Grandma & Yo-Yo's

When I was a little girl, I loved spending weeks during the summer with my Grandma.  She taught me many things:  how to crochet, how to embroider, how to make french knots and how to make yo-yo's.

You know what I mean about a yo-yo?   You would use any circle as a pattern, and cut out from scrap fabric.  Sew a running stitch around the edge as you turn the fabric under, and draw closed.  Sometimes Grandma would insert a bottle cap, sew several together and a hot pad.  And if you use all purple fabric you can make them look like a bunch of grapes.

This technique was very popular from 1925 through the 1950's.  They are never quilted, just tacked together.  But you can achieve some amazing patterns by using different colors.  As a bed topper, you would place on top of a solid sheet so that the design would really pop.

So I was looking through a favorite blog:  Desire to Inspire and came across this photo of a yo-yo quilt.

And the memory of making yo-yo's with Grandma sort of popped back into my mind.  And now they have all sort of youtube videos out there on how to make yo-yo's; how to decorate with them; how to make a bed topper; etc.

So guess what?  I want to tackle the yo-yo in 2013.  I'm not sure about a king-size bed topper; that would take a lot of yo-yo's; but I'm thinking about making a decorative pillow and see where that leads me.

Here are two pillow designs I've found that I really like:

I think this one is really cute.  And the other design:

So once I found the fabric and have decided on a design; I'll share my progress with you.

Happy Saturday!  Today's agenda:  Take down the Christmas tree