No idle hands when Smith makes yo-yos
By BURLON PARSONS bparsons@journal-spectator.com

Staff Photo by Burlon Parsons Evelyn Smith, 86, shows a finished yo-yo and the size circle of cloth it is made from. They are then joined together for projects.

The little three-inch rounds of cloth are called yo-yos and Evelyn Smith learned to make them during World War II.

If she makes enough of them they can be used to create bedspreads, pillow covers or even pot holders.

Now at 86, Smith said she was introduced to the yo-yos when her and two other wives made them while their husbands worked in the Houston ship yards during World War II.

"They were easy to make and we recycled our worn out clothes to make them," Smith said. "Even the childrens' clothes which could no longer be patched were cut into circles to make yo-yos."

How big around was he cloth circle in when it was cut out? "Oh, I don't know," Smith answered. "We used a saucer for our pattern."

The edges of the cirlces are gathered with a running stitch forming a ruffled opening.

Pairs of yo-yos are stitched together and then more are added to form a square.

Staff Photo by Burlon Parsons Smith shows a rectangle made with yo-yos which have been attached to one another.

Squares are used to produce different products.

Two months into recovering from a broken hip, Smith had her family bring her sewing materials to the hospital so she could continue to make yo-yos.

Once the Morning Star Apartments resident has a box of yo-yos made, she will make something out of them.

She produces things as simple as pot holders to king-sized bed spreads and even made a U.S. flag out of yo-yos.

"Anything which is rectagular or square can be made with yo-yos," Smith said. "The bigger items do take a little more time."

She said a king-sized bed spread takes 54-yards of cloth made into 3,500 yo-yos.

She has made 10 that size for her grandchildren. That's 35,000 yo-yos to complete those projects alone.

A regular bed spread takes 45.5-yards of cloth and 2,916 yoyos. She says a half-yard of material will make 28 3-inch yo-yos.

Smith has two children, 10 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchilden and four great-great-granchildren which keep her busy making projects.

Staff Photo by Burlon Parsons The experienced hands of Evelyn Smith deftly makes a yoyo using a running stitch and gathering as she goes.

Smith even makes them stuffed animals and nativity sets.

She also makes extra yo-yo items which she sends to area craft shows.

When she's not making yo-yos she's doing word search puzzles.

"I just don't like to be idle," Smith said. "And if I'm not sewing or working puzzles I make cakes for our community room coffees here at Morning Star."

Smith has just learned how to make square yo-yos.

Now she's learning to turn those into craft projects.