From the page: One curtain, a thousand lives
Idea 2
Yo-yos for quilts and placemats
The yo-yo (fabric rosette) is a Brazilian technique of Japanese origin (the fabric "kanzashi"), popularized here in the 1930s and 1940s when fabric remnants were sewn into flowers to decorate the home. It works by pure geometry: a circle of fabric with stitches around the outline, when pulled, folds inward and closes into a firm, naturally symmetrical flower.
What you need
- Old curtain (scraps of at least 8 x 8 cm per yo-yo)
- Needle and cotton thread
- Scissors
- A cup or circular template (5 to 10 cm in diameter)
- Chalk for marking
- Cotton or fabric scraps for stuffing (optional)
How to make it
-
1
Trace the cup onto the fabric and cut circles with 1 cm of allowance beyond the line — the allowance is what lets you fold and hide the edge.
-
2
Fold the circle's edge inward and start a running stitch (simple, continuous stitches) close to the fold, going all the way around without tightening yet.
-
3
Pull the thread slowly so the fabric gathers and forms the flower; tie a few knots on the inside to lock it.
-
4
To make them fuller, place a small ball of cotton or a bit of fabric in the center before closing — the stuffing gives volume and shadow between the petals.
-
5
Join the yo-yos by lightly sewing them to each other along the sides, forming rows for the placemat or one large rectangle for the quilt.
-
6
For a firm base, baste (secure with long stitches) the whole set onto a backing fabric cut from the smoothest part of the curtain itself.
Finishing touches
Mix circles of different sizes to give visual rhythm — a ratio of one small yo-yo for every two large ones keeps the composition harmonious. A button sewn at the center of each flower hides the starting stitch and gives a grandmotherly finish with a designer look.
This is one of the ideas from the full page — see all the possibilities.
This page feeds the collective knowledge 🌱 — every discovery makes the next answer better.