Yo-yo Demonstration!

It has been quite a non-productive week! I really don't know where time has gone and here we are, it is the weekend again. I have made and sewn together quite a few yo-yos for a cushion I am making! You will need to buy a large Clover Yo-yo Maker and the included instructions are very explicit and written in English, French, Spanish and Dutch. They cost around the $10 here in Australia, so it is not really an expensive little gadget. Very worthwhile!

The translucent yellow plastic is the plate and the bright yellow the disk. I have used some charm squares, but scraps approximately 5 inches square will do nicely!

The wrong side of the fabric is placed behind the disk and the the disk is inserted into the plate. plate. There are little markers showing you where to align the plate and the disk.

The fabric is then trimmed back approx 3/16" from the edge of the plate.

Oopsy! A storm was brewing while I was trying to take pics, so I had to step outside to get a nice clear picture.

This is a little difficult to explain in pics, but I will try! I use fine quilting thread for this step. See the little slots on the back of the plate - the needle is inserted from the other side and carried in and out around the plate through these slots.

When one has finished stitching right around the plate, the plate is then removed and this is what you will see. Look closely and you will see the little stitches. Perhaps I should have used a dark, contrasting thread - never mind! - as I said, you will get great instructions if you decide this is for you.

Now, by drawing up this thread, and with a little bit of manipulating, you will have a beautifully formed yo-yo with a diameter of 1-5/8" approximately! I think 8 x 8 = 64 will give me a nice 14" cushion!

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This little demo is to illustrate just how easy it is to make lovely, neat yo-yos very quickly. It is a nice portable project, good for times when you are at a sewing gathering - quite mindless, allowing quality time to chit-chat, LOL! It is intended to give you an insight into this method should you wish to have a little play!

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Happy weekend!

Hera Marker Bias Stems!

The party is over and thanks you so much for all the Birthday Wishes for Ed! There's a pic to the side top of Ed and I - what a wonderful day - he's heading for 80 now - Old Man!

Look what arrived in the mail this morning - BOM Green Tea & Sugar Beans August! I so love the newspaper print fabric and applique will be a lovely change! So of course I started to have a little play and then I was wondering - do you know the easy way to make bias stems?

Fabric wrong side up, line up your ruler at a 45 degree angle and make your first cut to give you a true bias!

Using the wonderful Hera Marker, rule your first line (press firmly!) just under 1/4".

Mark a second line 1/4" away!

Line your ruler up slightly under a 1/4" away from second marked line and cut fabric!

Oopsy - skip to the pic below and I will tell you about it! Fold both sides inwards and press with a nice hot iron - you will notice the fabric really wants to curl in and help you, so it is easy!

Now, I've shown you the prepared three stems above - iron as shown below, sprayed with a little spray starch! Pop pins each end before you start!

Below we have out beautiful 1/4" stems ready to applique!

A quick little tute - the best way I have found to make bias stem of any width! I am led to believe this method is taught (or was?) at Elly Sienkiewicz's Academy - I was also informed the pronunciation of her name is 'senkevitch' - oh, all that trivia filling up my pea brain!

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Oh, I have made my 'Origami Bag' and will show you next Post - off to do a bit more applique preparation so I can stitch my block at a GTG with Girlfiends! tomorrow!

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Happy Day!