Decorating with yo-yos
Make yo-yos using your favorite method. I like the yo-yo makers by Clover but you can easily do them without this tool. The following are good resources for each method.
Wreaths
Yo-yos can be used to decorate a wreath by attaching them to a purchased wreath form or by cutting a circle from cardboard or foam core board. Cover the form with strips of fabric either by wrapping the form or making a long strip and sewing it across the back as in my example. Then you can sew the yo-yos to the fabric in any arrangement you desire. Add ribbon or make a bow from strips of fabric.
Tree ornaments
Make simple tree ornaments from yo-yos by sewing two back to back with a ribbon in between to use as a hanger. More yo-yos in graduated sizes and different colors can be sewn together for larger, more elaborate tree decorations. Add button in centers if desired.
Yo-yos can also be sewn together in a formation to make a wreath, heart, tree, etc.
Really scrappy decorations
Scrappy wreath
Make a circle with wire or use a purchased wire wreath. Cut lots of ¾” or 1” strips of fabric about 5” long. Double tie the strips around the wire wreath until completely covered. Add a larger strip as a ribbon if desired.
Tree ornaments or decorative balls for a bowl
You need
· a Styrofoam ball of desired size- the ornament will be much larger than the ball
· lots of 2-2 ½ inch squares of fabric – I like to cut these squares with pinking shears to help prevent raveling- precision is not necessary.
· a small screwdriver or other slightly sharp instrument- not sharp enough to pierce fabric
· optional- school glue
Use your fingers to loosely gather each square around the tip of the screwdriver. Dip the point in the glue if desired. (The fabric will stay without the glue but the glue gives extra security if the balls will be handled a lot) Poke the screwdriver with fabric into the ball about ½ inch. Remove the screwdriver. Continue until the ball is completely covered. Add an opened paper clip dipped in glue as a hanger. This project is easy enough for school age children but they will need help cutting the squares.
Fractured fir wall hanging- ticker tape quilting
You will need
· background fabric, batting, and backing in desired size
· scraps in green or whatever color you want your tree to be. They should be a variety of sizes and prints.
· Glue stick
· Sewing machine and thread
· Pinking shears
Use your rulers to draw a tree shape with chalk or removable pen. Use the pinking shears to begin cutting your tree scraps in rectangle or triangle shapes and gluing them within the tree shape. They should fit together like a puzzle but leave a small space (about 1/8”) between the pieces so that the background shows. You may rearrange the shapes as desired. I also added a star to the top and a trunk to the bottom. When satisfied with your arrangement, sandwich the tree with the batting and backing. Pin, baste or spray baste these together. Sew around each shape about 1/8” from the edge. Then outline quilt or stipple the background. Add binding and hang. You may also add small yo-yos or buttons as decorations on your tree.
Strip pieced ornaments
Cut squares of backing and batting in desired size. Stack. Sew on strips of fabric (1 to 2 inches) one at a time in quilt as you go fashion. When batting is covered, cut the desired ornament shape with your pinking shears. Sew ¼ “ along the edge of the ornament. Add a bow and hanger at top from ribbon or more strips of fabric. You may also add a binding if desired.
