Dee, I hesitate to say that this moron DID use a thimble (they're all hand stitched) and still managed to prick myself continuously!! OUCHIE. I think I was so relieved to have those babies done for Christmas that I never wanted to do it ever again. Yes, I bet you've gained a whole new respect for the cutter! I'm so glad it wasn't even worse than that, Dee. I'm reckless when it comes to these things and have a long history of recklessness. As a freshman in Home Ec. class (which was the ONLY year I took that class), I put a sewing machine needle right through my index fingernail. I had to go to the hospital to have it removed!!! And you know why that happened?!?! Because I was horsing around pretending the machine was a race car...just to be funny. Well, in the end the joke was on me! Oh gosh, I could tell some stories of my insane actions in Junior and Senior Highschool!