My specifics and preferences

My specific details

• Thimble sizing [2]
  • Exact ring size:
    • To fit just past the first knuckle:   Ring size 8, or 18.1 mm.
    • To fit on the first knuckle:   Ring size 7½, or 17.7 mm. (This is how the HiSew fits me)
  • HiSew thimble, large / stainless steel — Fits juuuuusssst a smidge tight, but is still within the range of what's acceptable
  • Hide & Drink, leather thimble — Fits perfectly. I can even type with it after sliding down it over my first knuckle. When new, it's juuussssst a bit tight, which means that when it loosens up as it ages, it should still fit pretty good.
  • Clover leather thimble (レザー 指ぬき), size large (part number 56-815) [2] [3] — It's very similar to the Hide & Drink thimble, with some important differences — The seam (the one in the anterior/posterior direction) has noticeably less bulk, the diameter is just slightly larger (which is perfect for me), and the leather feels softer.
    • Clover Mfg Ct, Ltd in Japan [2] [3] is a decent-sized company with a long history, so hopefully its products will be available for a long time.
  • Bohin 17mm brass thimble — fits well
  • Dritz Slip Stop thimble — Doesn't fit:   even the extra-large was too small! I don't understand.
  • measurements
    • At the first knuckle of my middle finger, I measured a circumference of 58mm, which is equivalent^† to 18mm in diameter.

My preferences

† This assumes a perfect circle, which real-world fingers aren't.