My SIL has made several yo-yo quilts. She puts a sashing, binding, and backing on them.
She has also made cushions for a doll rocker and pillows.
She originally hand whip stitched them together, but after a while they start coming apart. She now machine sews them together, just catching about 1/4 inch or so of 2 yo-yo's.
I have the regular yo-yo template and really like it. They sell about 4 - 6 different ones. They were very popular a couple of years ago, but some places are running out of them and not re-ordering them.
Yo-yo's are a great take along project!