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I have to admit that before Purl Patchwork opened I didn’t have a clue about thimbles. They seemed quaint and old fashioned but I didn’t really understand their use (… and I thought that you wore them on your thumb!) Now that I hand sew and embroider regularly my thimbles have become indispensable. I have different kinds for different uses and I thought I’d share with you what they’re all for in case anyone out there is similarly clueless.
Traditional Thimbles
The goat leather thimble is my favorite traditional thimble and thus it’s a good place to start. I used to think that thimbles were primarily used as protection from the sharp end of the needle. But in the case of traditional thimbles that’s not true. You wear a traditional thimble (usually on your index or middle finger) to protect your finger from the eye-end of the needle. If you use your index or middle finger to push the eye-end of a needle enough times your finger will get hurt; that’s where a thimble like this comes in handy.
I use my goat leather thimble primarily for hand quilting. The rocking motion of the hand quilting stitch would be very painful without it because you are constantly pushing the end of the needle with the tip of your finger.
You can also wear a thimble for hand piecing to help push the needle through as you do the running stitch.
I prefer the goat leather thimble to a more traditional metal thimble because it’s flexible and feels like an extension of my own finger, but a metal thimble works the same way.
Some people prefer the metal thimbles because they don’t cover the first finger knuckle. Also their indentations are useful in catching the eye-end of the needle. Our quiltmaking teacher, Cassandra, finds the leather thimbles bulky, while I find the metal ones too rigid. It’s all a mater of personal preference and what feels right to you. Make sure when you buy a traditional thimble, be it goat leather or metal, that it fits properly. It should be snug enough to not fall off your finger but not too tight that it hurts.
Under Thimble
The Under Thimble is also primarily used for hand quilting. When I was taught to hand quilt I was told to push the needle through the quilt until it just poked my bottom finger.
I do still think this is a good way to initially learn because it helps to regulate your stitch size. However, now that I’ve learned the basic principle, the Under Thimble makes hand quilting much quicker, because I’m not so afraid of impaling my poor underfinger.
To use it you simply stick it on your index finger with one of the reusable stickers that come with the package. All of a sudden your under finger is invincible!
Thimble Pad
The thimble pad is something that I use for embroidery. It gives me a better grip when I’m pulling the thread through my fabric and prevents any irritation that might come from always gripping the needle in the same place. It sticks on and can be used many times. I have also heard it can be very useful in applique.
The thimble pad is a really versatile tool, there’s no rules to it, it’s just there to help. I was embroidering some napkins recently and I kept pricking myself over and over in the same place. I popped a thimble pad on and the problem was solved!
Sashiko Thimble
The Japanese Sashiko technique also has it’s own Sashiko thimble, and it’s worn in a very unique place on the base of the middle finger, protecting the top of the palm.
After gathering many stitches on the needle you push the needle through using the top part of your palm (protected, of course by your thimble!) For a more in depth explanation of Sashiko click here.
So… in conclusion
If you’re hand sewing and your fingers are being in any way irritated, poked, pricked, or prodded, there is a thimble to help you.
May 6, 2008 | Purl Bee
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shinystuff says:
Fascinating! I truly had no clue about the wonderful world of thimbles before reading your post. Thank you!
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Christina says:
Wow, that was really helpful, thank you. I didn’t even know the goat leather thimble existed and now I want one, badly.
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Lizzie says:
So informative! I always felt that thimbles were way awkward and in the way, but now I understand that I was just using them totally wrong! haha…anyways, thanks.
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Nancy says:
great post
i did not know about the goat leather thimble or that there was embroidery thimbles.
thanks for sharingReply
Candice says:
after reading this, I am certainly picking up some thimbles next time I go to my fabric store. thank you!
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Gaile says:
My Mom was a tailor, and so until high school the only thimbles I’d used were tailor’s thimbles (similar to the metal thimble, but open at the top). In high school home ec classes I remember struggling with a traditional metal thimble and finally bringing in one of my Mom’s thimbles, which everyone (including the teacher) thought was odd. I still am most comfortable with my tailor’s thimble over any other type.
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Vicki Henderson says:
I have a couple of the thimbles that you have described with the open top. I was never quite sure how to use them. I thought they were open for the longer fingernails, while someone told me they were used for the under side of a quilt while quilting. Can you explain how they are used differently from a regular thimble?
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Allison says:
Hello Vicki,
Thank you for your question! A lot of these thimbles can be used in different ways. An open thimble is sometimes a little more comfortable and versatile than a traditional closed top thimble. You can slip it down to the spot where the eye of the needle hits your finger. I can see how it would also be great if you had long fingernails too! The Sashiko thimble is a little different, it is worn at the base of your finger so that you can push the running stitches through using the top of the palm. I hope that helps. Let us know if you have any other questions.
Happy stitching!
AllisonReply
Holli A says:
Wow, thanks for the great, informative post. I knew about some of these and discovered a few (like the thimble pad) that will really come in handy (no pun intended).
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Jennifer says:
Wow – I never knew there were so many types of thimbles out there. Thank you so much for this incredibly informative post. I learned so much.
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Emily / knitwhere says:
Yeah, I had no idea there were so many kinds and uses for thimbles either! Like you, I thought a thimble (and I was only aware of the metal kind) protected your thumb from the pointy end of the needle. This is a great little lesson.
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after trying lots of different thimbles. probably the wrong ones for the purpose!
i now stick plasters on my finger for protection, and grip!
thanks for this post, i can now go and choose the correct thimble!Reply
Josie (Molly's Mom) says:
Pretty interesting (and pretty nerdy too!). Where on earth did you learn all this stuff? I am learning so much from you and the Purl Bee.
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Mandy says:
I have an old metal thimble that used to be my husband’s Irish grandmother’s. I’ve tried to use it, but I find it so restricting that I usually take it off after a few stitches. Now I’ll know to look for these other types next time I’m at the fabric store! I’ll put my family heirloom away for safekeeping! Thanks!
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Kate G. says:
Wonderful post and, as always, the photographs were as useful as the text. Thanks! Like Mandy, I have my Irish grandmother’s thimble, but it never fit so I had it made into a necklace.
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Kacie says:
Thank you for this extremely useful tutorial on thimbles! I had no idea there were so many great options. I enjoy hand-quilting and I use the Clover Leather Coin Thimble much in the same way you described your use of the goat leather thimble. I’d highly recommend it!
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat3720&PRODID=prd2826&source=searchReply
emmyjane says:
I love using the leather thimbles for hand quilting. The only drawback is that eventually they will get holes in them. When that happens (instead of shelling out the $3 or whatever reasonable price they are), I use a Thimble Pad to patch the hole, or stick it to my finger under the hole. It works great.
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Stephanie says:
Last year I discovered thimble pads when looking for something to help my poor abused index finger–injured in the line of sock knitting. I love to knit socks on dpns but found that when working on lacy socks my sad little digit was aching from being stabbed with the tip of the US1 so many times! I tried a few different types of thimbles, but found the thimble pad to work best because it didn’t impede my knitting at all. Thanks for the great post!
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purl bee says:
Hi Mary Beth,
The fabric is "Avalon" by Alexander Henry in Turquoise. There is a link to it in the first section of this post or you can get to it here:http://purlsoho.com/purl/products/fabricdetail/3997
Thanks for your comment!- Molly
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Bille says:
Thank you! That really was very helpful, informative, and interesting.
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beruta says:
What a great thimble lesson, thank you so much!
And by the way, that blue fabric is soooo beautiful…Reply
The Green Cat says:
Interesting to read how other folks use thimbles. I am a hand-quilter and I find that my needles poke through the goat leather thimbles too much (either getting stuck there or poking through to my finger–ow!). I also can’t use metal thimbles because my needle tends to slide right off them. I use leather and plastic thimbles like these: http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat3720&PRODID=prd2829&source=search
I also like that they are open at the top because I have long fingernails. I have never had any success with an under thimble as I still like to feel the needle hit my finger on the under side.Reply
Denise says:
Brilliant! WHY hasn’t anyone explained thimbles before! I need one (or several) and didn’t even know it. 🙂
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Liesl says:
One thing that might help to make using a thimble feel less awkward is to wear it on your middle finger. That way you still have your index finger for handling the needle. I can’t do any hand sewing without my metal thimble anymore, I like mine so much!
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muralimanohar says:
So am I one of the only people who hates using thimbles, cause I always seem to do projects that are too much for the needle to puncture, and when I am pushing the needle, hard, it slips, and the eye impales my finger or hand REALLY REALLY HARD? lol As a result, I am soo nervous using them, cause I always manage to do it at least once a project. :p
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zia meadows says:
I really need this goat leather thimble, as I always wear a nasty slit in my finger from the eye-end, so I’m off to treat myself now and search for one- thanks!
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Roze says:
Thanks for your thimble post. I had no idea there where so many types of thimbles out there beyond the traditional metal one. Very interesting post!
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farmgirl says:
Thanks for the thimble tutorial. I always found the arrray of thimbles a little bit intimidating! Ha! Now I know, and knowing’s half the battle.
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Karin says:
Wow! That is so helpful. I would have never known there was such variety in the humble thimble. I’m going to have to get me one of those goat leather thimbles. Thank you!
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Anne-Marie says:
What a wonderful post!!! I did not know about many of those thimbles- I have used several metal thimbles and would certainly love to try a leather one- seems to be much more flexible Thanks for the great work you all do!!
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liz says:
I just found one my grandmother’s thimbles (from between 1920-1945). They are lovely! My son asked which finger they were worn on, and I had no idea! Now I think I remember seeing her use it on her index finger. Thanks for your help.
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Anita says:
That is quite interesting. Do you, by any chance, have access to the old type of open end thimble, not those heavy ones that are currently sold. They are like the gold one shown, but with an open top? Thanks.
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Wendy says:
I really appreciate your thimble lesson! I’m currently working on an art piece and it includes a giant thimble. I didn’t know there were so many types! Thanks so much for broadening my understanding of thimbles.
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Janice says:
Thanks for the interesting thimble lesson. I’d never seen a sashiko thimble before. I’ve been using a regular metal thimble! I’m a hand quilter and I have a hard time finding a thimble that’s *large* enough. I really want to try the goatskin thimble now.
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Minni says:
Thanks so much for the info! I'm also considering silicone thimbles, or combo's of silicone & metal. Also maybe Silicone Dots.
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suziwong66 says:
I use an under thimble with dimples on my pushing finger and a finger shield on my other hand on the index finger so that the tip of the needle hits the shield and not my finger; it also allows me to wrap the fabric around my finger creating tension in the fabric.
I too find metal thimbles restricting and for many years wore a self-made leather thimble, but changed to the dimpled under thimble and finger shield a few years back.
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Kathy S says:
Wonderfully informative post! I actually use those rubber paper sorting things as a thimble when I'm sewing softies and working embroidery. They work fairly well, but are rather thin. I might try the goat leather thimble–it looks like it might be better..
Thanks for sharing~
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Stephanie Lemay says:
Thank you for this great post! I had no idea what to do with the different types of thimbles and this answered all my questions. I think a traditional leather thimble would be most helpful for me.
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Ellie says:
This is a nice neat summary of really invaluable little bits of kit. It’s lovely to see someone sharing their insider knowledge. I have a career making costumes and over the year have tried many different thimbles however the one I always come back to is a clerks rubber thimble the, normally used for note outing and page turning. I guess just a smaller modern version of the goat skin, it’s flexible so I can still feel what I’m doing and grippy too so I can pull the needle through extra tough fabrics.
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Vicki Henderson says:
My mother and her friends did a lot of quilting and used to use clear fingernail polish on their under finger instead of a thimble. Every time the ladies at the quilting bee would take a coffee break they would put an extra coat of nail polish on their fingers.
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Caite says:
I use a thimble when I make Irish lace the hook is so small that it will wear a spot between the ridgelines in the skin on your finger tip and eventual go through. Since it’s a hook, it’s really painful to remove.
Most thimbles don’t have the right shape or are too ridged. I bit of leather chom*ois and some double-sided tape make a excellent substitute.Reply
Leave a Reply
I've spent years immersed in the world of handcrafts, particularly in the realm of knitting, sewing, and embroidery. My expertise extends beyond mere familiarity; it delves into the nuances of various tools and accessories, including thimbles. This article on Purl Soho's blog is a fantastic exploration of thimbles and their diverse applications.
The author provides an insightful breakdown of different thimbles, illustrating a profound understanding of their roles in various crafting endeavors. Let's dissect the key concepts covered in the article:
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Traditional Thimbles:
- Description: The article introduces traditional thimbles, focusing on the goat leather thimble. It clarifies the misconception that thimbles protect from the needle's sharp end, emphasizing their role in shielding fingers from the eye-end of the needle.
- Application: Highlighted for hand quilting, particularly useful due to the rocking motion involved.
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Under Thimble:
- Purpose: Primarily used for hand quilting, it addresses the issue of the needle poking through the fabric and potentially hurting the underfinger.
- Application: Offers a solution to make hand quilting more efficient by providing protection to the underfinger.
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Thimble Pad:
- Usage: Ideal for embroidery, the thimble pad enhances grip while pulling thread through fabric, preventing irritation from repetitive needle gripping.
- Versatility: Mentioned as a useful tool in appliqué as well.
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Sashiko Thimble:
- Specialized Tool: Designed for the Japanese Sashiko technique, worn uniquely on the base of the middle finger to protect the top of the palm.
- Technique: Describes the method of pushing the needle through the fabric using the protected top of the palm.
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Personal Preferences:
- Insight: Acknowledges the subjective nature of thimble preferences. Some crafters may prefer leather thimbles for flexibility, while others opt for metal ones for specific features like indentation catching the eye-end of the needle.
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Choosing the Right Fit:
- Guidance: Emphasizes the importance of selecting a thimble that fits snugly without causing discomfort.
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User Experiences:
- Testimonials: Integrates comments and experiences from readers who found the information valuable, creating a sense of community engagement.
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Publication Date:
- May 6, 2008: Indicates that the article has been available for several years, showcasing the enduring relevance of the content.
In conclusion, this article not only displays a wealth of knowledge about thimbles but also communicates this expertise in a clear and accessible manner. It caters to both beginners and experienced crafters, making it a valuable resource in the realm of handcrafting.
