Leather Thimbles
================

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   .. contents::

.. figure:: cylindrical-17-finished.jpg
   :align: center

When sewing by hand, using a well fitting thimble really helps in
protecting the hand, allowing for faster and more regular sewing. 

Traditional metal thimbles, however, have a delicate balance between
being too tight and too loose, so finding one that fits just right may
be more problematic and require multiple attempts; among other things,
this makes it harder for a beginner to understand whether they are
having problems with their technique, or their thimble is the wrong
size.

Leather thimbles are significantly more tolerant of small size
variations, and are thus easier to use for a beginner, to start getting
used to the technique.

For advanced sewists metal thimbles have advantages, including allowing
for even faster sewing and being long lasting: leather thimbles under
constant use will have to be replaced after months or at most a few
years after. However having a leather thimble around can still be
useful, for example for sewing during the summer, when they can breath a
bit more, or if the fingers are swollen because of the heat, and they
can also be handy as grippers.

Materials
---------

You will need:

* scraps of leather, about 2 mm thick: anything thicker can become
  unwieldy, and thinner wouldn't give enough protection;
* strong sewing thread: waxed linen is ideal, buttonhole twist can also
  work.

Leather substitutes will have to be tested for puncture resistance
before they can be used; I'd also avoid plastic-based leather
substitutes for something that has a limited life and will have to be
thrown away.

As for tools, a leather needle with a triangular point can be really
helpful, but a sturdy regular needle can do in a pinch.

A small awl is also useful to punch the holes you're going to sew
through, or you can also use a regular needle or a pin and some care.

Pattern
-------

This page has patterns for three different types of thimble: a
cylindrical that is the kind I'm most comfortable with, a flat one that
has the advantage of being easy to store e.g. in a travel kit, and a
sashiko one to protect the upper palm / base of the middle finger.

The pattern for all thimbles fit on an A4 sheet: :download:`thimbles.svg`.

The size is approximately the diameter of the finger you want to wear
the thimble on: you may have to make two or three thimbles in adiacent
sizes and test which one fits you better (and the other ones can be
given away to people with different hands, or can be useful if your
fingers change size seasonally).

For the sashiko thimble there is just one size.

Instructions
------------

Cylindrical Thimble
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.. figure:: cylindrical-01-pattern.jpg
   :align: center

Cut one of each part of the thimble and punch holes with an awl where
marked: all around the top and on the top and right of the side piece.

.. figure:: cylindrical-03-start_sewing.jpg
   :align: center

Start sewing with a knotted thread: push the needle in the first marked
hole on the left of the side, from the outside towards the inside.

.. figure:: cylindrical-04-attach_top.jpg
   :align: center

Then attach the top, passing the needle again from the outside towards
the inside.

.. figure:: cylindrical-05-second_stitch.jpg
   :align: center

Return to the side piece, passing the needle in the next hole, from the
outside towards the inside.

.. figure:: cylindrical-06-second_stitch_top.jpg
   :align: center

And again in the next hole in the top, from the outside towards the
inside.

.. figure:: cylindrical-07_stitch_sides.jpg
   :align: center

Continue sewing like this, always passing the needle from the outside to
the inside, alternating between the side piece

.. figure:: cylindrical-08-stitch_top.jpg

and the top piece.

.. figure:: cylindrical-09-stitch_pull.jpg
   :align: center

After sewing a few stitches, pull tight the previous ones, making sure
that the top lies flat over the side piece; continue sewing and pulling
stitches until you get to the end of the top.



Flat Thimble
^^^^^^^^^^^^

Sashiko Thimble
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Gallery
-------