The Yo-Yo Strikes Back

I was just getting started yesterday with letting you in on my yo-yo obsession. I started making fabric flowers to jazz up (in my mom's parlance) a cardigan that was boring me to death, but was in good shape. Searching the interwebs for fabric flowers, I stumbled upon the all-too-easy yo-yo. Seriously, five minutes to make one! That was about two weeks ago. Now, I have a nice stockpile for t-shirt embellishments or taking over the world. Whatever.

If you missed yesterday's post, you can check that out to find a nice photo of my spread, plus a very nice tutorial on how to make a yo-yo. But since I wanted to try to my tutorial-writing/picture-taking skills, I'll give you one right here!

YO-YO NOW

Materials needed:

-Fabric (scrap is fine)

-Needle

-Thread (does not have to match fabric, unless you're picky… Or not lazy)

-Something round (it's not a riddle- I used a CD for a larger yo-yo and a votive holder for a smaller one)

Get ready:

I like to cut a circle template out of cardstock. Your template should be twice as big as your finished yo-yo. I draw the finished size on my template, so I don't have to guess which size is which.

Next, cut out some fabric circles using your circle template.

Thread your needle with the color of your choice. I said in the "materials needed" section that you don't need matching thread since you can't see the thread once you've finished. I've been using the same method of tying a knot for sewing since I was doing cross-stitch with my ma. It goes like this:

Wrap your thread around your finger.

Roll the thread between your thumb and wrapped finger, then push that mess towards the end of the thread until it makes a knot. It's like a super-surgeon's knot!

Now the sewing!

Fold a little bit of your circle over and insert your needle. Make little or big stitches around the outside of your circle (more on this later). As alluded to above, I'm kind of lazy when it comes to sewing, so I don't really sew, I make gathers on my needle until I eventually have to pull the needle all the way through.

You'll have a yo-yo or two of trial and error to find out how big or small your stitches will be to get around the circle. If you start the way I did (going from the inside to the outside), you'll want the last stitch you make to go from outside to inside a full stitch-length back from where you started. Then, I make a wee stitch (on the fold only), next to where I started to complete the circle. (Huh? I know, the picture might not help much, but you don't want what looks like a straight stitch on the outside OR inside 'cause then your gathers will be funky [technical term].)

Whew! If you pull your thread a little tighter, you get a hat, as V would say.

Turn your hat right side out and smoosh it a bit. Then tighten (Knocked Up, anyone?) your thread while arranging your gathers in an aesthetically pleasing way.

You're almost done. What's it been? Four minutes? (Probably not. My first took me about a half an hour. Don't feel bad.)

I just jab the needle through the back of my yo-yo and… secure it… someway. I JUST started using this method, although I have always made small stitches and looped my needle through the stitch to secure it. And voila!

As promised, a note about stitch size:

Larger stitches result in less gathers (duh), which makes the middle close up more. Small stitches mean more gathers and a bigger opening in the center. I like the look of smaller stitches, but to each your own, right?

From left to right: the one I used in the tutorial, one I made with longer stitches, and one I made with smaller stitches. (About 1/8" difference in each.)

Tomorrow: fun projects with your yo-yos.

Interesting fact: I type the word "scholarship" A LOT and always type it "scholarhsip." "Stitches?" It's like saying "syn-the-sizer!" There might more than one "stich." Dumb.

Go forth and conquer.

Okay.

Riot and Frolic

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