Thimbles

I hated the stick ons. They never seemed to fit right and full size were too big and caught the floss and cut in half were not comfortable or in the right spot.

I did buy a kind of soft plastic thimble (think crocs) that works decently. I bought mine in my dear departed LNS and don't know if it's still available, but it's the best one I found in recent years.

Lucille

*snip*

I have one of the leather sort of open back slip on ones. Pretty comfortable to use.

I don't know if you have a good fabric/quilters' shop nearby, but that would be a great place to look for thimbles. Hand quilters use them. I've actually got some stick-on ones that I got at a quilt show, and those are ok

- they're yellow squares.

There are some nice metal ones that are also open on the back - the thimble is contoured to fit/cover your finger bad, but the encircling part is a band, so it's likely to fit reasonable well, and not be so hot.

Anyhow - I'm sure this is just more to think about - but maybe take a look at some on-line quilt supply places.

Thimbles on this page at equilter:

more: the best for last, Thimbles by Tommie Jane (TJ Lane) are amazing.Jinny Beyer (local quilting goddess) carries them in her shop here, and hashad TJ in for shows, taking orders, etc. They're fabulous - and I've beenknown to be tempted and drool. Anyhow - take a look: whatever you find works, and keeps the sore finger at bay! Ellice

I can't imagine doing any sort of stitching without at thimble! I have tried and own a very wide variety, and trade them around now and then. Also, whenever I purchase a thimble I always get it in 3 sizes since my hands and even my fingertips change sizes depending on temperature, humidity, and my own salt intake. I suggest you try anything that looks interesting!

I never used a thimble until I really got going with hand-quilting. I read somewhere that once you start using a thimble, you'll find you can't sew without one. This is exactly what's happened to me and now I have several in all my stitchy/sewy places.

At first, I found the thimble felt really, *really* clunky on my hand. After a very short time, though, I got used to it being there and the increased speed and efficiency of my stitches made it quite well worth the learning curve. I love my thimbles, especially the green one! (I like green...)

I can't use the you-beaut-mega-phantastic ones like leather or wrap-on or stick-ons (big fingers). Metal ones are too unyielding and you lose your sense of touch through them. So, I use the el-cheapo plastic ones! Because I have very large hands, it's not always easy to find ones that fit. Once I do, though, I stick my middle finger in my mouth to moisten it and then jam it into Mr Thimble. The thimble stays put until I break the airlock in it and I can stitch away in comfort. Mind you, I've never found I needed to use a thimble during embroidery, only quilting and hemming (I *hate* hemming) and mending.

I should add that I have calluses on all my fingertips from guitar playing. Instead of reinforcing the fingers, they seem to make them more sensitive to puncturing from the end of a needle. Dunno why and YMMV.

I bought one of these at Celebrations last spring

Don't use it much but it very nice.

Cheryl

Ellice,

You always find the most drool worthy sites...

Now I want to add a thimble cage and one of those teeny tape measures to my collection of sewing tools.

Cheryl

I have a thinble cage that I wear occasionally on a chain around my neck and a pair of silver earring that are made up of different sewing charms, one of which is a tiny thimble. I also have a collection of mostly decorative thimbles that I gathered over the years when I traveled. Stuck in with those are two very old thimbles given to me by my friend from her father's things when he died. He was an old fashioned tailor in a little shop in Brooklyn.

L >

I have a small stork scissors pin, but no other stitching related jewelery. Do have hockey charms.

Cheryl

You reminded me that I have a silver scissors pin too. Now, where did I put it?

O my, my! What fabulous sites, especially the last one. Thanks for sending this info! Kathy

>

Good point about the stick ons. Thanks. Kathy

We have a new quilt shop in our small town. I'm off to see what they have in the way of thimbles. I'd like to try some on before I buy because my fingers are short and fat.

Thanks, Kathy

I have three special sewing items. There's a fancy silver 'pineapple' thimble that my Dad gave to his Mum the day he came to tell her he had enlisted in the army and was going overseas. It was meant to be a softener, but I don't think it worked. At least, not until he came back. He was Nanna's youngest and, I think, a bit special to her.

Then, there's a silver needle case that was presented to my other Nanna in recognition of her voluntary work, turning sheets for the (military) repatriation hospital during and after the war. Her son was lost at the fall of Singapore and she always felt the needle case was somehow connected to him, since she received it in February, 1942 (round about when Singapore fell to the Japanese Army).

Finally, there's the *real* celluloid thimble used by the first-mentioned Nanna. It worked hard for its living, doing mending for a family of eight as well as doing piecework to earn money during the Depression. Nearly all its dimples are worn away and it's pretty bent out of shape. BUT... in spite of my huge, peasant's fingers... it fits me! Needless to say, this thimble is the most precious of all.

LOL - not sure about being known for the ability to find and share drool-worthiness.....But, aren't the Tommie Jane things just fabulous? I remember seeing her on the old Alex Andersen quilting show on HGTV, and then when I was in my "must quilt" phase, took a class at the new Jinny Beyer shop (a gorgeous, drool-worthy collection of luxury accessories) which has a display of a couple of dozen TJ thimbles, etc - and then....TJ actually came to VA. Woo hoo. I've been working up to getting one of the band thimbles - those are the ones I like best. Gorgeous stuff.

Ellice

You're very welcome! It's kind of fun the info that comes around here, questions asked. Who knew about thimbles beyond the basics? I certainly didn't until the Tommie Jane thing hit me in the face.

Ellice (who also has hockey charms, but not sure about the sewing jewelry)

Lovely history of your family sewing tools. It's nice to have that to go with the actual items. Thanks for sharing.

I have DH's mothers old, old Singer, which was put into an Art Deco sewing cabinet that I refuse to give up (he thinks I should sell it). It's way too small for anyone over about 5'2" (and puffy) - legs really jam in there. But I love the style of it. I've been trying to think of some other use for it 'cause it looks like it came out of Hercule Poirot's flat from the BBC series - curved, swing out drawers and all. And just put the Singer on a shelve displayed downstairs somewhere.

I found an old wooden darning egg that clearly came from his grandmother at the latest. My family - hmmm - I do have the Samovar that came over on the boat - complete with tax stamps on it from old Russia in the early 19th century. Mostly, I know how to do a blind hem & iron because Nanny Lily taught me when I was quite little - so no tools, but a skill. And I always, always think of her when I'm hemming something.

ellice

I always wonder, when I see old tools, who used them and how and why. I wish we'd kept more of my Nannas' things because both had interesting lives.

Oh, how lucky! I think everyone loves Art Deco and you couldn't

*possibly* part with such a treasure! Could it be used as a dressing table? Or as an occasional table in a sun-room (pretty table runner, vase of flowers, maybe suitably framed family photos on it)? It would be a nice place for keepsakes to live, perhaps lined with some pretty fabric (lace it over stiff matt board and fit firmly into drawers). You could keep cutlery in it, or jewellery or heirloom baby clothes? If you can't find a use for it, I bet I could! ;->

I love the notion of an old darning egg! Imagine how many socks it has known and loved. It's just a humble, workaday item, but it probably saw more of your family's life than fancier keepsakes. And a Samovar!!! Wow! That's really something: few families would have such an unusual item to keep.

Funny about hemming. I love doing it when it's on the edges of something dainty in linen with embroidery. I *hate* doing it when it's on the edges of curtains (ie. several kilometres of it) or, worst of all, trousers. Whoever invented flared pants was clearly not a person used to the art of hemming! A nice, well-behaved straight-leg is bad enough, but trying to ease hems on flared pants is nothing but a nightmare! And jeans are the worse offenders of all! I've developed a cunning little trick by cutting and splaying the bottoms, but it's still a pain in the quince and I'll avoid it whenever I can (safety pins are a woman's best friend!)

Just wondering whether you've taught your own daughter to do blind hemming, Ellice? I tried to teach DD to sew and she nearly fainted from boredom. Sigh. Then the little moo commented 'Why would I need to learn that when you're there to do it so beautifully for me?' Arrrrggghhh! I chased 'er around the house three times and hit her with my bodkin! In the rump!

Lovely stuff Trish

Well doggone it. I went to the new quilting shop and yep, I got a new thimble - one of those ones that are made of the Croc shoe material. But the bad news is that I found such wonderful fabrics and buttons there too. I don't quilt -- refuse to take on another life-absorbing hobby -- but I love to use colorful fabrics to make pillows and to make cloth frames for stitched projects. She had only the one kind of thimble so I'm going to go into town (Traverse City) and see if Joanns has any. Thanks again to all for your help. Kathy