There are many great pleasures in my sewing practice that I originally resisted. One was the use of a thimble when hand sewing. A thimble felt awkward and in the way. However, a professor I encountered during my studies required me to wear a thimble for handwork. After a bit of practice, I was hooked. My thimble now feels like an extension of my hand and is possibly my most treasured sewing tool. I teach my own students—and encourage all  sewers—to embrace the benefits and joys of wearing a thimble while hand sewing.

A thimble enables you to use more of your hand while hand sewing, as opposed to simply pinching the needle between two fingers. When you have a thimble protecting the middle finger of your stitching hand, you can push the needle through the fabric, giving you greater control, precision, and speed. I’ll show you how…