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How to Sew a Fabric Granny Circle

Granny circles made from fabric are often called fabric yo-yos. In the '30s and '40s, crafters would make bedspreads by stitching together hundreds of these little circles. They are a great way to use up scraps of cotton fabric. Use the circles to make borders or flower patterns on sweaters and jackets or sew them together to make scarves or table runners. Velvet scraps also make elegant yo-yos that can be used to trim hats or sewn together to make evening bags.

Things You'll Need

Fabric
Scissors
Ruler
Needle
Thread

Instructions

- 1
  Cut a circle of fabric twice as wide as you want the finished yo-yo to be.
- 2
  Thread your needle with matching thread and tie a knot 2 inches from the end.
- 3
  Fold down a quarter-inch on the wrong side of the fabric circle. Just press the fold between your fingers or on a hard surface. You do not need to iron it. Sew a running stitch along the fold. Make your stitches about one-eighth-inch long. Smaller stitches will form a smaller open circle in the center of the granny circle. Larger stitches will form a larger circle.
- 4
  Grasp the two ends of the thread and pull them to gather the edges of the circle together to form the yo-yo. It is best to cross the two threads and pull one with each hand. Knot the threads together with a double knot and cut off the excess thread.
- 5
  Press down the center of the gathered hole to mash the granny circle flat. Keep the hole centered on the circle.

Sewing