Hello! I am planning to make my very first quilt. I found an example of what I'm going for, but I'm trying to figure out how it was sewn. Here is a link to the item:

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/...&templateType=

At first glance, I thought it was a yo yo. But if you zoom over the detailed images, you'll see that it is completely closed in the center. All the yo yo tutorials I've seen always leave the center open.

Can anyone tell how this was sewn? Any suggestions would be very appreciated!

It looks to me like the yo yo's were sewn with the opening face down.

They sure look like yo-yos to me. Take note that it said DRY CLEAN ONLY, as without being sewn securely on a backing, instead of just tacked on edges, they will come apart in the wash.

Also, do you realize how heavy yo-yo quilts are? Maybe you should start with a smaller size before committing to a large one. I'd hate to see a newbie turned off to quilting because of a pattern choice. Yo-Yo quilts are a commitment any time you clean them. I learned to hate the one I had, and it ended up looking pretty in an armoire. I'm sure my ex probably threw it out, rather than re-tie all those things.

Maybe make the same look, by using appliqued circles? It would be easier to wash :wink:

It says it's "hand twisted rosettes". So, I'm thinking it's maybe a yo-yo block, they gather the middle, then twist it somehow. The middle facing up.

It does look like some type of yo-yo. And it is a big commitment to take on. they are beautiful when finished though. I have one here that my MIL made.

Make a pillow top/covering first - then see how well you still like doing it.

Here's a link (probably one of many) that might give you some clues:

http://quilting.about.com/od/piecing...yoquilts_3.htm

It sure is pretty. Looks like yo-yos to me. In the enlarged images you can see a tiny hole in the middle. Also in enlarged images there is a backing and the yo-yo top in tied or tacked to the back. I can't figure out how the yo-yos were made with that tiny of hole, maybe one of those new yo-yo making gadgets was used.
I have made yo-yos and the little ones the centers can be pulled really tight and the hole is very small, but larger the yo-yo the bigger the hole...anyway for me that has been the case

Wow, thank you all for your replies! I'm getting some ideas. Perhaps I will start with a pillow case. ;) It looks like they also used a lighter fabric so I'm wondering if perhaps that makes the hole smaller as well. Thanks again!

The hole also depends on how much large you cut the circle.

[quote=MadQuilter
The hole also depends on how much large you cut the circle.[/quote]
Yes, the larger the circle the larger the whole. Also how far from the turndown edge you do the running sticth to gather it up and how tightly you pulled the thread.

It looks to me that it is large yoyo's sewn on a backing. Maybe someone elso has a different take on it. GOOD LUCK!!!!

It looks to me that it is large yoyo's sewn on a backing. Maybe someone elso has a different take on it. GOOD LUCK!!!!

I just saw a similar quilt like this somewhere this past week. The yo-yos were open and laid side by side, and there was machine stitching right through the opening all the way down the rows. (Hope this makes sense.) I can't remember where I saw this......anyway.

It's a very different yo yo quilt. I like it a lot. I would make the yo yo but before gathering it up I would sew the back of the yo yo on to the background fabric and then pull the sting to gather it up. That way you won't see the stitching at all and the yo yo will be secure.

It looks to me like they are just pulled really, really tight so that the center hole is almost completely closed.

the yo-yos look like a variety of different sizes, too. that would give it an interesting visual effect.