Right and Wrong Ways to Make a Yo-Yo

Back in 2010 when I bought my Clover Yo-Yo Maker, I made quite a few yo-yos and used some of them on my Pagoda Quilt.  Four years later, I was making more for my Yo-Yo Wreath.  On this second time around, I was more creative and found some wrong ways to do it.  I thought I better write them down so I don't do them again. 

Be sure your fabric is wrong side up before you snap it between the two pieces of plastic.  Your "sandwich" should look just like this.

After snapping the fabric in place and trimming it, you're ready to sew.  But don't do it this way!  You have to catch that raw edge and pull it down with your stitches - see next photograph.

This is the right way to do it.  Also, after you sew all the way around, take one more stitch past where your knot is.  That will make for nice, even gathering.

Here's another wrong thing to do.  Don't stitch over the plastic.  How do you think you're going to pop off the back piece of plastic if you've sewed them shut?

 

Here's the right way.  After learning this lesson, I made another yo-yo where I did most of the stitching this way, then somehow switched over to sewing over the plastic again.  Don't feel bad if you do this, too.  I must have been tired that night.

Eventually it all comes out just fine, and should look like this.  Note the double stitches at 3 o'clock.

Just start pulling on the stitches and it magically curls up like a little Woolly Bear in the palm of your hand.

So cute, and ready to tie the knot.  You'll want to use thread that matches really well, because it's hard not to have a little bit of thread show.

I hope I don't discover any other wrong ways in the future, but if I do, you'll be the first to know.