Yoyo along : Part 1

 

 

Are you ready?  Well let's go!

Part 1 will be short and sweet.  A few details and then a short how-to (that was taken directly from the info sheet that is included in the 60mm yoyo maker from clover).

First, the DETAILS.

As you may remember, I decided to start a yoyo quilt to facilitate all the camping and outdoor activities me and L-man do in the summertime.  I wanted something very portable and easy to grab when we're headed out that I can do sitting in the car, or while camping.  I've always wanted a yoyo quilt, so this seems to be just the ticket!

I will be doing three installments for the yoyo along.  The first installment is this one, the second will be about making blocks from your yoyo's, and the third will be about joining the blocks together. 

This will be a slow and easy yoyo along with a finish date to make all the yoyo's by the end of October (that's 134 days from now, or 7.5 yoyo's per day), and the coverlet completion date in November (which will consist of sewing the blocks together by machine).

If you choose to follow along exactly how I'm laying this out, you will end up with a coverlet that will measure approximately 63X81 inches and will consist of 1008 yoyo's made from the 60mm clover yoyo maker.  Each yoyo finishes at about 2 3/8".

Once I get to the joining stage, I will be going over how to join them by MACHINE, so the coverlet will be sturdier.

Materials needed:

• 60mm clover yoyo maker
• 1008 scrap fabric 5.5" circles (these do not have to be exactly round, as I will show)
• polyester thread (it is sturdier than cotton)
• needle

 

Next, the HOW-TO

1.  Cut your circle so it is approximately 3/8" wider than the larger part of the yoyo maker.  The fabric doesn't need to be a perfect circle.

 

 

2.  Lay your fabric circle into the larger part of the yoyo maker, right side down and press the smaller part of the yoyo maker into the larger part, making sure to snap the tabs of the smaller part down into the larger part where needed.

 

 

3.  Using about 50-60 inches of thread, thread your needle so you'll be using both strands of thread and knot it.  Fold the raw edge of fabric in, and insert your needle from the raw fabric edge side, following the guide on the yoyo maker all the way around to stitch.

 

 

4.  Once you've stitched through the last guide, overlap the stitching in the first guide (make sure you don't put your needle through the knot from the very first stitch),

 

and then put your needle back through to the back side (don't knot it off quite yet).

 

5.  Pop the fabric out of the bigger part of the yoyo maker using the hole in the center of the maker, pull the smaller part of the yoyo maker out from inside the yoyo, pull your thread tight, and knot it off (do you see my knot in there?).

 

 

6. Insert the needle into the fold where the knot is, and pull the thread through the yoyo.  

  
 

 

7.  Cut the thread close to the yoyo.

 

Clear as mud? 

If these instructions didn't do it for you, make sure to take a close look at the ones included inside your yoyo maker. 

Ok, that's it for today, please do let me know if you have any questions!

~Penny

Comments

[Jenny Archibald]

I just finished my last yoyo!!!! 1008 yo-yos completed. whew!!

[Michele]

I'm finally caught up with your yo-yo count! I'm having a lot of fun with this project!

[Karen Lange]

Hi, I hope you had a nice Christmas and New Year.

I was wondering about the status of your yo-yo-along which I joined last year.

Thanks!

Karen

[nancy]

I inherited hundreds of my grandmothers "yoyo's". Never knew how to make more or how to finish the blanket. I am so excited to now know how!

[angela]

How do I get your second tutorial on the yo yo quilt please

[Lynette Skoglund Kleve]

Fun! I'm hooked and I've got nearly 100 rounds of fabric cut to make the yo-yo's so far. :-D

[Shirley McKinley]

Here is how I cut the fabric for the yoyo maker. I feel it saves time and frustration.
With my rotary cutter I cut SQUARES of fabric about 5/8" larger than the diameter of the yoyo maker. I center it in the yoyo maker, snap the 2nd piece in and then I trim the fabric to approximately 1/4" larger than the yoyo circle . I can cut several pieces at a time and insert them easily into the yoyo maker. I have a "pile" of over 900 yoyo's waiting to be sewn together and this tutorial was just the PERFECT one to show me how to sew them together. Thanks for your information.