So many people have asked me how I make my yoyo's. I have no little secret, just some rules that I apply to yoyo making, but you are going to need to practice a little. If you have not made yoyo's before, it would be best for you to practice on a bigger yoyo first until you get the feel for making a yoyo. After you feel you have mastered that, then make a few that are about an inch smaller, then after that even smaller. This is a good way to learn and as you adjust the size smaller, you will become adept at making any size yoyo. Yoyo's have been around a long, long time, however in today's quilting world, people have gotten really creative with yoyo's and use them everywhere to embellishment their items.

Some rules that I apply:

1. Determine what size finished yoyo you would like, and cut your circle twice that big, i.e. if you want a 2 inch finished yoyo, then cut your circle 4 inches. Always cut your circle twice the size of the finished yoyo you want.

2. With the back side of the yoyo circle facing you, carefully fold over the top edge about ¼” inch. (If you are making a very small yoyo, obviously you can not fold over that much, so 3/16” inch will work for smaller yoyo’s)

3. I like using regular hand quilting thread for making yoyo’s as it is a bit stronger, and will not tangle as much as regular thread.

4. Using a single strand of thread, and make a knot at the long end. Slip the needle between the fold at the top of your yoyo. This will hide and secure that first knot.

5. Come through to the back side of yoyo, and go down with your needle approximately 3/16” of an inch from where you come up.

6. Your stitch should lie very close to the fold line.

7. Now make your next stitch 3/16” of an inch over to create your second stitch.

8. Continue to make your stitches always 3/16” of an inch long and 3/16” of an inch over, gathering as you go.

9. When you get to the end, and you take your last stitch, take the needle and catch the edge of the fold, and go down through to the back side of your yoyo and make a knot. Do this in at least two more places, around the gathering. This will secure your yoyo, and keep it together.

Here are some ways to check if you did it right:

1. If the hole is too large, it means your stitches are too small, causing it to gather too much, and make the hole too big.

2. If your folds in your gathering tend to kind of fall over and all lay in the same direction, you have made your stitches too big, and possibly not close enough to the folded edge.

3. If your yoyo sizes are not consistent, you possibly cut the circle a different size or you are consistent about how much you fold over.

4. If your yoyo is misshaped, you have not worked with it enough. You need to work with your hands to shape your yoyo as you go and if the gathers look bunched up, you can use your needle to pull some of the fabric into shape, so you have a nicely shaped yoyo.

5. It pays to practice, because being able to make beautiful yoyo’s allows you to use them in so many places. After you get real good, you will want to put them everywhere.

Happy Stitching
Carol L. Steffensen
Chickadee Hollow Designs