Clover Yo-Yo Tool

Last night was Open House in my daughter's classroom. I was embarrassed when the teacher got to the part about the nightly reading and math logs and let out an "Oh God" sigh that was audible to most people in the classroom including the teacher. The PTO president sitting next to me laughed out loud. I didn't realize anyone could hear me. Oops! In my defense, most people hate reading and math logs, but I think it is a district or state requirement or something. Also, I am loud because my husband is hearing impaired and he really needs new hearing aids. Um, yeah... I blame my husband.



Check out this Clover Yo Yo maker. I can't wait to share my enthusiasm for this gem of a tool. I want to do a review of it for Craft Critique, but since no one has gotten back to me on that, I'm not waiting to share my project. Seriously, if fabric yo-yos have ever tempted you, run don't walk to the craft store (with your newspaper coupon) and get one of these. They come in several sizes and there is even a heart shape and a flower yo-yo tool you can use as well.


I know how to make yo-yos without the tool, but I never seem to get to it. Sunshine is my yo-yo making idol. Recently, she mentioned that her kids like using the tool so I picked one up and gave it a try. I use thick button and carpet thread on mine. This thread holds up to the gathering you will do on your yo-yo.



I roughly cut a pile of circles larger than the tool template. This fabric was bandanas that I made into 3 pairs of adorable capri pants for my daughter when she was in preschool. (Martha Stewart tute HERE). I hated to toss out the outgrown pants and decided to reuse them for this project.

Making these is pretty simple. You put your fabric between the 2 plastic circles so that the ridges on the inside part line up with the little nobs on the outside part. Trim your fabric to between 1/8 and 5/16 seam allowance.



Sew in and out of the little grooves provided on the tool. Lazygirl has a better tute, but once you have the tool, it is pretty easy to figure out what to do. Go all the way around overlapping the first stitch when you get to the beginning of the circle. Do not backstitch because you will need to gather the stitching.



Even though this pic is blurry, you can see that you pull the thread as tight as you can and knot it as closely as possible. In the past when I've used regular sewing thread, this is the part where my threads break. Straighten out your delicious piece of fabric perfection.



And that's it! It goes really fast once you get going. I made a large pile a lot faster than I did that cross stitch from the other day.



Now I have to connect them and I'll have a little coverlet for my daughter's doll bed. I did want to have her make some of these, but I was so excited I used up all the fabric before she got home from school.