I have begun a new lap quilt and it has 200 hand stitched yo-yo's sewed in strips and then joined (the yo-yo's are already made). After the first 5 my finger is already sore! Any suggestions on thimbles?

I use a leather thimble. I never could get used to the metal ones.

Plastic with a place for the finger nail to extend.

I use the leather thimble too, it has a metal piece at the tip. I love it!

I also use the leather one with the metal piece in the tip. I have tried others just doesn't work for me.

Mine is a flexable jelly with a metal tip. They are fairly new and come in all colors. But sometimes I use the quilters thimble that has the rim around the top that is slightly recessed.

I tried the leather one and it went straight into my finger while pushing on it. Boy that hurt!

Ditto!

For regular hand sewing, like you are doing, I like the little leather dots that stick on your finger at the point where the needle hits. Even though I hand quilt and have learned to use a metal thimble (after trying many different kinds with different amounts of success) for quilting, when I hand sew (different motion than quilting) I would always use the finger that didn't have the thimble on it, to push the needle. About a year ago my aunt gave me the little dots to try and they work for me. For quilting I use the Clover bronze colored open faced adjustable thimble, and I use the Roxanne thimble. I love both of these, they are very similar in style, they allow me to push the needle with the pad of my finger rather than the end, and that is what is most comfortable for me now. The Roxanne thimble is pretty expensive so when I needed a different size for when my fingers swell, I found the Clover one and noticed how similar they seemed, so I bought it and I do like it.

I have this black rubbery one I got at the Sew Expo. Can't remember what it's called but I gotta find them and buy more. I love it and use it exclusively.

I use the inexpensive one made by Collins or dritz. It works for me.