knuckle and the leather side is on the side I push the needle with). I love them and that is all I use. ;)

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  10. I have strong feelings on thimbles. Thank you for all the information. I use a Thimble Pad on my middle finger and I use a rubber finger to pull the needle on my pointer finger. I LOVE this combo.

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  11. I have some metal ones from my mom's sewing stuff, and a couple of plastic one, but my favorite is the leather ring similar to the one you use, too. Nice posting; I haven't seen many you illustrated.

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  12. I have a rubber one like the metal. It's smaller and fits my finger. Plus the rubber helps it stay in place. Those metal ones never seemed to fit despite shoving tissue inside. The other thing I sometimes use is a gripeeze rubber finger tip you can find in the office supply section. They are used for gripping paper rather than licking your finger. They are a bigger fit but still work well in a pinch.

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  13. Hi Karen, I use the same thimble you use. My hands are small and it will stay on the end of my middle finger. Thank you for sharing. Blessings and smiles

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  14. I use the small leather thimble pad all the time now. Year ago I used the leather one with the elastic band. Like, Kristen K, I used it with the elastic over the knuckle part of my finger. I still have it and use it if I have a large binding project. But the little circular leather thimble pad are my favorites for all other hand sewing. Binding, mending, embroidery, all of it.

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  15. I hand quilt pushing with my middle finger too. I didn't grow up sewing so I can't use the metal thimble. I had always used the leather one you show (elastic on the top, not bottom) but have moved to the small leather one with the metal coin as shown in the first link. I changed mostly because eventually the leather would wear through and when that quilting needle goes into your finger it really hurts.

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  16. Hi Karen,
    I never could use a thimble until I started making my own. I make it from bright coloured leather so that it's easy to find when I misplace it. It's super!

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  17. I have tried a variety of thimbles over the years since a metal thimble won't stay on my finger either. Over time I have found that my very favorite thimble is a deer skin thimble, It is much like the leather thimble but of lighter weight skin that allows more freedom of movement in the finger it has been placed on. It also has a metal shield on the tip that protects the finger from being continually stabbed. I wear this thimble on the middle finger of my right hand. I recently used a self-stick metal shield on my left index finger to stop the needle and help push it up through the fabric (I like to try to keep my stitches small) and it worked well for me.

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  18. I don't use a thimble. When I have an issue with the needle going through the fabric, I have a circle of rubber and use it to grasp the needle and pull it through. This was an interesting post and comments.

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  19. Those cheap dome-ended metal thimbles are why so many people say they can't use thimbles, IMHO. I also have the plastic one, a cheap metal version of the plastic one and the leather strip one, all of which are not worth the money to buy or energy to try and use.

    Right now, my favorite is a flat-ended metal thimble that has a ring around the end. I also have the big leather thimble, but wear it with elastic on the knuckle. The elastic has more give when bending the finger. I also have a rubber thimble, which is OK, and a pack of the stick-on thimbles that I keep forgetting to try.

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  20. I can't use a conventional metal thimble either. I use a selection of leather thimbles, and the plastic one for long nails, although I use it just because it will way on not because I have long nails.

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  21. I can't sew with a thimble on. I just stick a piece of extra-thick foam Band-Aid on the finger spot I'm most likely to irritate. I cut a small circle out of the adhesive part & stick it on. One bandage can give you a bunch of "thimbles." Yes, occasionally I do poke myself with the eye end of the needle, but I just put another layer of bandage on that spot & carry on. I wear a little size 5 ring but could never find a thimble large enough to be comfy - go figure! Guess I have really muscular fingertips??? lol

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment...I just love hearing from you!