How to Sew Fabric Yo-yos

If you have scraps of fabric that you just don't know what to do with, or are looking for a whimsical embellishment for any project, whip up some fabric yo-yos.

Here are some easy how to instructions to sew fabric yo-yos. All you need are some basic sewing skills and your creativity. Use them to embellish clothing, home decor, gifts, pillows, scrap booking projects and more.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Circle Template - I like to use something sturdy rather than a paper template and you'll find so many "circles" around your house. For my template I used the end of a Pillsbury Grands container.
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Small scraps of fabric
• Needle
• Strong sewing or quilting thread

1. 
    
   Fabric Yo-Yo Making Supplies

   Gather your supplies. If you are working on a specific project you might want to coordinate your fabrics. I like to sew a bunch of these up while watching NCIS or Burn Notice so I just grab whatever fabric scraps I have, whip up the yo-yos and pop them in a storage container for a "rainy day".

2. 
    
   Trace Around Your Template

   Trace around your circle template on the "wrong" side of your fabric. Remember that this circle will become quite a bit smaller when you make it into a yo-yo. If you want a specific size keep these measurements in mind:
   
   1 1/2" Circle makes a 3/4" finished yo-yo
   2" Circle makes a 1" finished yo-yo
   3" Circle makes a 1 1/2" finished yo-yo

3. 
    
   Cuting Out Circles of Fabric

   Following the line you've drawn with your template cut out the fabric circles.

4. 
    
   Start Sewing

   Thread your needle and tie a knot at the end of the thread. With the "wrong" side of the fabric facing up turn over 1/4" of fabric toward the center. Push your needle up through the wrong side of this little bit of turned fabric so the know is in the fold.

5. 
    
   Running Stitch

   Work a running stitch around the circle turning the fabric over 1/4 as you go. Try to make your stitches about 1/4" apart, any smaller and the hole of the yo-yo will be too big.

6. 
    
   Stitch Around the Circle

   Sew all the way around the circle until you come back to where you started. The yo-yo will start to curl up a bit.

7. 
    
   Gathering Your Fabric Yo-Yo

   Hold the fabric circle at the knotted end of your thread and pull the needle firmly to gather up the stitches. Your flat circle will bunch up and become a 3D yo-yo. Take a couple little stitches where the thread comes out to secure your yo-yo in place.

8. 
    
   A Big Pile of Fabric Yo-Yos

   Once you make a fabric yo-yo and see how simple it is to whip up a bunch you'll look at your scrap fabrics in a whole new way. Glue them to a hair clip or barrette, cover a pillow, layer different colors and sizes and make into a pin, the possibilities are endless.

Tips & Warnings

• Fabric yo-yos can be made from almost any fabric; cottons, silks, felt and lighter weight wool.
• Use a strong thread like quilting thread or regular sewing thread.
• Sewing yo-yos can become addictive

Resources

• Creative recycling projects
• Go Green and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Fashionably

[sameri12]

on 3/10/2009 Great way to use up some extra fabric. I like the use of the lid as a template.