I have a Christmas pattern of a Santa head with a big beard made of white yo yo's. It is so cute.

I have all four of the round ones.I used the extra large/yellow one to make my first bedspread.it took 2016yo-yo's. my problem is stopping. I like your hint about putting a black mark to show where to start and stop. can I ask where you found your Christmas pattern.

Im not the one who said they made the Santa but I have made several of them. www.happyhollowdesigns.com. It is called Vintage Santa. I made mine with off white yo yo's.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-134980-1.htm :mrgreen:

Love the yoyo makers too. In a recent quilt mag the cover had a quilt with yoyo sewed onto strips in vertical rows, then these are sewed together and it is a plethora of yoyos!!!! So...that is going to be my winter handwork project....using the large yoyo maker and scraps....and I too am using handquilting thread or upholstery thread. I to not cut and knot the thread for each one though, I just work off the spool, do the yoyo, tug on both ends, scootch the thing to the needle end of the thread, tie a square knot and leave a long enough tail so that I will then take that two thread tail and attach it to these fabric strips when I get to that point......BTW according to the directions the yy are then hand tacked around the edges so they lay rather flat....Let's hope I finish this one!!!!!!!

Check out http://www.marcialaytondesigns.com click on books and patterns and go down to the 3rd item and on. She has some great patterns for wall hangings using yoyos. She is based in Tampa, FL. I also got some great ideas for fabric flowers made and used in arrangements using the yoyo makers from Judy Hansen's shop in Deland, FL. http://www.quiltshopofdeland.com I have also noticed that they are showing fabric flowers on everything in fashion. Clipped onto bags, as brooches, hair accessories, even on shoes. With all the embellishments available there are some great gift ideas for those that wouldn't necessarily appreciate a quilted item.