Me neither too Buckwheat. Until last summer I was at a small quilting shop in MO and they had these for about 3.00 that were pliable. they were flexible almost like the new cooking pans that sort of thing. It conforms to my odd shaped fingers I guess they are odd shaped the other thimbles didn't fit them nor would they stay on. Also they come in differnt colors so they are easy to find in the sewing machine drawer. They move and I don't feel like my thimb is wet from sweat or weirded out.

I use a long leather one and the small leather dots. Works great for me.

I had the same problem, but solved it using the short leather thimble covered with Dritz Quilting Leather Thimble. Hope this helps

I , too, have trouble keeping a thimble on skinny fingers riddled with neuropathy. When I bought a pack of needles, an added surprise was a "needle pusher". I use it in place of a thimble, and it works great for me. Good luck

I have the acrylic nails too and found the kind with the hole at the end for my nail to stick out works great for me. I lost some weight and it seemed to slip a bit so I put some double sided carpet tape inside and it works fine now.

I don't know why anyone would hand sew without protection from the needle pricks. The new Clover thimbles are almost perfect. The small size fits my DGD and it's pretty too.

Learning a lot about thimbles here..........still trying to find the right one for me.

I use finger cots.. you can buy these in pharmacies anywhere, they just slip on your finger. They don't last long, but, I bought a box of 300 on ebay

My suggestion, just like some other things, force yourself to do it until you get comfortable with it. It's soooo weird at first and you'll think it just can't ever feel right, but it will. Find a metal one that is snug, but isn't too tight and if needed, reshape it a bit with a hammer to flatten it to an oval shape to fit the shape of your finger. I've tried leather ones, but still feel the needle too much. Metal are best and last longer. Once you find one that fits, guard it like your best friend.

My fav thimble is from the Thimble Lady. She's online from Australia. Her thimbles are down the finger and not on the top part. She teaches to quilt differently but I like it better. No hand strain or pain...

Diannia