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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?

5 Christmas Ornament Quilt Patterns That Add Instant Holiday Charm

There are some Christmas quilt themes that feel timeless no matter how many holiday seasons roll by, and ornaments are right at the top of that list. They’re cheerful, colourful, easy to recognise, and wonderfully flexible. A quilted ornament can look sweet and traditional in red and green, elegant in metallics and winter whites, or surprisingly modern in brights, ginghams, and low-volume prints. That makes ornament quilt patterns one of the easiest ways to add a festive feel to your sewing without getting boxed into one very specific Christmas look.

What makes this theme especially useful is how many directions it can take. Some patterns turn ornaments into full quilt blocks for throws, pillows, and wall hangings. Others lean into small handmade decorations you can hang on the tree, tuck onto gift wrap, or sew as quick stash-busting projects in the middle of December when your to-do list is already looking a bit rude. So whether you want a full holiday quilt or just a handful of handmade extras, there’s plenty to work with here.

If you enjoy building out a whole holiday sewing theme, this category also pairs beautifully with your own Christmas content on CraftGossip, especially 25+ Christmas Holiday Quilt Block Patterns For Holiday Quilts, Little Quilted Star Ornament Tutorial, and 25 Free Scrap Fabric Christmas Ornament Patterns. They all sit naturally alongside an ornament-focused roundup like this.

Ornament Blocks – Christmas Adventure Quilt

These ornament blocks are such a fun option if you love the look of a themed Christmas quilt but still want something playful and easy to personalise. They’re especially good for showing off festive prints, fussy cuts, and little novelty fabrics that deserve more than hiding in a scrap bin. This kind of block would look lovely in a full quilt, but it would also work beautifully in pillows or a mini wall hanging.

Christmas Candy Ornaments Downloadable PDF Quilt Pattern

This pattern is a nice choice if you want smaller festive projects with a sweet, handmade feel. It includes several ornament-style designs, which makes it ideal for holiday décor, gift tags, or little stitched extras that can be finished fairly quickly. If you like projects that feel cute without being overly fussy, this one has a lot going for it.

Oh, Christmas Tree Downloadable PDF Quilt Pattern

This one is especially appealing if you enjoy making actual hanging ornaments rather than just ornament-themed quilt blocks. The pattern is designed around a set of four sweet Christmas ornaments, which makes it feel perfect for decorating a tree, putting together a handmade gift set, or creating keepsakes that can come out year after year. It’s festive in a very classic, comforting way.

Quilted Christmas Ornaments in 3 Sizes

This is a lovely option if you’re specifically in the mood to make actual fabric ornaments rather than quilt blocks. Multiple sizes make it easier to create a coordinated set, which is perfect for tree trimming, handmade gifts, or holiday market makes. This kind of pattern also tends to be very stash-friendly, which never hurts in December.

Quilted Christmas Ornament Pattern, 5 Patterns PDF

A multi-pattern set like this is ideal if you enjoy variety and don’t want every ornament on the tree looking exactly the same. It gives you more room to mix fabrics, colours, and embellishments while still keeping a cohesive handmade look. This would be especially appealing for quilters who love batch sewing in the lead-up to Christmas.

Christmas ornament quilt patterns are such an easy win because they work at almost every scale. You can make one statement block for a pillow, stitch a whole quilt full of baubles, or spend an afternoon making a handful of small hanging ornaments from scraps. They also give you endless freedom with fabric choice, which means you can make them traditional, sweet, elegant, rustic, or bright and modern depending on what you already have in your stash.

And really, that’s part of the magic of Christmas sewing. The best projects are the ones that feel festive the moment you look at them, but still leave enough room for your own fabrics and style to do the talking. Ornament patterns do that beautifully. They’re quick to recognise, easy to personalise, and cheerful enough to make even a slightly chaotic December sewing session feel worth it.

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