The Suffolk Puff

I would never claim to know eveything

about crafts.  In fact with my addiction to,

obsession with, recent introduction to

Pinterest, I learn at least one new thing

everyday.  And that's where I read about

the Suffolk Puff.  Many of you may know

it as a Yo-yo, that's what I've always called

it, I have heard it referred to as a rosette

as well, but a Suffolk Puff ~ never!

When I was a little girl, I'm thinking about

7 or 8, we were at our relatives house for

a holiday.  My older cousin had a girlfriend

over who had on a vest somewhat like the

one in the middle in the pattern above.  Even

at that age I had an interest in fashion and

asked her about it and she told me she made

it.  Wow!  I told my Mom on the ride home

and she said, 'Oh yeah, it was made from

yo-yo's, we used to make them when we were

young."  I felt like my Mother held the secrets

to the universe and I wanted her to share.

She did, and my life with the yo-yo began.

I still use yo-yo's.  Here they are in my

Pursuit of Scrappiness quilt pattern.

They are a big part of my

All Stars pattern.

They can be used in crafts.

They could make an interesting garland

for an old-fashioned Christmas tree.

You can stuff them to make jewelry. 

This was going to be a necklace or

a bracelet and the first photo showed

a brooch.

How do you make them, you may ask?

Nowadays, you can buy a tool to make

them and I use this when I want the

opening to have a finished edge.  These

tools come in variuos sizes and shapes.

You can make them as hearts and ovals

as well as circles.

Generally, I'm pretty old school when

it comes to yo-yo's.  I make them the

way my Mom taught me.  Draw a circle

on fabric, I usually use a small plate as

a template and cut out.  Thread a needle

and knot both ends together so you have

a double thread.  Take a tiny first stitch

and take another in the same spot, you

don't want the knot to pull through the

fabric.  Now stitch all the way around the

circle about 1/8" from edge.  I use a 3/8"

stitch when I make mine.  A good tip is

the larger your stitch, the smaller the hole

will be while the smaller the stitch, the

larger the hole.  Since I usually finish

my yo-yo's with a button, the raw edge

is covered.

Pull on the thread and gather the fabric

use your fingers to make the fabric settle

nicely and knot the thread firmly.  Add

a button as embellishment.

Make sure to pass your knowledge on

to future generations. Thanks Mum!