Mike and I were out antiquing recently and I found an absolute treasure! We do a lot more looking than buying (our home is getting full), but occasionally I just can’t say “no”. Here’s the story:
Fabric Yo Yo’s have always been popular with quilters. In my collection I have 2 antique coverlets (they’re not called quilts because they do not have the traditional “3 layers, held together with stitches”). This first one is put together with “squares” framed with a purple “sashing”.
I love this piece. The placement of the yo yo’s is rather unique and the “grape” clusters look wonderful hanging down the sides of a bed.
The other one is quite different. I was looking for a vintage quilt with a dog on it for one of my lectures and this one barked right out at me:
What makes it unique is that the yo yo’s are attached to a muslin back with tufts of wool yarn. The doggie is stuffed and has 3-D ears. They just don’t make em like this any more 😀 !
Clover came out with wonderful yo yo makers a few years ago and there was a big surge in popularity at that time. On our Sew We Go project, when we cruised through France, we used the yo yo maker to create a cluster of grapes on a quilter’s arm chair caddy.
It was Wendy’s idea … and very clever!
About ten years ago I adopted this clown from an antique store in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. His body is all yo yo’s and I just couldn’t resist him. He’s been sitting on a shelf ever since.
This brings me up to my latest find. A yo yo girl!
Isn’t she delightful? I think all of her yo yo’s are made from men’s silk neckties, and where the clown has pom pom hands and feet – she has bells. I just knew they were perfect for each other!
They now share a shelf in “Sommer’s room”, and they’re a sweet couple of yo-yo’s!
Do you have any unusual yo yo items? Please send me pictures – I’d love to share them.
And just a quick reminder – the Floss Frenzy challenge is due February 28th. Here in Wisconsin, we are enjoying the perfect weather for sitting and stitching under a cozy lap sized quilt! So you have over a month to do just that and send me a picture. Remember – there will be a blog quilt show of these pictures – with prizes!!!
Kathy says
Wow! That yo-yo clown sure brings back memories! When I was a child (50 + years ago!) I had a children’s book about a mother making a yo-yo clown for her little girl. It looked just like the one you have. I wonder if it was inspired by the same book!?
Sheila says
The yo yo’s were wonderful. Reading your blog is always a Monday morning after breakfast activity. Today’s message was specially a “thought and feeling” message. Have had lots of good feelings doing yo yos. Reminds me to show the technique to my “little” family members.
Bonnie Camp says
My grandma had a yo-yo coverlet for her double bed. It was not lined, but the details showed well because she only used white bedsheets. bonnie