There were two reasons why I avoided thimbles: I didn’t have one that fit, and I was afraid I couldn’t get used to one. The second excuse was lame; the first problem was fixable.
I had accumulated two metal thimbles and a weird green plastic one. I tried them over and over, getting cranky when they fell off and rolled away. Luckily my favorite sewing supply store, Sewing Parts Online, had a perky French Bohin thimble with a metal top and rubbery red skirt.
It's not a charming antique, but it is adorable, and the silicone skirt hangs onto my middle finger for dear life.
I decided to finally become a thimble person on the advice of Sewn Company’s Sarah E. Woodyard. Her video tutorials about hand sewing are calm, beautiful, and encouraging. I cannot resist her urging “Remember what your hands can do.”
Mathew Gnagy doesn’t take no for an answer when it comes to using a thimble. In this video, he recalls that, when he was an apprentice tailor, his boss said, “ Use a thimble or you’re out of a job.“ Mr. Gnagy makes absolutely gorgeous things.
As a personality, he is more emphatic than Bernadette Banner who wears a homemade leather thimble. Her world and what she makes are wonderful to explore. There is much to learn here and to be inspired by.
To go from the sublime to the nutty but functional, take a look at what arrived in the mail the other day.
As wacky as this thimble contraption looks, it comes in handy when my grip is weary, and the needle feels extra small & slippery. The strap is a distraction, however, and I think I will have to cut it loose.
What thimble story do you have?
I am grateful to William Isbister for his fascinating study.
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