Traditional Round Yo-yos

Decide how large you want your yo-yo to be and make a circular template twice that size. A plastic or cardboard template will work, or you can use a lid, a discarded CD, a plate or any other round object that comes close to the size you are looking for. (Or you can scroll down the page for the link to a file with circles in several sizes.)

Trace the circle onto the wrong side of your fabric; add a ¼” seam allowance and cut out. If you are using a plate or CD, you can use your rotary cutter to cut out the circle directly, with no need for tracing.

Thread a hand sewing needle with quilting thread or two strands of regular sewing thread. Knot the end of the thread. Fold over about ¼” of fabric for the hem. Take large running stitches (about 4 stitches to the inch) close to the edge, all away around the circumference of the circle, folding under the seam allowance as you go. (If your stitches are too small or too far away from the fold line, you won’t get a small hole when gathering the fabric.)

After stitching the circle, do not cut the thread. Pull the thread gently until the fabric edges gather in the center. There will be a small hole, with the wrong side of the fabric hidden on the inside of the yo-yo. Pull the thread tight, take a couple more stitches to secure the thread and knot it off. Work the gathers to make the yo-yo lie flat.