Can not use a thimble?

I've tried everything that's been offered as a thimble. Silver, brass, open, closed, rimmed, ultrasuede, leather. Everything. Today I've found something for those of us whose fingers need some protection and nothing works - or we absentmindedly slip past the thimbled finger and puncture another one. I knew I was going to be a dismal mess if I didn't find a solution while putting the binding on my sweetheart's quilt. Decided to try just one more thing. I snipped some sort of ½" squares of Johnson-Johnson Heavy-Duty Waterproof FirstAid tape and stacked them on the pad of my 'push' finger. Then, I secured them with one wrap of tape ending on top of the fingernail. Viola! Voila! yesssss. All of that. It works, it works. My first attempt was not so great. I had the edges of the wrap on the pad of my finger and it stuck to every thread that passed by. On top of your nail is where the tape seam needs to be. After about 7 hours of blind-stitching with nary a puncture, I removed the tape. My fingerprint remains unblemished. The FBI will be glad of that. If you have been defeated by thimbles, try the tape. Buy some now before it is marketed as Quilter's Tape and sells for $20 per inch. It could happen. Happy Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther
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I've used that tape and I like it, Polly. I think I need more layers though because I poked through. Ouch.

Cindy

Reply to
teleflora

Have you never tried the little sticky back pads made specifically for this purpose? I have acrylic nails and can't use a thimble either but the little sticky pads work a treat!! Nice round suede ones are available but they are a tad $$$ (compared to the plastic ones) so I often use the heavy clear plastic oval ones instead. I have seen both types in local craft shops. The ovals are a bit too large for my finger so I usually cyt them in half and trim off the little pointy corners. I tried other things like heavy tapes, etc. but they just seemed a bit too bulky for me. It's also difficult to get tapes, etc. to fit nicely around my nails and my threads are always getting hung up on the tape that is on the bak of my nail. The little premade sticky back bads -- either plastic or suede -- work perfectly. It's worth the few dollars they cost to give them a try, especially if they work for you :-). AND when you take the little pad off, you can use it over again several times if you are careful and stick it back on the paper it came with. That makes it even better and REALLY worth the $$$ spent -- frugal is GOOD LOLOL! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

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Reply to
Tia Mary

I keep my leather "sticky pad" on the (plastic) part of my thread scissors - just above where the blades are. Works great & they last a long time. ME-Judy

Reply to
ME-Judy

I'm pleased to report that I have finished well more than 400" of binding with nary a need for a pint of blood or sympathy card. The heavy first-aid tape worked fairly well. It seems as if I've seen some talk about flexible thimbles made of that stuff like the newest (if not greatest) cake and muffin pan composition. Anyone had success with these? Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

I love my soft, flexible thimbles. I think they are silicon but feel sort of rubbery. Got used to wearing a thimble when working in a men's alterations tailor shop.... it was a necessity. But I rust metal thimbles out from the inside. I was afraid the "rubber" thimbles would make my finger even hotter/sweatier but they don't. There are small ridges around the inside that help with air circulation. And they are very light weight.

Pati, > I'm pleased to report that I have finished well more than 400" of binding

Reply to
Pati C.

Thank you, Pati. My fingertips are rather square and most thimbles taper where mine do not. The silicon ones might be flexible enough to work for me. Are they hard to find? Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

I just got one at my LQS. Cost was between 2-2.50 if I remember correctly. Haven't had much luck with it, I bought too big. I guess on one of the days my fingers are bigger (arthiritis) it will be good. There are different styles. indentions on the end and round ends etc. There are also pretty colors, makes them easier to find. Anna Belle

Tue, 1 Jul 2008 21:23:10 -0500, "Polly Esther" wrote:

Reply to
"Anna Belle" fladavis

I've seen something like this somewhere -- not sure if it was in a catalogue or online. I never look closely because it's still a thimble and they don't fit over my nails. I have a bunch of the little pads and would be happy to share with you so you could give them a try and see if they would be worth your money :-). I only use them when doing backstitching on my needlework or sewing on my quilt labels so they last me a long time. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

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Reply to
Tia Mary

Thank you so much, Mary, but I have a pack of the thimble pads. I've ordered the silicon thimble, maybe that will be the one for me. Hey, it was cheaper than ordering a Bernina 730E and I looked at them too. Polly

"Tia Mary" I've seen something like this somewhere -- not sure if it was in a

Reply to
Polly Esther

It depends... The size medium seem to go fast and are the most popular. I believe there are at least a few on-line shops that carry them. I get them at the shop where I teach, or the one that is "up the street" from me.

Have fun, Pati, > Thank you, Pati. My fingertips are rather square and most thimbles taper

Reply to
Pati C.

Do you have a website for the thimbles? IF I can find one that has an opening at the top for my fingernail, I would order one. My problem with the little pads is that during a looooong session of stitching, it starts to loosen a bit along the edge and my floss can slide underneath. A total P.I.T.A. to say the least and a thinble -- with an opening on the top for a fingetnail -- would eliminate this problem. I've tried the metal thimbles but they irritate my skin so I have used the little pads for several years now. Thanks & CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

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Reply to
Tia Mary

I didn't see a flexible silicon one with an opening for a long fingernail. Maybe Pati C knows. Polly

"Tia Mary" wrote>

Reply to
Polly Esther

Good for you, Polly, to invent your own finger protection! I like the leather thimbles, but discovered that the soft plastic disk that is supposed to stop the eye of the quilting between from penetrating my finger.......doesn't. I finally turned the thimble inside out, pulled out the plastic and substituted a dime. No more poked fingers! I don't wear a thimble on the underside left hand, my calluses are sensitive enough to feel the tip of the needle and tough enough not to let it penetrate.

Just my own solution.

Reply to
Carolyn McCarty

Nope, not the silicon ones I have seen. However the thimbles from Luixan Newman (??) are open on both ends, sort of tapered cylinders with a section along one side that has dimples for the needle. They are meant to fit down over the joint of the finger sort of. And she does have a plastic one to try before buying one of the more expensive silver (??) ones. And of course the Roxanne thimbles are open for nails, as are some of the ones by TJ Lane. But they are a lot more expensive. Tailors thimbles are open on the top too. Hmmm............wonder if you could cut the end out of one of the silicon thimbles??? might be worth a try, Tia Mary.

Pati, > I didn't see a flexible silicon one with an opening for a long fingernail.

Reply to
Pati C.

Here's an "opening for nails" thimble to check out Tia. I've been using this type for years and years and just love them.

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The next suggestion would be to cut the top out of one of the silicone thimbles, maybe.

Val

Reply to
Val

Even though my nails aren't very long my fingernail always bothers me in a thimble. I do have a thimble that allows for it but the one I'd like to try is the one that has a recessed top ---but along with an opening for that nail !----and to use it with the Aunt Becky finger protector. I'd like to try that method but thimbles rest on my nail and not my finger pad. Anyone else every use the Aunt Becky /thimble combo? Mary

Reply to
MB

*(%(*%*#$%%^%#(*&% I guess "they" don't think women with fingernails do any sort of needle related stuff! Probably a bunch of MCPF'ers made THAT determination -- LOLOLOL! HMMMM, I think my latent feminism is showing just a bit :-). Hope Pati C. has additional info. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

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Reply to
Tia Mary

I don't think I would have to actually cut the end out. A nice slot right where my fingernail is would work. Do you have the website for the silicon thimbles? I'll go take a look and see what's there and then decide :-). Thanks & CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

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Reply to
Tia Mary

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Thanks for the link but I've tried that sort of thimble and it just doesn't feel right. I think it's the metal disk on the inside. I am one of those high acid folks and I can corrode stainless, sterling, even surgical steel after awhile! As I told Pati C., I might just try cutting a slot into the top of one of the silicone thimbles! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

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Reply to
Tia Mary

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