How to Make Yo-Yo Dolls

Use old-fashioned fabrics to create a vintage yo-yo doll.

Yo-yos are charming circles of gathered fabric. Popular in the 1940s, yo-yos were stitched together to make quilts and throw pillows. Making yo-yos is not difficult and a good project for an adult or child interested in learning hand-sewing techniques. The yo-yo doll transforms scrap fabric into a retro memento of grandmother’s day. Use 100-percent cotton fabrics for the best results. By the time this doll is completed, you or your child will be a hand-sewing expert.

Things You'll Need

• 2 yards of ironed scrap cotton fabric in various patterns
• Compact disc
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Size 9 needle
• Thread
• 1/8-yard muslin fabric
• Dinner plate
• 4 small jingle bells
• 3 two-hole buttons
• Carpet thread
• 4 tapestry needles
• Batting
• Fabric paints
• Small paintbrush

Instructions

Make the Yo-yos

1. Place the compact disc on the fabric and draw around the edge with the pencil. Cut the fabric on the drawn line.

2. Thread the size 9 needle and knot the end with the doubled thread strand. With the wrong side of the yo-yo fabric circle facing you, fold a 1/4-inch edge of the circle toward you and insert your needle and thread.

3. Make small, straight stitches, continuing to fold and stitch, all the way around the circle.

4. Pull the thread tight and gather the stitches, keeping the right side of the fabric on the outside. Knot the thread to complete the yo-yo. Repeat, to create 66 yo-yos.

5. Create a neck ruffle yo-yo for the doll by cutting a large circle of fabric using a dinner plate as a template, and stitching.

Assemble the Doll

1. Cut a large oval from the white muslin to serve as the doll head, using the dinner plate as a guide.

2. Thread the tapestry needle with the carpet thread. Pass the thread through the hole at the top of the jingle bell. String on 15 yo-yos, passing through the center of the circle, for one leg. Make sure all yo-yo gathered loops face the jingle bell.

3. Repeat for second leg, using another tapestry needle.

4. String jingle bells and 11 yo-yos each for two arms, using two more tapestry needles.

5. Assemble the doll legs by inserting the tapestry needles coming from the tops of the legs into the buttonholes of one button. Knot the two threads securely at the top of the button, leaving the needles on the thread.