Yo-yos are the perfect portable project to use up scrap fabrics! They can be made any size and are perfect for beginners and seasoned sewers. Learn how to make fabric yo-yos – all you need are some circles of fabric, needle and thread! These are also known as suffolk puffs.
Yo-yo quilts have been around for over a century. Here is a close-up of a vintage yo-yo quilt that I acquired years ago. (If you didn’t already know, I have a passion for vintage linens and quilts!). In looking at the details, even though the yo-yos are only about 2-inches in diameter, some of the fabrics have been pieced. Most of the fabrics are feed sack fabrics, which became popular in the late 1800s.
If you can sew a basic running stitch, you can make a yo-yo quilt! Here is our tutorial:
How to Make a Yo-Yo Quilt
Learn how to make a yo-yo and then stitch them together in this article.
Pack a small project bag with circles you have already cut out, coordinating threads, a needle, and a small pair of scissors. Keep the bag handy for TV time, dr. appointments or a project to sit on the patio and listen to the birds!
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about our affiliate linking policy.
Materials
- Scraps of fabric
- Circle template, small plate or cardboard cut into a circle
- Coordinating thread
Tools
- Hand-sewing needle
- Small embroidery scissors
- Scissors to cut circles of fabric; OPTIONAL: rotary cutter. If using a rotary cutter I suggest using a turntable cutting mat.
- Removable fabric marker; for dark fabrics, use a white chalk pencil or a white Clover removable pen
Instructions
- I have several sizes of these acrylic circle templates from my scrapbooking days. They are perfect to use for cutting fabric circles to make yo-yos. They are 5-inches in diameter, which makes about 2-1/2 inch finished yo-yo.
You don't need a special acrylic template, you can use a round plate or bowl, or cut a circle from a piece of cardboard for a cardboard template.
- Mark your circle and then cut it out. I find using scissors is easy - a perfect TV project!
- If your fabric is dark, use a white chalk pencil or a Clover white removable pen.
- The only supplies you need are your cut-out circles, needle, thread, and scissors to cut your thread.
- Double your thread and knot the end. a one-yard length of thread results in an 18-inch length to sew with. That will sew about four yo-yos.
Turn about 1/4-inch of the raw edge of the fabric to the wrong side of your fabric. Begin stitching with long running stitches. My stitches are about 3/4 inch to 1 inch. Bigger stitches look better and are super quick and easy!
- Here are a few stitches in place.
- Stitch all around the circle, bringing your needle back up at the starting point. This will make a nice even gather to the yo-yo.
- Begin pulling your thread, gathering the yo-yo so that the right side of the fabric is out and your folded edge turns to the inside.
- Keep pulling gently (you don't want to break the thread) until the folded edges all meet.
- Finger press the folds into place and center where they all come together. When you are happy with the way your yo-yo looks, knot your gathers in place.
- Cut your thread and you have a finished yo-yo!
- Here are the front and back of a finished yo-yo.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Making your yo-yos into a quilt
Take two yo-yos and put them right sides together. From the back of the yo-yo, whipstitch them together.
Whipstitch the individual yo-yos into rows, then whipstitch the rows together to make the quilt.
Tips and ideas for making a yo-yo quilt
Stitch length matters! The yo-yo on the left is made with about a 3/8 inch stitch, the fabric yo-yo on the right is made with a 3/4-inch stitch. See how the small hole is smaller with the larger stitch length? This is because there are fewer gathers to pull together at the center of the yo-yo.
Use a strong thread, like a 100% polyester thread. You don’t want your thread breaking! I used it doubled for extra strength.
I find it easy to turn the edge of the fabric while I’m hand sewing. If you don’t feel comfortable with that, use WonderClips or hair clips to hold the turned fabric while you sew.
You can make your yo-yo quilt scrappy, or planned. It can use a color theme, like all pinks and reds, or be really scrappy! By using fabric scraps, usually the fabrics will go together – each of us has a preferred color palette!
Yes, they make yo-yo makers in a few sizes. I find they are more difficult than the traditional method of making yo-yos that I outlined above. And, the bonus of making your own is you can make them any size! Your finished yo-yo will be slightly smaller than half the the diameter of your starting circle of fabric. Easy!
What fabrics are best for making yo-yos?
Cotton quilting fabrics are great for making yo-yos. Avoid tightly woven fabrics like batiks. They are more difficult for hand-sewing. Silks are wonderful, too.
Can I make yo-yos with my sewing machine?
You can, but I don’t recommend it. Seriously, these are perfect hand-sewing projects. You don’t need to be perfectly accurate, and they go quick. Once you get going, you can stitch a yo-yo in about 10-15 minutes.
Finger press or press the raw edge to the wrong side of your fabric. If you want to try stitching the yo-yos on your sewing machine, use a straight stitch at the longest length. Then, pull to gather.
What type of projects use fabric yo-yos?
The first thing everyone thinks of is a traditional yo-yo quilt that is perfect as a light weight or summer quilt. But, yo-yos aren’t just for quilting projects!
Other ideas for yo-yos include gluing a single yo-yo to a hair clip – perfect for a young girl.
Embellish garments with yo-yos. Sew together a long row to embellish the front of a button-down shirt. Add a row along the cuffs of the shirt, too.
Sew together a square of yo-yos, back with a solid fabric to make a pillow cover. See our article on making pillow covers.
Make a table runner by sewing together yo-yos in a large rectangle.
Use yo-yos as flowers on an art quilt, or make a quilted fabric postcard with yo-yo flowers.
Browse through more how to quilt articles on Create Whimsy.
