Easy Yo-Yo Craft Ideas – Embellishing Fabric

Embellish With Yo-Yos (Suffolk Puffs) in Modern or Vintage Fabrics

Apr 7, 2009

Yo-yos, also known as Suffolk puffs and rosettes, are not just for quilts! Charming, fun and versatile, yo-yos add vintage flair to clothing, accessories and home decor.

This traditional patchwork craft is made by hand stitching and gathering circles of fabric. Although these rosettes are quick and easy to make, accumulating the several thousand needed to make a yo-yo quilt can take a long time. But making just a few yo-yos is a quick and easy hand sewing project that can liven up boring fabric items.

Fabric yo-yos can be elegant and understated or cute and kitschy. Silk, taffeta or satin yo-yos make sophisticated embellishments for clothing and accessories. Vintage or reproduction printed fabrics create a fun look reminiscent of yo-yo patchwork quilts from the '20s, '30s, and '40s. Yo-yos are a perfect way to use up a stash of scrap fabric or recycle old clothes found in thrift stores or the back of a closet.

Sew Yo-Yos onto Clothing and Accessories

Ideas for adorning clothing and accessories with yo-yos abound. A few solid color rosettes in a monochromatic color scheme can create a subtle and elegant textural effect on the neckline of a blouse or bodice of a dress. A few yo-yos can also dress up the hemline of a skirt. Or a few hundred can be sewn together to make a unique shrug, wrap or poncho.

Yo-yos can also be used to decorate many accessories, including purses, hats, scarves and gloves. A plain apron will take on a unique vintage-inspired look when embellished with yo-yos made from gingham or calico prints. A yo-yo brooch can be made by layering or clustering yo-yos of different sizes and adding a pretty vintage button and a pin back.

Home Decor Ideas Using Yo-Yos

Sewing yo-yos onto throw pillows and shams is an obvious way to decorate with this fabric craft, but other soft furnishings and home accessories can also be embellished with these fabric rosettes. Enhance vintage kitchen decor by adding yo-yos to hand towels, dish towels, or cloth napkins. Padded yo-yos can also be stitched together to make a table runner or trivet.

Sewing a few rosettes onto a fabric shower curtain or a window curtain adds romantic charm to a room. A yo-yo below each tab on a tab-top curtain panel, for example, creates an interesting effect. And a row of yo-yos stitched together is a unique way to tie back a curtain. Pretty fabric sachets, made from yo-yos filled with cedar, potpourri or lavender, can be placed in closets and drawers or given as gifts

Yo-yos have many decorative uses. One can add visual interest to almost any type of clothing, accessory or home decor with these easy and versatile embellishments. The possibilities for using yo-yos creatively are limited only by one's imagination. Learn how to make a yo-yo and get started making these fun and easy fabric rosettes!

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The copyright of the article Easy Yo-Yo Craft Ideas – Embellishing Fabric in Sewing/Needlework is owned by Alison Fletcher. Permission to republish Easy Yo-Yo Craft Ideas – Embellishing Fabric in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.