A thimble is a cover that fits over the finger to protect it when pushing a needle during quilting or sewing. The word, derived from English, literally means "thumb shield".
The thimble has a an extended history. The oldest existent thimble is Italian, found in the ruins of Pompeii. It is bronze. Even so, the Etruscans, who came before the Romans, are known to have made bronze thimbles. Simple thimbles of bone and leather certainly also existed because thimbles have been employed by every known civilization. These thimbles did not survive the centuries.
Through the years, thimbles have changed in a number of ways. Both the the means of production and the materials used have changed. Thimbles have gained new uses and become essentially decorative and collectible rather than merely practical. Early thimbles had to be sturdy because handmade fabric was coarse and needles were rough and imperfect. It was difficult to push the thread through the fabric so a strong, thick bronze or iron thimble, called a "skep", was required to prevent injury.
By the 15th century, cloth became more finely woven and sewing became more refined. Thimbles became thinner. These thimbles were more often than not made of copper alloy and imported from Nuremberg, a brass-making center. At this time, different methods of producing thimbles were introduced. Thimbles were made from sheet metal. These new thimbles also contained fancy motifs. The cap was separate and attached to the cylinder later. This new style of thimbles were taller and the top was flatter.
During the 16th and 17th century Holland became the new seat of thimble manufacturing. However, in the late 17th century, John Lofting moved thimble production to Islington, England where the brass-making industry was currently established. He began to make thimbles in a scale unknown before. Later, he moved his facility to Great Marlow, and used water power to and doubled production.
By the early 18th century, he was producing 2 million thimbles per year. But he too succumbed to change and thimble making moved to Birmingham, England by 18 hundred. The fashioning of brass also improved during this period. A brand new formula made it more malleable and suitable for a different manufacturing procedure called "deep drawing" that used less metal. This lowered the cost.
We are all aware that sewing is the primary use of the thimble. But did you know that a ever so little larger thimble, usually two ounces, was used to measure spirits? And did you know that nineteenth century prostitutes used them to tap on their clients windows and Victorian schoolmistresses used them to knock recalcitrant students on the head?
Although they have become by and large decorative, collectorsintrigue in modern thimbles has not waned. Thimbles originally created in silver are being reproduced in pewter thanks to new processes, developed in the 1950s that allow more detailed design. New series of thimbles are being issued to commemorate everything from football teams to Disney characters. Every tourist destination offers memento thimbles to tourists.
Thimble collecting is an extremely popular hobby worldwide. A great number of thimbles are wisely priced and readily for sale. Men, women and children collect them. Some collectors are interested in the history of thimbles while others collect them for their decorative importance. The lowly thimble has become a star. Some admire its beggarly origins and some its new found incarnations. It is still one of the most versatile and down-to-earth tools ever invented, born of necessity.
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