Quick and Easy Yo-Yo Keychains
Lazies, Get ready for a hearty dose of cute and smart – an unbeatable combination in my book. Tracy Chapman of Sew Thankful shares her yo-yo keychain project with us today. Tracy combines her love of yo-yo’s, buttons, and our Handy Tabs to make this quick and easy project.
Yo-Yo keychain by Tracy Chapman.
Consider making a few for holiday gifts later this year, or to go with any purse pattern or tote project. This yo-yo keychain is a great way to use up your fabric scraps and play with your beloved button stash.
Here’s Tracy:
When Clover came out with the Quick Yo-Yo Makers I was immediately hooked. I mean, what’s not to love about fabric yo-yos!!?!
I keep my Clover Yo-Yo Makers (I am guilty of having multiples of each size and style) loaded with fabric on a small table near my favorite chair…sew…on evenings when I have a few minutes to sit with the family before bedtime I stitch up a few yo-yos.
Look at that adorable paw print fabric!
One day I was petting and playing with the yo-yos I’d recently made while at the same time I was looking at my Lazy Girl Handy Tabs. That’s when I noticed the color of the Handy Tabs matching so nicely with the yo-yos I was playing with. It really was a lightning bolt moment.
I immediately pulled out my button stash…found one that looked cute with the fabric yo-yo. I quickly laid a button on a yo-yo, placed the tab and the split ring. Then I layered that unit with another yo-yo & button unit…yep…it worked! I thought this would make a fun project to share with our eNews subscribers and others who love yo-yos as much as I do.
– Lazy Girl Tracy
Coordinating thread to attach the button
ties in nicely with the Handy Tab.
Directions and Resources
– Get the directions and links for supplies at Tracy’s Let’s Get Sewing blog here.
– I have a Clover Quick Yo-Yo Makers tutorial here at my blog.
– See our Handy Tabs here.
Button Tip
When I finish gathering a yo-yo for this project, I tie the threads to the front, right where they are. I leave the thread tails long and trim them to the same length. I use these thread tails to sew on a button. Simply pull these threads through the needle with a needle threader.
Yo-Yo’s To Go
I love Tracy’s tip about pre-loading her multiple yo-yo makers! I keep my yo-yo making supplies in a Perfect Pouch, so I always have a hand project ready to take with me. Put a kit together by pre-cutting some fabric pieces, I use prewound bobbins for a tidy thread source, hand needle, scissors, and any other supplies you need. Keep them in some sort of project bag.
Lazy Notes
This is my 200th blog post and tomorrow is my blog’s 2 year anniversary – isn’t that a tidy combination. I can’t thank you enough for joining me for a little fabric fun each week. And thank you for posting comments along the way. I love hearing from you!
Next Week
Two must-have product recommendations!
Enjoy!
Joan
Images courtesy of Tracy Chapman at Sew Thankful.
Congratulations on your 200th blog post and 2 year anniversary. I really enjoy receiving your emails. I look forward to them every week. Thanks for some great tips.
Those are just too stinking adorable!!!!! Oh gosh I can see tons of little gifts from these cuties. Tracy a sew fabulous idea to combine the 2! I recommended many people who bought them and the patterns at the quilt show Joan’s tutorial on Yo Yo Makers.
As always Joan thank you for all the goodies and ideas you send our way and congrats on the Blog, my favorite thing to read with a cuppa coffee.
Penny D
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http://www.cottonvault.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1688
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What a great idea!
Marie
Congratulations Joan!
I love to read your blogs. You are so generous with the tutorials that you provide, and the photos make it all very clear and easy to understand.
Keep up the good work!
I love these! Can you clarify something for me however – does each keychain use two yo-yo’s? Are they stitched together all the way around? This is probably a dumb question but I am not sure and want to make a bunch for Christmas. Thanks!!!
– – – – –
Hi Sue,
Yes, it’s a yo-yo sandwich with one on each side. Go check out Tracy’s directions at her website here:
http://sewthankful.com/blog/2008/09/quick-and-easy-sew-thankful-fa.html
Joan
How does she keep the circle so perfect? Is there something inside the yo-yo- cardboard?
Hi Mep,
Tracy didn’t use any interior support for the yo-yo’s. Stitching them together in the final step will help them keep their cute and fabulous shape.
Joan
Hi Joan, Once again you have provided something that encourages young sewers to realize the fun of sewing. My Fledgling Lazies will love this project in kids class! Do I need to buy patterns for them or may we use the directions on your blog? Thanks for your energy and positive outlook. Willa Lewis-Bozeman, Montana
Hi Willa, I’m so glad you like the project. I’m so thrilled you are teaching young people to sew!
I’ll jump in with regard to usage of the pattern for the yo-yo key chain project.
To use the yo-yo key chain pattern in a class, simply print out and provide a free pdf/pattern for each student. This project is provided for free, but I do require that each student have their own copy of the pdf/pattern. If you have more questions, please feel free to email me directly at tracy @ sewthankful . com (remove the spaces).
Hugs & smiles from New Mexico, USA,
Tracy
As a nurse it’s not always easy to find extra time, but these little cuties can be done on a coffee break. All the girls I work with will surely want one! Great idea!!! CBH
Wow – those are adorable. I’m a sewer wannabe – and I love your website and blog. I truly wish I could sew because I love bags and purses and love yours! I did print off a few of the free patterns and my daughter and I are going to give them a try. Sewing machines are not that expensive anymore and I think it will be a lot of fun. You girls have such great ideas.
Thanks for the inspiration!
What a great idea! After reading this post I went for a mad search for a key ring so I could make one up right away.
Thanks,
Sue
These are so cute! I love learning new projects for yo-yo’s. I keep a Clover yo-yo- maker at work and stitch a few yo-yo-s on my breaks. These key chains will make great gifts for my girlfriends at work, as well as my sewing buddies. Thanks for the new inspiration.
Judy of California.
What a great idea. I can’t wait to make some for gifts. Thanks for sharing all your techniques and product info.
Happy Blogiversary!!!!! Great tutorial. I love the many uses of Yo yo’s
How cute are those!!!! I gotta make one. :):):):)
Hugs,
Lory
This one is very cute too! Love your patterns!
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What type/weight of thread do you use to make the yo-yo on the Clover maker. And, do you have to use coordinating thread for that part or is standard, multipurpose thread ok? I am starting a yo-yo quilt to not only give as a gift (1 each) to my bro and SIL for xmas-they live in FLA and a regular quilt would be too hot, but I am on bedrest for twins and need something to pass the time by! THX!
I love your yo-yo keychain. Would I be able to make these to sell at our Quilt Guild Boutique? We use the money made from the boutique for guild programs and our charitable projects (preemie quilts, shelter quilts and soldier quilts).
Thank you!
Kathy
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Great…..I will try!