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

Others might have a better idea, but in a pinch I have used layers of
masking tape. Just don't wrap it tight around your finger. There is a
package of dots-----temporary stick on to use instead of a thimble.--- you
can purchase.
Barbara in SC
"jennellh" wrote in message
...
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

On May 7, 12:18*pm, jennellh wrote:
I am looking for a thimble substitute since I have never been able to
hand sew with one! *Any suggestions??
jennellh


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

Have you tried one of the new silicone thimbles? They're a whole lot easier
to get used to and use.


--
Ms P, Queen of Scissors
http://community.webshots.com/user/MsB_Peacock
http://hippyquilter.blogspot.com/



"jennellh" wrote in message
...
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

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


"Mauvice in central WI" wrote in message
...
On May 7, 12:18 pm, jennellh wrote:
I am looking for a thimble substitute since I have never been able to
hand sew with one! Any suggestions??
jennellh


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

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 g), the, when I start sewing I find myself
avoiding using the finger with 'something strange' on it!!

Luckily, I don't have to do much hand sewing. This might change after I
have tried Quilted Diamonds.
..
In message , Polly Esther
writes
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

--
Best Regards
pat on the hill

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.

Have you seen the Ultra Thimble? A vendor at a quilt show had it.
Here's a random link to it.
http://store.quilting-warehouse.com/072867.html It's an instant callous
that sticks on with a little adhesive disk. It works great for putting
the binding on denim quilts!
Liz

jennellh wrote:
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

In article
,
jennellh wrote:

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


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. G 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. G

--
Sandy in Henderson, near Las Vegas
sw.foster1 (at) gmail (dot) com (remove/change the obvious)
http://www.sandymike.net

On May 7, 10:18*am, jennellh wrote:
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

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