I have to admit that, when it comes to sewing, I am definitely still a newbie. But after running into an old friend, who also happens to be a much more experienced sewer, I got to talking about my sewing endeavors. Eventually I began to tell her about a little problem I had been experiencing lately. When I have been sewing for a long period of time, the finger that I use to push the needle has been getting a little abused.
Immediately after hearing this she had a good laugh and then told me that the simple solution was to get myself a few thimbles. Now, as a new sewer, I had never used or owned a thimble before. But when I got home that night I began to do a little research. Thimbles, while having been used for hundreds of years to protect your fingers while sewing, are also a popular collector’s item. After reading this, I was hooked.
I have a serious weakness for different kinds of collectibles. If you have any particular items that you just can’t get enough of, then you know what I am talking about. I collect stamps, postcards and pennies that date back to the early 1900s. So discovering that old thimbles are popular collectibles was like music to my ears.
As I continued reading I learned that good places to find thimbles are yard sales, antique stores and auctions. The value of a thimble is based not only on its silver content but also on its age, series, pattern and the event that it commemorates. It is even popular for some collectors to try to find all the thimbles in a series so that they can have the complete set.
Also, just like the other items I collect, thimbles are very small. This conveniently allows you to collect as many as you want without taking up much space. But after thinking about this for another moment or two, I remembered the initial problems I had when I started my other collections. The penny collection soon became too large to be held in the little jar that I had placed them in and the stamps as well were overflowing their container.
The solution that I eventually decided upon was an organizer. I now have one for all of my collectibles and they allow me to expand my collection further while also keeping it in an orderly container that protects them from getting damaged or lost. If you are like me and enjoy having your items organized and on hand to show your friends, then an organizer is what you are looking for.
If you are a thimble collector then I highly suggest this Hand Polished Walnut Deluxe Thimble Showcase from CutRateCrafts. This showcase is carefully hand polished inside and out. It also features separate cubbies for your thimbles and a glass viewing door so that you can see your collection without exposing it to dust and damage.
What specific kinds of thimbles do you collect? Do you use thimbles for sewing as well as collecting? If you have any tips on collecting thimbles we would love to hear them!
