These yo-yo headbands, brooches, and hairpins were the sixth and final camp craft I had planned. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time for them at girls camp last June, so we’re saving the supplies for next year. In these samples, I hand-stitched them to a stretchy headband, pin backs, and a bobby pin. The brooches look great pinned on a scarf or hat, and the headbands are cute alone or in multiples.

After you make a few yo-yos, I’m sure you won’t want to limit yourself to just these accessories. Try sewing them onto a tote bag, purse, hat, belt, scarf, or shoes. Or a sweater, t-shirt, tank top, or socks. Or sew them onto pillows, pillow cases, towels, quilts—you get the idea. I just made small yo-yos for these projects, but you can make them any size you want. Have fun!

Special thanks to all my friends who spent hours cutting circles with me. We had fun chatting and working together. Don’t worry, ladies, our work will pay off next year!

UPDATE 7/2011: I just added the photos above from this year’s girl’s camp. The yo-yos were a success. For an alternate craft using most of the same supplies, check out our fabric flower headbands.

How to make yo-yo headbands, brooches, and hairpins

Supplies and tools

• fabric
• buttons
• scissors
• needle & thread
• pin backs—available at Michael’s
• bobby pins
• headbands—I used Goody Stayput headbands from Walmart
• pencil, pen, or erasable fabric marker
• cups, bowls, etc. as circle templates

1. Trace your circle template onto clean, ironed fabric with a pen or pencil. Cut out the circle. If you are cutting many circles (like we did), use thinner fabric and fold it so you can cut 2-4 circles at a time.

2. Tie a knot at the end of your thread. Fold over the fabric about 1/4 inch as you sew around the outside edge, spacing the stitches about 1/4 inch apart. Sew all the way around. Don’t knot it at the end. (As you can see, I’m not a yo-yo pro, but you and I will get better with practice.)

3. Pull the thread tight like a drawstring pouch.

4. Flatten the yo-yo and sew on a button. Sew through the fabric and button 4-6 times. If you prefer to go buttonless, tie off your thread by hiding a knot between the pleats. Don’t cut the thread yet.

5. Run your needle through the center of the yo-yo and out the back.

6. Sew the yo-yo to a pin back or bobby pin by stitching around the pin several times on each side. Finally tie off the thread by sewing back through your previous stitches and through the loop a couple times. Cut your thread. If you’re attaching just one yo-yo, sew it in the center (as shown). If you plan to sew on multiple yo-yos, stitch closer to the edge of the yo-yo.

7. For a two-yo-yo pin, make another yo-yo and stitch it to the pin next the the first. When sewing to a headband, keep the yo-yos evenly spaced and overlap them as much as possible to anticipate the stretch when you put the headband on.

8. This is a finished 2-yo-yo pin. This pin back could also accommodate a third yo-yo, if you wish.