It started, as these things often do, with a mysterious stash of craft supplies from an older maker’s estate. Among the notions and thread spools were several ziplock bags packed—packed—with little gathered circles of fabric. All hand-stitched, some floral, some calico, all neatly puffed into shape like tiny fabric mushrooms.
At the time, I didn’t know what they were. But they were clearly something.
Later, while sorting through another box of sewing tools, I came across a plastic circle labeled “Brandy's Master Yo-Yo Template.” Suddenly, the pieces clicked into place, literally and historically.
So What Is a Fabric Yo-Yo?
A fabric yo-yo is a small, gathered circle made by folding over the edge of a fabric circle, stitching around the perimeter, and pulling the thread tight to create that signature puckered center. Think little fabric medallions, sort of like the textile version of a puffed button.
They’ve been around for over a century. In the early 1900s, women started using fabric yo-yos (sometimes called “Suffolk puffs” in the UK) as a way to use up leftover scraps from garment sewing. Yo-yos were stitched together, by the dozens or the hundreds, to make quilts, pillows, table runners, toys, and even dresses.
They surged in popularity during the Depression and wartime eras, when frugality and reuse weren’t hobbies but necessities. A yo-yo quilt was a thrifty way to turn small, odd-shaped leftovers into something useful and beautiful.
That spirit still holds up.
Why I Love Them
To put it simply, I find them delightful. They’re low-effort, low-stress, and endlessly satisfying. You don’t need a sewing machine. Just a needle, some thread, and a handful of scraps. It’s the kind of craft you can do with your hands while talking, watching something, or just decompressing.
They’re also incredibly forgiving. If your circles aren’t perfect? Doesn’t matter. If your stitches are a little uneven? Still works. The gathering hides everything.
And the best part? Once you start, you will want to make more. They’re like the potato chips of hand-sewing.
What Do People Use Yo-Yos For?
Traditionally, yo-yos have been joined together to make:
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Quilts and coverlets
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Decorative pillow covers
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Holiday garlands or ornaments
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Embellishments for clothing, bags, or hats
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Statement jewelry (like brooches or earrings)
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Wall hangings and patchwork art
But lately, I’ve seen people taking them even further—layering them into wearable art, using them to patch denim, stitching them onto tote bags, or turning them into tactile elements in sensory crafts.
They’re an amazing entry point for reuse-based crafting, especially if you’ve got fabric scraps too small to do much else with.
My Next Yo-Yo Project
Now that I’ve inherited a few hundred of them (give or take), I’m thinking of making a wall hanging that lets them stay slightly dimensional, not flattened into a quilt, but clustered and puffed like soft, colorful barnacles.
Either that or I’ll start sneaking them into every project I do until I run out. Yo-yo mending? Yo-yo garland? Yo-yo patch pockets? Watch out 🪀🪀🪀
➡️ How to Make a Fabric Yo-Yo ⬅️
No fancy tools required—just:
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A circle of fabric (about 2x the diameter of your finished yo-yo)
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Needle and thread
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Scissors
Steps:
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Cut your fabric into a circle.
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Fold the outer edge inward about ¼", wrong side to wrong side, and begin stitching around the folded edge with a running stitch.
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Stitch all the way around the circle.
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Pull the thread tight to gather the fabric—it’ll form a cute, puffed circle with a little ruffle edge.
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Knot the thread, flatten it slightly, and admire!
✨ Optional: Use a yo-yo maker tool for consistency, or trace cups, bowls, or lids to get perfect circles.
P.S.
If you’ve made something with fabric yo-yos—or inherited a stash like I did—I’d love to see what you did with them. These little scraps carry so much history, and it feels special to keep that going.
Free Templates & Tutorials:
Vintage Finds:
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Search "yo-yo quilt" or "fabric yo-yo lot" on Etsy or eBay for vintage examples and premade pieces.
