Hand Sewing Patchwork

luckys_mum

I have hand sewn patchwork for many years and I always use a thimble on the middle finger of my right hand. Recently my thumb has been getting very sore pushing the needle through. I would need a thimble for my thumb. Does anyone know if such a thing exists and perhaps where I could obtain one. Its not a quilting thimble for underneath the fabric, I am making the top of the quilt by hand.

Hardup_Hester

I just use a large metal thimble on my thumb & find it workes ok.
hester

bubbs

Hi,
Im confused here......you wear a thimble but your thumb is sore pushing the needle through ? I was a hand sewer for my job for many years, you use the thimble on your middle finger to push the needle through and pull through with your thumb and forefinger.
I hope this helps.

luckys_mum

I use the English method of patchwork. The patches are cut out and then tacked to a light card of various shapes and it takes a bit of pulling as well as pushing with the middle finger. I was thinking of getting a rubber thimble like the ones that cashiers use to count paper money.

Gingernutmeg

I do a lot of patchwork like this and I find that a thinner needle helps. I've even been known to use beading needles - they do tend to bend and you go through them at a rate of knots, but with a thinner needle you can pick up the fabric rather than the paper, IYSWIM, and there's a lot less pushing and pulling. I've no idea if this is the 'right' way to do it but it works for me, as I don't really like wearing a thimble.

Patchwork_Quilt

I use glossy magazines or spent computer paper for the inner template with my patchwork and it has always worked fine. I can see that card would make it difficult. I definitely agree with the idea of using a thinner needle, too.