Welcome to: Acres of Blessings

Yo Yo Quilts

Today, I am busy with our home duties and beginning a new project: a Yo Yo Qu ilt. Actually, Rebekah has been working on one of her own since we returned from Joe's family however, today I started my own Yo-Yo Quilt! I am so excited about putting this together and yet kinda nervous too. See, I have two sweet friends that are expecting babies and I am making "new baby" a quilt as well- so this adds to my "to do list" yet it is fun and so simple that I just couldn't resist!

Do you all know what a Yo-Yo Quilt is? Well, before Joe's niece told me about them I was clueless. I came home and looked up the history of the quilt and here is what I have learned and can share with you: Yo Yo Qu ilts are not really quilts. They are circles of fabric that are stitched, with a running stitch, around the edge so you can pull it and make pretty rosette or YoYo. After you have several individual yo-yo's you stitch them together to create your square and then stitch your squares together to create your "quilt." These quilts were laid over a solid bright covered sheet to create a lovely look. Today, I will show you the first few steps I have done and then I am posting one of the finished patches my daughter is doing. Once the quilt is done we will be sure to post a photo of that also!

First step is to collect "scrap fabric" I use old sheets or left over fabric that I don't have enough to do anything else with. Next, you need to use a template and draw out circles on your fabric and then cut them out as well. I use the lid of a crystal light container for my small yo-yo's and the large yo-yo's are formed using the lid to an Almond Rocha container. The containers make for nice storage after the pieces are cut out.

Drawing my template onto my fabric before cutting

Cutting out my circles

While helping the children with their studies I continued to cut out more circles

At nap time, I stitched my cirlces (making yo-yo's) while the children slept

After you have cut out all your pieces it is time to start stitching the sides of the circle it will naturally start to pull in on it's self as you sew.

A completed yo yo (these are small yo-yo's therefore this project is expected to take some time before it is complete)

Once you are done pull gently to create a perfect circle in the middle of your yo-yo. Make several of these and then tack together to create a patch.

Here is a photo of one of the yo-yo patches that Bekah has completed. She is doing a quilt as part of her studies.

Once you have your patches done you can tack the patches. I like to boarder my design patches with a solid color to make it have that quilt look. Bekah is getting creative and will be doing something a little different. I will show pictures of that later. These quilts are great to do in your "free time" LOL- I laugh because I don't know any homestead, homeschool moms that have such time however, we can all find time to do something fun and rewarding can't we? This quilt will prove to be just that- fun and rewarding. If you have a yo yo quilt to share I would love to see your photos or if you are going to start one... let's keep in touch, sewing with friends is always so much more fun!

Have a wonderful day dear friends!
Mrs. Joseph Wood( Jeanette)

01:51 - Wednesday, January 31, 2007 - post comment

Wow
I've seen yo yo quilts before, but now that I'm actually trying to quilt myself, I appreciate the handiwork ALL the more. I can't wait to see the pictures when you all are all done.

Happy Stitching,
~Nancy

HSBFrontPorch - 08:25 - Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Yo Yo Quilts
This has always been one of my favorites and I can hardly wait to see it when its done. (they also make great appliques if you place buttons over the gathered center!) Enjoy! ;-) Sharon
mywinterpeople - 10:16 - Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Always Wondered...
...how you make those little yo yos. Thanks for sharing, and I can't wait to see further progress... Chris
teapots66 - 07:32 - Thursday, February 1, 2007

I need Quilting for Dummies
Which side is the right side? Is it the pukery side or the smooth side? Sorry I'm not the the brightest when it comes to quilting techniques. It is really cool either way.
Blessings my friend,
Alaina
Alaina - 11:10 - Saturday, February 3, 2007

Thinking of you!
Dear Sweet Friend I just wanted you to know that I'm thinking of you and sending up prayers for you and your family. Lots of love, Susan
Anonymous - 04:14 - Tuesday, February 13, 2007

yo yo quilt
That is a nice job Bekah is doing on her quilt. You are also doing a great job.. My grandmother used to make these and she made clown dolls.. I used to help her make the cirlces and we took cardboard to make the circles.. I forgot all about it until I saw the post.. I was small when I used to help I can't remember how she made the face..
Thanks for sharing have a bless night..
I think I will put that on my To Do List..LOL.. haflinger..
haflinger - 04:53 - Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Yo-Yo Flag
I haven't had the chance to make a yo-yo quilt, but I am making a yo-yo flag. I just found some of my fabric that I had with red, cream, and navy and I made yo-yo's out of them. I still have about half of it to go, but I'll post a picture when I'm done. I'm going to put it in frame when I'm done. Your daughter and you are doing a great job on yours!

Be blessed!~
Sara
Sara - 08:02 - Friday, February 23, 2007

Love this idea
I have never seen this before. Have you completed yours yet? I would love to see one finished. I think I will start cutting out my circles this week. HEHE
Thank you for sharing this. I enjoyed your blog.
cindy - 06:18 - Wednesday, June 6, 2007

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Welcome to Acres of Blessings also known as: AB-Ranch
My name is Jeanette Wood. I am the wife to my best friend, Joe and the mother to ten blessings. We have been home educating our children since birth- our oldest is 19 and our baby is 4. We have given birth to six children physically and four were born from our hearts through adoption. We are currently living on 40 acres up in the Sierras, near Yosemite National Park. The Lord has blessed us richly! We love to live simply and are filled with Thanks everyday for the good work He has begun in our lives. Grab yourself a cup of tea and enjoy reading the sometimes hillarious and other times heartbreaking activities here at AB-Ranch!

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Funny Things My Children Have Said:

After several trips to the emergency room with my Timothy. I said, "Timothy, you really must stop hurting yourself like this. Each time we go through that hospital door it is costing Daddy 100.00!" He sweetly replied, "Is there another way we can get in Mommy?"

As Ezekiel and I poured over the garden magazines we ran across the brussel spouts. Ezekiel had never seen them before and with excitment said, "Momma, Look! They sell bite size lettuce!"

As we prepaired to vacume seal our newly butchered chickens. My Beth-Joy said, "Mom I know we want to seal our chickens but I can't figure out how we are going to get that chicken through that skinny slot!"

Rebekah was blessing me and cleaning out my pj drawer when she came across a new bra that I had purchased. In all seriousness she said, "Mom I just can't figure out why you would buy a bra thats only good for 18 hours!"

Jed was about five years old when he ran out to the kitchen and met me with excitement saying, "Mom I think God made my wife last night! I counted my ribs and now I am missing one!"

Matthew and Samuel were playing when the girls and I overheard them and couldn't help but giggle. Matthew wanted to play house and have a baby but Samuel informed him that, "You can't have a baby, Matthew- you're only a 2T"

While driving I often lose cell phone reception with my Joe. I never realized how much the little ones were listening until one day I overheard them say, "Mom and Dad broke up again!" "No Mommy broke up with Daddy" replied Matthew. "No! It was daddy. He broke up with Mommy again!" Replied Sammy. As I listend I thought it was a good thing no one was ease dropping into their coversation- they would think my Joe and I had a pretty rocky marriage! LOL

While on one of our "girls days" Bethany was having a hard time falling asleep. Grandma encouraged her to count sheep. After a few moments of slience we heard Beths sweat voice say, "Thump" We all thought about it for a moment and then Grandma asked, "Beth what was the thump about?" "Oh, one of my sheep ran into the fence.. that's all Grandma." We couldn't stop laughing for at least an hour.