I have a real problem with nickel. Early on, I discovered nickel was an allergen, when I had to wear a leg brace. My ears are particularly sensitive to nickel. I do not have pierced ears. And, yes, I have pained my clip-ons with clear nail polish, but it is not a perfect solution. However, I make jewelry, because I love to do so. It is fun to do and relieves stress for me. That is true even when I am working hard to figure out a new stitch. New stitches are always a challenge . . I am a leftie. How do other lefties cope? When I did needlepoint, I would turn the instruction book upside down.