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)

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