My Favorite Thimble

I’m not sure I could continue quilting without them. Or if I did, I’d be a grouchy quilter.

I LOVE to do handwork.

It’s my quilting task of choice.

From hand piecing, to whipping down the binding when it’s done, I love the entire process of handwork.

I love hand embroidery and beading, English paper piecing, and hand quilting, too, but my very favorite type of handwork is needle-turn hand applique.

However, I could not do any of it as comfortably as I do without ThimblePads.

I’ve been quilting for over 50 years, and trust me, I’ve tried every thimble there is. For awhile, I was on a thimble mission, snatching up every new one I saw and giving it a try.

Trouble is, if I put a normal metal thimble on my “quilting finger”, that finger instantly becomes useless. I even hold it out away from my other fingers as if it’s suddenly become deformed or injured in some fashion, and I can’t use it. I gave them a good chance . . . tried oh so many different kinds and brands . . . but nope — as soon as the thimble goes on, the finger goes out of commission.

If I try the softer ones, they work for about 5 minutes. I push really hard when hand quilting, and the needle always ends up going backwards through the thimble and sticking me anyway. Or getting stuck in the thimble and I can’t get it back out.

I admire those of you who can use a real thimble. But it baffles me. And eludes me. Even after years of trying . . .

But about 25 years ago I found ThimblePads, and they changed my quilting life. Whoda thunk a little 1/4″ piece of fuzzy leather with a sticky side could be such a life-altering invention?

You just stick it on the spot on your finger where you push the needle, and there it stays while you stitch to your heart’s content. If you have to take it off, it will re-stick many times before you have to switch to a new one.

It’s very comfortable. You hardly know it’s there. In fact, I’ve even at times forgotten I’m wearing one, and found myself washing dishes with it still on!

They come 12 in a package, and a package will last quite awhile. When I first starting using them, a pack cost around $4. They’re up to around $10 now. But still worth it, and I will still keep buying them.

If you hand quilt, they also have a product called UnderThimble, which is a metal disk for the hand you use on the bottom.

It has little adhesive circles that you use to stick the metal one to your bottom finger, and it keeps you from turning your under finger into hamburger while quilting.

Don’t be worried that you can’t “feel” the needle well enough; you get used to it. And you just buy sticky refills for the metal piece when you need them, which isn’t very often.

If you try some, I don’t think you’ll be sorry. I always recommend asking at your local quilt shop first, but if that’s not an option, I’m sure you can find them online.