How to Make a Yo-Yo Doll Quilt
Yo yo quilts go in and out of fashion in the quilting world, and it seems like every generation comes up with new ways to use yo yo circles. These three-dimensional fabric puffs can be sewn into a decorative throw or added to garments for a floral accent. Beginning quilters often make piles of yo yos and sew them into doll quilts, as this doesn't require a large investment in time for perfecting this skill. Make a yo yo quilt for a daughter or granddaughter's doll, or use these pieces as a way to start to teach quilting to a younger generation.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Lay cotton quilt fabric on the table with the right side--or more colorful side--facing down. Place an old CD or DVD on top of the fabric as a template to make circle shapes. Trace around the CD with a pencil and cut out the circle fabric shape. The number of circles you will need depends on the size of your finished quilt. Most people use this as an ongoing pick-up project and just make a pile of yo yos and see how many they need.
-
2
Lay a fabric circle on the table with the right side down. Fold down the edge of the circle toward the center, folding 1/4 inch in. Press down on the fold to crease the fabric.
-
-
3
Thread a needle and make a knot at the end of the thread. Stitch around the edge of the circle, just inside where you pressed down and made a crease. You will be sewing through two layers of fabric. When you have sewn around the entire circle, pull the thread to gather the fabric into a puff. Make a knot and clip off the thread.
-
4
Lay the fabric puff on the table with the fabric down and the center hole on top. Gently squash down the fabric to flatten the puff into a circle. You now have one completed yo yo.
-
5
Make a number of yo yos in all one fabric or a variety of fabrics, depending on how you want your doll quilt to look. Lay out the yo yos in rows to get an idea of how large the quilt top will be, and to estimate how many yo yo circles to make.
-
6
Hold two yo yos together with the edges even and their center holes touching. Whip stitch one edge together to secure the beginning of the first yo yo row. Whip stitch another one on the opposite side of the circle, and keep stitching yo yos until the row is the width of your desired finished quilt.
-
7
Make more yo yo rows until you have enough to make your finished quilt length, then stitch together all the rows together to complete the quilt.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
You can make yo yos in any size you want. Simply use any round object as a template for tracing. Keep in mind that any finished yo yo will be about half the size of its original circle.
