I wanted to brighten up my family room couch a little. One day I was walking through Target and they had pillow covers on sale from $4.99 to $3.99. So I bought a couple — one blue and one green. I figured I couldn’t beat that price and it would be so much easier than making the covers myself. I got them home and they just needed something else.
So I got out my trusty fabric scraps and made some yo yo’s!
First you cut out some circles of fabric. They don’t even have to be perfect. I measured the size I wanted, made a square and then curved the edges of the square into a circle. The largest circles I made were 12 inches wide by 12 inches high. Note: Your finished circle will be approximately half the size when done.
Turn your fabric circle so the inside out side is facing up. Then make a little fold about 1/2 inch into the circle and fold it toward the center. Then take your needle and thread and bring the needle up through the outside the fabric up through to the top. Then bring it back down again — creating a running stitch along the entire outside of the yo yo. Do this until you get to the first stitch, then pull on the thread and gather the seam up until the yo yo is closed and there is a circle in the middle of the yo yo. Then make a couple stitches at the ending point of the yo yo and tie it off.
I made 3 different sizes of yo yos — you can use your imagination! Once you have all of your yo yo’s done, lay them all out on your work space, along side your pillow covers. Then arrange them on the covers and make a pattern that’s pleasing to you.
Now, I have a few tips that I discovered while making mine that I wish I had known. When you have the pattern of yo yo’s laid out the way you want it to be on your pillow, iron them so they are flat and then — stitch them together — connecting the sides of the flowers together with a few stitches. Then, lay it on top of your pillow cover and stitch it on to the cover.
{I made the mistake of putting all of the flowers on separately and it is much harder this way to get all of the flowers to connect without bunching on the pillow cover. So connect them first — it will be so much easier.}
Then you are done! Enjoy your Spring pillow covers!
I am linking this project up to:
love those, so fresh for spring
These are FAB. love em love em love em!
Thanks for the post.
Alyssa
lifeoflyssie.com
I LOVE!!!! Yo-yo's are the best and these are so fun!!
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~Morgan
Meet Virginia Crafts
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love it! fabulous idea 🙂 i love yo yo's!! totally doing this too! {i'm almost done with the spoon wreath, i'll have to send you a pic when i'm finished! i just need to find some cheap spoons.}
Great job on the pillows! The are adorable!
Yo yo's bring back such a homey feel for me! I love the springy look 🙂
love these….I have so been trying to learn how to make these… thank you.
oooh! These are great!!
Super cute!!! awesome idea!
Fabulous! I love them! =)
They look wonderful. The colors are really pretty and so springy. xo [email protected]
Those are really cute!
I found you through BlogFrog and am now following. I'm so impressed with all your clever projects, and how many kinds there are (sewing to home remodel). It's great how you have so many tutorials, too. You're very inspiring. 🙂
liz
http://www.bellebeanchicagodog.com
Jen those are so pretty! I just love them 🙂 I too, have never seen pillow covers at Target, I'd think they'd be a hit!
You did such a great job on those–so springy and fresh! With was much time as I spend at Target, WHY have I not seen those covers?
~ Sarah
My pillows could use a bit of sprucing up! I saw those at Target the other day. What a great deal! I love this idea, it's so cute and springy!
ok..you lost me at "needle, thread, and fabric scraps"…I have none of those things, nor would I know what to do with them if I did!
I failed the sewing 9 weeks of home ec in the 9th grade. I've been sewing illiterate ever since.
but YOU…you make gorgeous things!
I'm jealous!!
So pretty!!
Love love love it!! Might have to run to Target tomorrow and break out the scraps! Thanks for the great idea.
These are adorable!!
Thank you so much for adding my giveaway to your sidebar! I really appreciate it. Have a great week!
These are adorable!!
Thank you so much for adding my giveaway to your sidebar! I really appreciate it. Have a great week!
Ooh–I've made yo-yos before, but never that cute! I think I'll start making them again. 🙂
Adorable! I put this on my FB page!
CUTE!! I have been wanting to put yo-yo's on a shirt but have never made them before. Thanks!
SO cute!! Why do yo-yos make me so happy??
I linked to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-yo-yo-throw-pillow-covers/2010/03/30/
–Anne
I love yo-yos so this is a sweet project in my mind. Love the aqua colored one…
Way too cute…I'm gonna have to try this myself!
Love how colorful flowers are so your signature! These pillows are great. My Ready, Set Vignette Party is on so if you have any recent posts you'd like to link up come on over!
Those look really great! I love the colors! It's funny how yo yo's are becoming so trendy again!
Great idea Jen! I love the colors I have been wanting to make yo yos but don't ever know what to do with them, this is perfect!
Um. CUTE!!!
I was like, "Yoyos??? Who puts a yoyo on a pillow?"
Yeah. Not a regular yo yo, obviously.
Oh I love these! Although I am sewing-challenged I think I could this project! And love the colors you chose – how fun and cheerful.
I've been wondering how to make those! Thanks for the instructions – your pillows look great!
I've got some old pillows that I've been wanting to make over. I'm not a sewer though and I've been trying to decide what to do with them. This is exactly what I had in mind! I love it! Thanks so much!
looooove the pillows! so fresh and springy!
Holy heck those are yummy. You are totally loving spring aren't you? Bright colors, fun prints…no more winter in your house!
"Sew" cute Jen!
Fun, I will have to try this.
those are super cute 😀
these are adorable!
WOW, these are so fresh and cute…love the colors so much! Always good ideas here…come say hi 😀
I love making yo-yos and putting them on everything! So cute!!!
Soo very very cute!!
I love these!! Thank you soooooo much!!