How to Make a Yo-Yo Appliqué

Colorful fabric discs called "yo-yos" can be stitched together to make dolls, quilts or pillows. As appliqués, yo-yos can be sewn or glued to decorate vests, T-shirts and other apparel. These decorative circles of scrap fabric originated with thrifty homemakers of the 1930s.

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard
• Fabric Chalks
• Fabric Pencils
• Fabrics
• Ironing Boards
• Irons
• Threads
• Sharp Scissors
• Notebook Papers
• Sandpaper

Instructions

1. Wash and iron the scrap fabric.

2. Trace a circle about 4 inches in diameter (or the size specified in your project pattern) onto paper, cardboard, sandpaper or lightweight plastic to make a pattern.

3. Cut out your pattern.

4. Lay your pattern flat on the fabric.

5. Mark the fabric with washable pencil or chalk; make multiple circles.

6. Cut out the fabric circles with sharp scissors.

7. Sew a running stitch 1/4 inch from the perimeter all the way around the wrong side of the fabric. Leave 2 or 3 inches of extra thread when you begin and end stitching.

8. Pull the thread ends tight to gather the fabric into a ball.

9. Secure the thread with a knot.

10. Cut off the extra thread.

11. String the yo-yos together to make limbs for dolls, or attach to plain fabrics to decorate linens or garments.

Tips & Warnings

• Patterns for yo-yo dolls and quilts can be found in craft books and magazines.

• The modern way to attach a yo-yo is with the gathered core facing down and the smooth, pretty side up. On original Depression-era quilts and pillows, the gathered sides faced upward, so whichever looks best to you is correct.

• Most projects require many, many yo-yos, so this makes good handwork to do while watching television.

• Yo-yo dolls usually require a slightly larger yo-yo for the body than for the arms and legs.

• If you prefer, you can fold down the fabric edge as you sew to make a narrow hem.