In the sewing world a yo-yo is a little circle of fabric that was traditionally used in quilting and patchwork projects. These were extremely popular during the first half of the last century. Yo-yos are also known as Suffolk Puffs, and ‘puff’ describes them well! They are formed in such a way that the fabric gathers in the middle, giving them a puffed look. This look can be enhanced by putting some wadding or stuffing into the yo-yo during the making process.
Yo-yos are very easy to make. They are simply circles of fabric, around the edge of which a line of running stitch is made with a sturdy thread, and this is gently gathered, bringing the edges into the center and forming a ‘puff’. These can be made with any size circle; just remember that the finished yo-yo will be half the size of the original circle.
The center of the yo-yo can be left as it is, showing off the gathered middle, or perhaps a few beads or buttons might be added. The inclusion of fancy buttons in the middle would brighten up yo-yos made from dull fabrics.
The yo-yo will vary in appearance depending on the fabrics used. Sheer fabrics will be a lot less bulky and the gathers will work in a different way to a yo-yo made from a thick fabric such as velvet.
The finished yo-yos can be used in a variety of ways. Of course they can be incorporated into a quilting or patchwork project; however there are lots of other ways that these little textured puffs can be used. Take a look at these free sewing patterns:
- yo-yo turkey,
- yo-yo wreath
- yo-yo doll
When a yo-yo is added to an embroidery project or applique they will bring some interesting 3-D features. A few yo-yos of different sizes and made from different fabrics would make a great corsage. They can be used to decorate a wide range of items from bags to scarves, cushion covers to belts. They can be stitched together to form place mats and bed covers.
Yo-yos can be made in a variety of shapes and heart shaped yo-yos bring a lovely romantic feel to a variety of projects.
How to Make a Fabric Yo-Yo
1. Find a suitable sized template (this needs to be twice the size of the finished yo-yo). Plates, bowls, bottles – anything circular will make a good template. You might find it easier to make a card template by drawing round your circular item onto card and cutting this out.
2. Folding the edges of a fabric over to form a small seam of approximately 1/2 cm or 1/4 inch or so, and sew around the edge of the circle. It might be useful to use the thread double.
3. When you have stitched around the entire edge, gently pull the thread, gathering the stitches together. Tie off the thread and bury the ends of the thread in the yo-yo.
Tips for making yo-yos:
- Iron before sewing – when sewing many yo-yos this can actually save time.
- The length of the stitch determines the finished gathered affect: experiment with different stitch lengths. The longer the stitch, the more defined the gathers.
- Try different shapes - hearts and flowers in particular can be effective.
If you have problems making yo-yos, take a look at the Clover Yo-Yo maker. This is a clever template that will help you produce perfect yo-yos every time.
Take a look around the Sewing and Needlework site at Suite101 for more interesting reading.
Kate Pullen - Kate Pullen is a freelance writer specializing in arts and crafts , and is an accomplished craftsperson. As well as being a designer / ...
