I have been making yo-yos for many years as I'm sure all of you have and when you need many of them for a project it can become a rather boring task.

The very talented instructor of my sewing class taught a project using yo-yos and she had a yo yo maker. I've always thought that it was not necessary to have a tool to make one of the easiest pieces of hand sewing around. However when she demonstrated the large yo yo maker I thought how very cool to have all your stitches nice and evenly spaced. Yes I purchased one.

This morning I went to work on my Dresden Plate topper and thought how cool it would be to use my new "toy" to create the center. The blades had turned out so beautifully, they lay very flat against the back and I was very pleased at how my project was going. I had cut out the circle for the center so all I had to do was put it in the yo yo maker and stitch. How fantastic to have this tool and have all my stitches even... So I stitched with anticipation at having the perfect yo yo to place in the center of my Dresden Plate.

Then I decided to look at the instructions that came with my cool new toy. Looking at the instructions before using it never entered my little pea brain. I mean how hard could it be? Put the fabric across the plate and slip the disk on top to hold the fabric in place for stitching and off you go. Right? The bold print caught my eye that said to be sure not to sew from the wrong side of the unit because if you do you will be unable to remove the disk from the plate. Yes, my fellow quilters, I had sewn the disk into my yo yo. I was able to remove the disk with some careful pulling; however that ain't how it was suppose to work.

I am laughing at myself for doing something so dumb and I just wanted to share my stupidity with you so perhaps if you're having a "bad hair day" you will get a chuckle out of this.

So now I'm going back downstairs and make the center for my lovely Dresden Plate Topper.

A side note. The yo yo maker is very cool and when used properly will yield a nice piece of work.

So laugh at me or with me, but please have fun with my story.

Laughing with you (rofl).

I'll laugh with you :) Thanks for sharing.

oh no, rofl

Don't you HATE it when that happens!! LOL

And here I thought I was the only one guilty of not seeing things right before my eyes. I'm laughing with you.

Laughting with you. I too have the yo-yo maker and even after using it a lot - it's still easy to start on the wrong side. At least for me.

Oh how funny. I honestly couldn't help but laugh at loud! I would have done the same thing. Actually I did buy a yo yo maker a couple of months ago and just haven't gotten around to using it, but rest assured, I Will read the directions before I attempt it.

I really thought I was the only one that could make such a mistake with such a simple item !

Thanks !

:lol: :lol:

Oh my goodness! Are we related???? That is exactly the kind of thing I do!!!! So great you can laugh at yourself. Where is a pic of this dresden plate quilt???

DH gets angry @ me for not reading instructions
YOU are NOT Alone!!!! hehe

Will post a picture. It really is turning out nicely. Thanks for laughing with me.

Yup...I had a tub of yo yo's and they recently became the ctr for my Dresden's...SEW SIMPLE

I have to laugh at myself, if only to drown out the sound of everyone else laughing at me. At least you did read the directions, just a little late.

Yes, I really like that method for the centers. There is a terrific tutorial at the Missouri Quilt Co on making Dresdens and the way she did it was very cool. So right now I'm on a Dresden kick. Sometimes I am like a little kid and get stuck on one thing until the novelty wears off.

A tub of yo yos? Fantastic, they are so handy for so many crafts.

Laughing with you also. How many times have you put a block together and noticed--as you are patting yourselt on the back--that one piece is wrong side up? Been there done that too. Sister Quilter.
Sue

I have all the sizes of the yoyo makers....they are great...but because I don't use them on a daily basis, I have to read the directions "carefully". Now, clover has made the same idea for making different size flowers, have those too and they are fun, fun, fun.......cute to add to things........
BTW I have made several Dresden Plates and have never used a yoyo for the center, just appliqued down a circle....When you use the yoyo as center, do you have to tack down around the edges, I am guessing you do, but thought I would ask.

Yes you do, but using the yo yo technique I like that I have the edge already turned under for me so I just press, pin and tack. Until I watched that tutorial on Missouri Quilt Co I used just a circle as the patterns call for, but this lady made it look sooooooo easy I just had to try it. Usually I watch the tutorial videos and they make everything look so easy and then I try to do the same thing and whoa Nelly. This was one time when it really was a great hint and explained so clearly even I understood.

OMG yes. The very first set of quilted pot holders I made I was so proud of myself as they looked so cute. Then I looked on my cutting table and wondered why I had an extra piece of batting. My seam ripper is my best friend. If I ever lose my sense of humor I'm going to be in big trouble.