Thimble substitutes?

I am looking for a thimble substitute since I have never been able to hand sew with one! While stitching down the binding on the yellow table runner, I managed to puncture a hole through my right index finger nail - I was using the backside of that nail to push the needle through the hem and naturally after making the hole, the needle kept poking through it. I need more calcium! When I was doing more hand sewing, I had an almost-permanent needle callous on my right middle finger tip that was very useful. I guess that I am looking for an finger callous substitute and not a thimble? Any suggestions?? jennellh

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jennellh
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Reply to
Bobbie Sews More

I like the leather thimbles, never could get used tothe metal thimble....some people have used that flourecent wrap they use for animal (cattle and horses) injuries...I don't know what it is called.... Mauvice in central WI where spring is finally budding out

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Mauvice in central WI

I could probably hand sew with a thimble in my mouth but have no success with a thimble on my finger. If you want a quick temporary callous on your 'pushing finger', They Say that you can put 2 or 3 coats of Liquid Band-Aid on and that will protect your pusher. Why don't you try it and report back to us? I would run the experiment for us myself but there's no quilt here that needs binding just now. Polly

I like the leather thimbles, never could get used tothe metal thimble....some people have used that flourecent wrap they use for animal (cattle and horses) injuries...I don't know what it is called.... Mauvice in central WI where spring is finally budding out

Reply to
Polly Esther

I've had no success either! If I put one on a finger (and I've never known which finger one is supposed to put it on >gto us?

Reply to
Patti

I have a wide variety of thimbles of all sorts, and love each one and hate each one depending on the time, what I'm sewing, the size of my fingers, which change continually, and who knows what else. At the moment I am alternating between one of the new rubber-like thimbles that come in lovely colors and one that is extra long and gold plated. My all-time favorite is a very small silver thimble that had been my grandmother's and which sometime in its life apparently got almost-stepped-on or otherwise a wee bit squashed, so it's a wonderful oval now! I suggest that you bite the bullet, pick up a variety in sizes "just right for today" and "a bit too small" and "a bit too large", and gradually try them all. Many people who don't like thimbles learn to enjoy some of the leather thimbles, some of which have an inset metal disk. Others enjoy the little oval or round curved disks that stick on your finger -- instant callous! Whether and when and what thimble you might enjoy will also depend on the length of your fingernail. By the way, a very wise old lady told me once NEVER to get so attached to one thimble that no others seem good, because the minute you do, that one thimble will be lost, smashed flat, or eaten by the dog.

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Mary

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Liz Megerle

Jennell, I used to hate thimbles, too. Whenever I put one on, I automatically used a different finger to push the needle. It took me some time to learn to use that bethimbled finger. Another problem I had was that my finger was always too hot inside the thimble -- very uncomfortable. The solution to that was to get a "tailor's thimble" which has no top at all. Since I push with the pad of my finger, rather than the tip, this works well for me. I also discovered that -- once I'd found the style of thimble that worked for me -- biting the bullet and getting a sterling thimble was worth the extra cost. Sterling thimbles seem to adjust to your finger, no matter what the weather! That eliminates the need to buy a variety of sizes to accommodate the swelling and shrinking of the finger in different temperatures. Of course, once I was down to one thimble, I worried about losing it. So I bought its twin, just in case. Then I bought a chatelaine -- also sterling -- so as to keep track of whichever one I was using.

Reply to
Sandy

have you tried one of the stick on pads? I think you can get both ones intended as thimbles and as needle grips, I wouldn't say I'm entirely sold on them, but like others I've never mastered a thimble and I do find these can be a help, but wouldn't stick on on straight away, only once I saw or felt that the skin on my finger wasn't going to hold out much longer!

Anne

Reply to
Anne Rogers

The Ultra Thimble is the one I like also..You can hardly feel it and sticks time after time so you can use it more than once. The only thing is that I liked the way they first made them ...with a thin green material--might have been leather. Now they are thicker but they might have trimmed them a bit now.

Has anyone here tried the Aunt Bekky's thimble?...I saw Jean Brown demo it on Char Jorgensen's site and also on TV...have watched it again on Bravenet?....and now it is off that site. She does great work and it looks like she does it effortlessly. I'd like to order Jean Brown's video but if it is the quality that I saw online I'd rather it were much better. Mary

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MB

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jennellh

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jennellh

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jennellh

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jennellh

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jennellh

It's called Vetwrap. I think you can pick it up at a tack store or farmer's exchange.

Heidi

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Heidi

The stick pads look good. I'm in the same boat. Have problems with adhesives thou. Let us know if you find one that works. I've tried the leather punched a hole through it with the needle bleed on quilt. ugh

Reply to
Jane Zoerb

Me too. I even made one with UltraSuede. It was miserable; much like taking a shower with my socks on. Actually, I've never tried that. Polly

"Jane Zoerb" The stick pads look good. I'm in the same boat. Have problems with adhesives

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Polly Esther

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