THE THIMBLE

Chronicle (Levin), 30 April 1946, Page 3

THE THIMBLE

Extracts from an article in the Practical Home Economics Journal by Gretchen Howel. (Contributed by tlie Sarah Anae Ehodes Fellowship in Home Science). The humble thimble is a rnighty instrument Xor good. Its history is a romantic oue, dating frorn the middle ages when it was introduced into Lurope by the Moors. The needle rnade its appearance about that time too. These early thiinbles were niade of leather and worn ou the thumb, and it is interesting to note that this iiiethod of weqriug theni accounts for their comes from 4 4 Pinna, ' ' meaning thumb and " el ' ' which denotes ' ' au instrument for." Ab time wcnt on however, people ceased to wear the thimble on the thumb. The name remained though and today we wear thimbles witliout knowing or thinking that they were onco worn quite properly on the thumb. In the 17th century metal thimbles of brass and iron were niade in Holland. John Lofting, realising the possibilities of the thimble iiidustry, left Holland and went to England in 1695. • He sefc up a thimble factory there .and laid the foundatiou of a large fortune for his family. All thimbles were then made by hand, many being wought of hue metals. Sometimes they were set with precious stoncs as in the case of the Jlret oue that was introduced into Siarn. This one was a bridal gif't from the king to the queen. It was in the shape of a lotus bud, was wrought in gold, and was studded in diamonds in a design to spell out the name of the queen. Thimbles were made of gold, silyer, celluioid, chromiuih, alumina braes, steel, nickel, agate, iron, ivory and perliaps of other metals and niaterials of various kinds. Gold and aluminum are so soft that the needle soon pushes tli rough them. Cclluloid makes a thick thimble that is bunglesoine. However none of thpse disadvantages is as great as that -which the brass thimble hau. A brass thimble not only rubs off on tho hand and tho sewing, but it may cause aurioua physical injury. If the finger lias abrasions of any kind or hang nail, the brass is likely to cause infection from tho green rust staiu called verdigria. Consequontly a brass thimble aliouid never be used. Compositiou thimbles are to be avoided too because many of them are made of compounds of which brass is a part. The thimble, which is worn ou the third finger of the left hand, sliould be long enougli to almost covcr the first joint. The size sliould allovv of a sinai! air space or cushion at the end of the finger. Oue cannot depend too much on Ihe aize as different styles of thimbles vary in Ihe inatter of size. It is best to fit the thimble on the finger. Another warniug concerus tlie small iudcntatious into which the needle iits. Care sliould be takcn tlia.t these do not become rough and conscquentJy bring injury to the cloth. Tcst the thimble against a piccc of satin or other line cloth. The thimble brings to some of us visions of grandiuother 's sewiug basket. Its collection of odds and ends,. the examination of which gave amusement on a rainy day, included scveral different thimbles. Oue of these was made of steel. It was peculiarly made wi'iHout au end. One put the small finger into it and it slipped on like a ring. Grandiuother 's finger was larger and the thimble fit snug. She said it was betler than others. We did not understand wliy then nor later because once we tried to use it und the needle slipped. . A sore finger tip was the result. Sailuiakers' thimbles are an oddity, too. While some sailmakers use a common variety of thimble, most of them use a special kind that is not ealled a thimble at all, but a palm. It is a leather affair with u loop which slips over the thumb. The main part fits into tlie palm of the hand, henee its naine. What a diffcreiice the gold, diamoudstudded thimble of tho C^ueen of Biam and the "palm" of the sailmaker! What a world of diffcrcnce in the work that they havc done. The first more than likely aided in fine embroidery in dainty notliings. The palm has sent men to sea to search for buried treasurc, to discovcr new lands, and to war upon their neiglibours. I'erhaps it is no longer the proper tliing for a young man to give his lady love a gold thimble. Barnabe Itich in ' ' My Lady 's Looking Glass ' ' expressed his disgust thus: "It was a happy age when a man inight have wooed his wench with a pah- of kid gloves, a silver thimble or with tawdry lace; but now a velvet gown, a chain of pearls, or a coach witli four liorses will scarcely scrve the tuni." Perliaps the young lady would not know what to do with the thimble if her admirer gave it to her, but we prefer to think that she would be dulv enchanted and imrnediately proceed to show him that she could learn to use it.