How to Sew Bias Line Gathering Stitches for a Yo-Yo Pattern Quilt
The yo-yo quilt pattern is an old and traditional pattern. Making a yo-yo quilt forces you to work on the bias. The bias of the fabric basically means "on the diagonal." When cutting squares or rectangles, you cut with the grain of the fabric. When cutting out other shapes, such as circles or triangles, you are cutting on the bias. When working with the bias edge, it is easy to stretch the fabric out of shape, so be careful. You start making yo-yos by cutting out perfect circles of fabric and then sewing a hem, using needle and thread.
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Instructions
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Accumulate several perfectly cut circles; plan to sew a quite a few in one sitting.
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Thread your needle with a doubled length of thread. Tie a knot in the ends of the thread by wrapping the thread around your index finger and then rolling it off your finger with your thumb. Pull the knot tightly. Make sure your knot is large enough so that it will not come through the fabric of your circle.
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Take one circle. Fold down a ½-inch section of the raw edge by 1/8 inch and again 1/8 inch to create a hem. Hemming prevents the fabric threads from unraveling. Keep in mind that you are working on the bias, so it may be a little difficult to keep the folds in the fabric even. Keep working and manipulating the fabric as you work around the circle.
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Sew a running stitch by inserting the needle through the top of the folded portion of the fabric and then pushing it back through to the top of the folded portion of the fabric about ¼-inch ahead. Pull the needle and the thread completely through.
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Keep folding the fabric under as you sew. Continue sewing all the way around the circle.
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Pull the threads firmly, but without breaking them, to gather up the fabric and make the yo-yo shape.
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Tie a knot in the end of the thread to secure the yo-yo in place; clip the threads. Adjust the yo-yo, if necessary, so the hole is in the middle.
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Tips & Warnings
Yo-yo quilts are the perfect quilt to make while you are sitting in front of the TV or talking on the phone as they involve a lot of hand sewing and little concentration.
Do not pull the thread too tightly until you get to the end of your circle or else you could end up with a cockeyed-looking yo-yo.
With practice, you will be able to fold under the fabric with the tip of your needle and quickly work your running stitch around the bias line of the circle.
