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8 Ways to Use Yo-Yo’s in a Quilt

March 7, 2016 by Larissa Coleman

Yo-yo’s have been a popular and timeless staple in the world of quilting for many years. They provide a charming, simple, and versatile way to add some extra flair and character to any quilt.

Yo-yos are often overlooked and underestimated, but they have the potential to be a stunning addition to any quilt project. In this article, we explore 8 ways to use yo-yos in a quilt and show you how they can elevate your quilt game to the next level.

Whether you are a seasoned quilter or just starting out, you are sure to find inspiration in these ideas and techniques. Get ready to learn how yo-yos can bring a touch of traditional charm and contemporary flair to your next quilt project!

Fabric yo-yos have been made and used for years in quilting and sewing.  It’s a fun way to add a little texture and dimension to your creation.  These 8 ideas are all great ways to use those little circles of fabric in your next project.  Which do you like best?

dollquilt

1- Yo Yo Doll Quilt from Sew Mama Sew

cherry

2- Cherry Block from Polka Dot Pineapple

mini

3- Mini Yo Yo Quilt from Yellow Farmhouse

posies

4- Posies Quilt Block from Patchwork Posse

treespring

5- Spring Tree Pattern from Fun Threads

modern

6- Modern Yo Yo Quilt from Issuu

pillow

7- Quilted Pillow from Katros Blog

tree

8- Jovial Christmas Tree from Moda Bake Shop

As a quilter, I love using yo-yos in my projects. They add a fun pop of color and texture, and they’re surprisingly easy to make. Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to sew yo-yos for your next quilting project:

Cut your fabric into circles. Depending on the size you want your yo-yos to be, you can use a template or trace around a cup or lid to cut out your circles.

Fold the circle in half, and then in half again, creating a smaller circle. Place a small stitch in the center of the folded circle to hold it in place.

Start sewing around the edge of the circle, leaving a small gap between each stitch. As you sew, gently pull the thread to gather the fabric.

Keep sewing around the edge of the circle, pulling the thread tighter and tighter until the fabric is gathered into a neat little yo-yo.

Once you’ve sewn all the way around the edge of the circle, knot the thread and trim the excess.

Repeat the process for each yo-yo you want to make. Once you have a bunch of yo-yos, you can arrange them however you like on your quilt or other project.

To finish, you can stitch your yo-yos onto your quilt using a needle and thread, or you can use fabric glue to attach them.

And that’s it! Making yo-yos is a quick and easy way to add some extra color and texture to your quilting projects. Happy sewing!

 

 

 

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Comments

  1. Lauren at Molly and Mama says

    May 14, 2016 at 12:15 am

    So lovely to see my Yoyo flower doll’s quilt shared here. Yoyo’s are such a fun scrap busting project! Thanks for including the link to my tutorial on Sew Mama Sew. It’s in some terrific company.

  2. Scarlett Burroughs says

    May 27, 2016 at 7:40 am

    Lauren,
    It’s always a pleasure to cover the best of what’s in the blogosphere.
    Warmest,
    Scarlett

Have you read?

12 Camping Quilt Projects for Campers, Cabins, and Glamping Fans

Camping quilts have a very particular kind of charm. They’re a little bit nostalgic, a little bit outdoorsy, and usually packed with the sort of motifs that make you want to sew first and organise the fabric scraps later. Campers, tents, canoes, lanterns, campfires, cabins — it’s basically summer holiday energy in quilt form.

What makes this theme so appealing is how flexible it is. You don’t need to commit to one giant novelty quilt to enjoy it. Camping-themed quilting works beautifully across full-size quilts, mini quilts, mug rugs, paper-pieced blocks, and decorative cabin projects. Whether you’re stitching for a caravan, a lake house, a child’s room, or just because you love a good outdoorsy print, there’s plenty here to work with.

I’ve also included a few natural internal reads from CraftGossip, including Glamping Quilt Block Patterns, The Happy Camper Quilt Pattern, Free Pattern: Camping Tent Quilt Block, and Sunday Spotlight – Sunshine Cabin Mini Quilt Pattern. Those all pair beautifully with this roundup.https://quilting.craftgossip.com/glamping-quilt-block-patterns/2021/05/03/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Cute Camper Quilt Tutorial

This cheerful camper quilt has that fun retro look that makes it instantly eye-catching. It’s a great choice for anyone who loves bright, happy quilts with a travel theme, and the camper design gives it loads of personality without making the piecing feel too overwhelming. This would be especially sweet for summer decorating, glamping lovers, or anyone who dreams of road trips and lakeside weekends.

The Happy Camper Quilt Pattern

If you’re looking for a full-size camping quilt with a proper outdoorsy feel, this one is a standout. The design has plenty of personality and feels like a quilt that could easily become part of a cabin, camper, or family holiday tradition. It’s a lovely option for anyone wanting a themed quilt that still feels substantial and practical.

Glamping Quilt Block Patterns

This set is perfect if you like the idea of building a camping quilt one block at a time. The themed block approach gives you more freedom to turn the designs into a sampler quilt, cushions, wall hangings, or smaller patchwork accents. It’s especially appealing for readers who love camping themes but want flexibility in how they use the finished blocks.

Free Pattern: Camping Tent Quilt Block

A tent block is such a fun way to bring a camping theme into quilting without needing a huge project. Because this block comes in multiple sizes, it can work for everything from mug rugs to pillows to larger quilts. It’s a nice starting point if you want something clearly themed, easy to recognise, and small enough to finish without losing momentum.

Sunday Spotlight – Sunshine Cabin Mini Quilt Pattern

This mini quilt brings in the cozy cabin side of the camping theme. It has a warm, welcoming look that would suit a retreat space, hallway wall, camper nook, or even a seasonal shelf display. For quilters who love rustic décor and woodland charm, this one feels especially inviting.

Happy Camper Quilt Pattern: Camping Trailer Design

This trailer quilt pattern has a slightly more handmade boutique feel, which gives it lots of charm. It’s ideal for anyone who loves the camper look and wants something playful, personal, and easy to imagine in cheerful fabrics. This kind of quilt works beautifully for glamping fans, trailer lovers, and anyone with a soft spot for vintage-style camping.

PDF Summer Camping Quilt Pattern – Camper

This pattern leans into the bright, summery side of camping quilts. It’s a nice option for anyone specifically wanting a camper design with a light-hearted seasonal feel. If your fabric stash includes sunny colours, playful prints, or retro-inspired combinations, this is the kind of project that could really make them shine.

PDF Pattern for Camping Mug Rug, Camper Mini Quilt Pattern

Small projects like this are perfect when you want the theme without the time commitment of a full quilt. A camping mug rug or mini quilt makes a lovely gift, a cute caravan accessory, or a quick weekend make that still feels creative and finished. It’s also a great way to use up smaller scraps without the project looking random.

Tent and Campfire Quilt Block Pattern

This block pattern combines two classic camping images in one design, which makes it instantly readable and full of character. It would work well as part of a larger sampler quilt, but it’s also strong enough to stand alone in a pillow or mini quilt. For readers who enjoy themed blocks with a traditional patchwork feel, this one has lots of potential.

Campfire and Roasted Marshmallow Camping PDF Quilt Block Pattern

A campfire block adds a playful, memorable touch to any camping quilt. The marshmallow detail gives it that extra bit of whimsy that makes a project feel personal and fun rather than just decorative. This would be a lovely addition to a children’s quilt, a themed wall hanging, or a cozy cabin-style sampler.

Lantern Camping PDF Quilt Block Pattern

Lantern motifs have a timeless outdoors feel, which makes this block especially versatile. It fits beautifully into camping quilts, rustic cabin décor, or vintage summer-camp inspired projects. If you like blocks that feel classic rather than overly novelty-driven, this one is a really nice choice.

Cabin in the Woods Quilt Block

This block shifts the theme toward woodland retreats and cozy hideaways, which gives the roundup a nice bit of variety. It would work beautifully in autumn fabrics, rustic colour palettes, or anything with that warm lodge-style feel. It’s easy to imagine this one turned into a pillow, a mini quilt, or combined with other outdoorsy blocks for a full quilt.

Jolly Red Canoe Quilt Block

A canoe block adds that peaceful lake-and-cabin feeling that suits camping quilts so well. It brings in the outdoors theme without relying on tents or trailers, which helps create more variety across a quilt. This would be especially lovely in a woodland sampler or a project inspired by summer by the water.

Camping quilt projects really are such a fun niche to sew for. They’re cheerful, highly giftable, and ideal for summer stitching, cabin décor, caravan styling, and themed mini projects that don’t take forever to finish. Best of all, they have enough variety that you can go playful, rustic, retro, or cozy depending on the fabrics and motifs you choose.

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