Yo-Yo Quilting

by Jeanne Stauffer and Elisa Sims Albury

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If you are imagining some new craft involving those plastic disks that go up and down on a string, then think again! Yo-yos (also known in the UK as Suffolk Puffs) are circles of gathered quilting cotton, sewn together in a variety of different ways to make all kinds of useful and attractive items.

There are twenty-seven projects in here and they really are a lot of fun. Choose from holiday decorations such as pumpkin man and his friend the black cat, a pumpkin pin for your lapel and a Halloween wreath. Or you could make a Santa, some elves, tree decorations, snowman place settings and napkins, and another wreath. More general projects include a soft tic-tac-toe game, various mats, an ingenious stiffened basket and items for soft furnishings.

In the first section of the book it shows you how to make both versions and there are also lots of helpful circles to trace and make templates with in a variety of sizes too (imperial measurements). Each project features a good photograph of the finished item, skill level needed (beginner or intermediate) plus written instructions, a list of what you need to get and all other pattern pieces. There are exceptions to this rule however such as the dog toy, which is based around a bought pattern and substitutes the limbs for strings of yo-yos. I would have preferred this pattern to be given (I haven’t found a suitable one yet) but I guess even a good book like this is not going to be perfect, and it is a good book.

There are projects in here to appeal to toymakers, quilters, patchworkers and more and some existing skills in these areas are a good idea, although not at an advanced level. I am going to have a lot of fun with this book making my holiday ornaments this year, and so will you.