Traveling Yoyos

Now that baseball practice has started, I've had to find something to keep my hands busy while watching my son(s). I had decided to take along one of my newer projects with me- Yoyoville by Bunnyhill Designs. For the time being, I'm going to work on appliqueing the yoyos to the background fabric. It's something I can do and still look up and watch what's going on with practice.

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I had purchased charm packs to make the yoyos. The pattern recommended using a Clover Yoyo Maker but yoyos are so simple to make.

Using a template a circle template (I recycled some lids from empty margarine tubs) and cut two sizes. The larger being the outer circumference of circle and the slightly smaller one being the fold line where you will make your running stitches. In the case of this yoyo, the outer circle is 4 1/4 inches across and the inner circle is 3 3/8 inches across, which will create a finished 1 3/4 inch yoyo.

On the right side of the fabric, trace the larger circle template on the 5 inch square and center the smaller circle template in the larger circle. Using the larger circle marking, cut out the circle.

Note: I am using a Bohin mechanical pencil. I initially got the pencil because tradition mechanical pencils tends to skip and drag the fabric when marking it. The Bohin pencil uses ceramic lead which is much smoother than tradition lead. And I just recently found out that the ceramic leads are used with water-soluble dyes and can be removed with water!!! How fabulous! I tried it and to worked! These pencils and the lead cost a little bit more, but, in my opinion, I believe that it's well worth the $$.

Once the circle is cut out, fold the fabric at the smaller circle marking with your fingers. The wrong side of the fabric should be facing you. First, make a knot in the end of the thread. Using the needle, take a small bite through both layers. Once the thread is pulled through all of the stitches, this back-stitch will help secure the knot, so it won't pull out. When placing the first stitch, insert the needle near the knot and start your stitches from there.

Using large running stitches, stitch at the fold at about 1/8 of an inch. I used hand-quilting thread because it is a little bit thicker than regular thread. Remember: The smaller stitches you use, the larger the hole in the center of your yoyo. If the stitches are to larger, it will look sloppy.

Short running stitches...

create a large opening.

Long running stitches...

create a sloppy opening.

Stitch length somewhere in between. You may have to play with the stitch length until you feel comfortable with the size.

I'm satisfied with this one!

Once the stitches are all the way around your circle, pull the thread to cinch the gathers toward the center. This is where the thicker thread is a good idea. If you pull too tight, the thread may break and you will have to do it all over again.

TIP: When your stitches reach to where you started, you will need to carefully place your stitches exactly where you place the initial stitches- have the needle go in where the first stitch went in, and have the it go out where it goes out. I used red fabric in this example to show how it is done.

If you don't follow the these stitches, the stitches will show once the thread is cinched. If done right, you will not be able to see the thread and the thread color will not matter because you will not see it.

Try to cinch the hold as tight as you can and make sure that it is in the center of your yoyo. Now, go right through to the back of the yoyo, going between the gathers so you won't see the thread.

You can place the knot on the back side of the yoyo because, usually, it will be appliqued to another piece of fabric. Not a good photo, but it will leave just a tiny spot on the back.

In my Yoyoville quilt, the yoyo will be appliqued to piece of 3 1/2 inch background fabric. Now I'll have to make 156 more!!

Until next time,

Jane

Last Week...

My two monkeys had Spring Break last week, and they headed back to school today. Finally, some peace! I don't know if it's just being boys, or being brothers?... I just don't remember being so crazy and loud and hyper with my sister, perhaps my memory just fails me. Maybe it's just the difference between boys and girls.

During the week, we did some extra activities to keep them busy and occupied. Besides baseball practice, we had gone roller skating (which was hilarious), attempted to see "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" (didn't happen because of a rain storm), and a visit to a Asian restaurant. I know, the last one isn't a place where the boys are looking forward to visit. I think it's funny because my boys (and I) are Asian, my mom was from South Korea. Yet, my boys dislike Asian food, any kind of Asian food (well, they will eat plain white rice). It's the food that I ate primarily when I was young, and from time to time, I try to introduce it to them again to remind them just where we all came from. But all in all, it turned out okay because we were at a buffet that served American food also.

While they were home, I found time to "sandwich" my Dresden plate quilt. And remember, this will be my first "real" attempt in machine-quilting. I will be using Quilters' Dream Wool. It works wonderfully with my hand-quilting, and I heard it does just as well with machine.

I will be using YLI silk thread (100 weight- very thin) and I want to try to use a template to help me with the meandering stitches. Although, it may seem that everything is ready to start, I am still very apprehensive. I just might quilt another quilt top just for practice.

It's something new, something very unfamiliar. I know that I'll put it off for a while. But I know I can find other quilty projects to work on in the mean time.

Until next time,

Jane

Sampler Quilt Progress

Yesterday, being National Quilting Day, I tried to reserve as much time to my sewing as I could. Besides the quick trip to the pharmacy to pick up my son's antibiotics, I think I got a lot done.

This is the Quiltmaking 101 sampler quilt that I am trying to finish. I was wanting to use the last of my scraps in the sashing and cornerstones, so a patchy version was what I thought would work. Well... I think the blocks get lost in the patckwork sashing. I'm thinking about placing a thin bias strip around the blocks to frame them. Maybe they won't fade into the quilt. I may have to set it aside for a while and then see if I have the same opinion in a few days.

I'm planning on framing a couple of the blocks to see what they look like.

Be back with the photos.

Jane

Oh, Happy Day

Today, it is officially the first day of spring. And it is also National Quilting Day!! How could it get any better!

Well, two days ago, wasn't so good. It was a beautiful day and since my older son finished his homework, he wanted to go outside and ride his bike. He was waiting for the neighbor boy to finish his homework when the neighbor boy's dog had bitten him - right around his right eye. I thank God that it wasn't as bad as it was, and it was pretty bad. I think his eyeglasses shielded his eye or else it would have been so much worse. By that time, the doctor's office was closed and, after cleaning it and bandaging it, it didn't look E.R. worthy. Plus he was begging not to go to the hospital.

Yesterday, he went to school, showing off his wounds- just like a boy!! The school nurse had notified me that a dog's mouth is filthy. Since the wounds were so close to his eye, he should get antibiotics for it. So after school, we made a trip to the hospital (his pediatrician doesn't look at dog bites, he wanted us to go to the E.R.) and after the 3 hour visit, a prescription and a shot of antibiotics, he is on his way to a good recovery, besides the wounds.

So, knowing that my baby boy is now safe and healing, I am so thankful the outcome wasn't as severe as it could have been. He now has 7 days of spring break to recuperate.

I'm planning to celebrate National Quilting Day, well, working on my quilts. Will have some photos soon.

Enjoy your Quilting holiday,

Jane

I Forgot...

During the hoopla of trying to the quilt tops done, I had forgotten to mention that I had received my giveaway prize from Brye Lynn, from sewstitchcreate.com a week ago today. I got so caught up with the piecing that lost track of time. Thank you, Brye!!

I'll be back with photos of my progress. Then I'll have try to machine-quilt them! Agghhhh!!!

Wish me luck,

Jane

Work Update

It has been just over a week since my last post. I have working on the Quiltmaking 101 Sampler quilt. I think I got the sashing and cornerstones the way I like them (it always seems funny how it comes out a little different from how I pictured it in my head and in my drawings). I have been piecing them together and I hope to have it all of them with the blocks pieced soon. My son's baseball coach had just called about practice this week, so that may take away some of my time. I'll have to figure out something different I can take with me- something with applique.


I had purchased fatquarters and 1/4 yard cuts for this quilt, I had used a lot of some and a little of others. I've cut out so many 1/2 inch squares from those scraps that I am beginning to see them in my dreams.


Then I'm having to make different lengths of sashing. It is easy work but it the tedious, small work like this...doing it over and over again...that's what runs me down. I'm ready to work on something new, but I'm going to stick with it. I'm going to have to get this top finished!

I had picked up the wool quilt batting for the Dresden plate quilt on Friday, so it can be "sandwiched" at any time. Maybe I'll do that when I need to take a break from the above quilt.

I can't wait to get these quilts done, because I am already visualizing the next UFO quilts I want to work on. In a past post titled "Summertime," there is a floral-type quilt that has been calling me. Probably sparked by the warmer temperatures and sunshine. And when I got the batting, I had a talk with the quilt shop owner about my "Dear Jane" quilt. She had asked, "Have you finished it yet?" I had to tell her that I hadn't worked on it for awhile, seems more like forever. But I pulled it out again and I bet I can work a few more blocks from time to time.

Okay, gotta get back to work! ; )

Jane

Easter Eggs Done!

Well, it took me a day later than I thought to finish them, but I think they turned out really cute! I didn't need to make as many eggs as I, did but once my kids saw them, they insisted that I make some for them too.

Seriously, now. I'm going to have to go back to work on my quilts. I've got this big urge to finish one so, hopefully, I'll be back soon with those photos.

See you then,

Jane