I made this Yo-yo quilt about 18 years ago. As you can tell from the close ups of the fabric, these are vintage 1980's and 90's classic calicoes. It seemed I carried a bag of circles around for years. I carried them to soccer practices, little league games, dentist appointments, cheerleading practices, church softball games, family vacations, basically to everything my two children were involved in as they were growing up. They are now 34 and 31 so it has been awhile.
Most of the Yo-yo quilts I'd seen (and I hadn't seen that many) were made in a four patch layout. That is, they were only attached on the sides in a North, South, East, West orientation. This left a lot of open space showing, which I didn't really like. Even back then, it seems I didn't want to do anything "normal". So I set this in a Grandmother's Flower Garden layout (which I had never seen, but thought looked better) - that is, attaching them on 6 sides instead of 4.
Here's a picture of the back. Don't you recognize a bunch of these?? I hate to say I still have some of this fabric, but I've got a plan for that. Stay tuned for a future post :).
I think one of the neatest things about this quilt are the memories I have of my children's teenage years. In this scope of things, this quilt is not in the top 5 I'd carry out of a burning house..... but it is very special to me. 
By the way, the circles are 1 1/4" finished and there are over 1,100 circles.Until next time,
Karen
16 comments:
All I can say is wow! That's a lot of you-yo's!! :0)
Talk about a long term project! So scrappy and fun. I am the owner of my grandmother's yo yo coverlet she made in 1934 in a 9 patch block style arrangement with feedsack prints, and it was unfinished until 1997, when her church's quilting group tied it to a white sheeting background. I had never seen it until she showed it to me about 5 years ago. It's a beauty but nowhere near the number of yo yos you made!
Good grief, that's a lot of work! I think it's wonderful though, the memories it brings with it.
Wow!! That is a lot of circles! No wonder you carried them around to so many places!
Wow, wow and WOW! I love it.
Wow...just a beautiful yo-yo quilt. I love the wholecloth quilt too. Are you going to share more pictures of the gorgeous wholecloth quilt?
Yes, I do recognize a lot of those fabrics. I think you had a great idea attaching them at 6 places. It looks great (and better than 4) that way. And I love your little log cabin. I've been playing around with some, too. But mine will probably just be turned into little pin cushions.
I have never seen them done like this, sewn on 6 sides. It makes sense though. I never liked the big holes either.
I do recognize some of thise fabrics. I think we can call them vintage now! I have a yo yo coverlet that I made in the 90s. I call the colors salt water taffy. I, like you, had a bag of circles that I carried around everywhere too. I love the idea of a quilt at the foot of the bed instead of covering the bed.
I LOVE your yo-yo quilt and the Grandmother's Flower Garden layout! My sister gave me a yo-yo maker a few years ago, do I see a yo-yo quilt in my future?
Your yo yo quilt is amazing. I love the thought of you carring around a bag of circles while you play taxi driver to all your children's activites.
I too have a coverlet so that I can change out colorful quilts as I choose. :-)
I've never had patience enough to make that many yo-yos...what a wonderful memory quilt!
I like your setting for your yo-yo's .... and that is a lot of circles; but a good way to use up bits and pieces of fabric!
I do recognize one of them...the pink with the blue rose. So fun! I love what you've done. The yo-yo quilt is absolutely awesome. You also give me hope on some of my "lifetime" projects.
I love your yo-yo quilt, and the sweet memories you will have forever of your kids. Wow 1100 of those puppies, it was surely a labor of love....
Wendy
Oh my Oh my Karen!!! This is just soooo up my alley,,,,,but, did I hear the words "years"? You carried a bag of yoyo's around for years...wah, wah....I know I know, good things come to those who wait, or to those who tote around hand work for like seams f-o-r-e-v-e-r!!
The way you stitched them together is very interesting, the way I have seen others and the old vintage ones seem kind of fragile with just the 4 sides sewn together. I am soooo anxious to have one across the foot of my bed like yours! And you BETTER grab this from a burning house!!!!!! HA!
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