Mk1 Yoyos

Back when I started yoyoing, I was inspired by this post on Throwcafe about crochet. I’ve since picked up crochet as a side hobby, and beyond making the pop-culture sensation “baby yoda”, I developed my own variant yoyo bag that was included in the Diffraction 2 release.

I recently downloaded the information about this yoyo bag from my brain to a PDF. Crochet patterns are a type of programming, including comments, loops, commands, and other syntax that should be familiar to folks who are computer-inclined. This pattern took about an hour the first time I made it, when I was new to crochet.

Back in May I started working on an ultra-wide 55mm x 55mm design, with a 55 gram weight, a mathematical obsession with a single number that would show up repeatedly in the yoyo. I eventually scaled the weight up to 62g, refined the profile, and put it on the back burner while getting the Diffraction 2 ready to go over the summer.

In September I ordered prototypes and they went over well with the very small Mk1 team. This yoyo has a distinct feel that results from its broad rims, efficient weight placement, and low overall mass. Jack told me after trying it, “I’m loving the wide boi”, and frankly, I love it too, though it took quite a while to pick a final name. Finally we found “Umbra”, the darkest part of a shadow cast by a solid object, which ties into Mk1’s theme of light and optics.

The Umbra will be available in January in two different fade colorways. We’re all excited to see what you think of them.

A little while ago I reached out to Jack to see if he’d like to try the Diffraction v2, which is a tuned-up version of my little yoyo project I started last year. He liked it, so we decided to work together.

Get the Diffraction 2 on Yoyoexpert.

The Diffraction v2 is an update to the small-run original Diffraction that I released last year. We’re sold out on this site but they will be appearing on one of our favorite yoyo-themed websites soon.