Making Fabric Yo Yos

Approximate Time: 4 minutes more or less per yo yo

Supplies:

• needle
• thread
• Clover Yo Yo Maker
• fabric, scraps or new
• tape measure if not using yo yo maker
• manila folder or plastic template sheet for making circle template
• pen or pencil for tracing your circles

Instructions:

1. Make your template from your choice of materials. I used an old manila file folder for mine. They work great and last quite awhile. It should be approximately 1/4 - 3/8th of an inch larger than the finished size of your yo yo to accommodate the the "hem" you will be turning under.
2. Using your template trace your circle(s).

3. If not using the Clover maker, use you tape measure to turn under your seam.

4. Begin sewing around the circle through both thicknesses. Make sure to continue your stitches just past the starting point for optimal gathering.

5. Once you have completed your running stitch around the circle, carefully pull up on the thread, gathering the circle.

6. When the opening is closed make a knot. Insert and remove the needle in the crease to hide the knot.
7. Cut the thread close to the fabric and form it into a round shape.
8. You are done!

If using the yo yo maker, you will either follow the same initial steps for cutting a circle with your template, or follow the instructions on your yo yo maker.

The manufacturer calls for using a square and cutting off the excess. Although it takes a bit longer to trace and cut the circles with the template, I prefer this method as it wastes less fabric.

By Barbara