What Do You Do with Your Empty Thread Spools?

1200 metres of sewing, represented in spools

During the year I have gathered a collection of empty thread spools. I have been reluctant to throw these out as they are a representation of how much sewing I have achieved this year (over a kilometre's worth!) but they are now starting to fill up my tin of threads. So, what can you do with your empty plastic spools?

  • Recycle them! 

  • Give them to kids to play with - suggestions I've read about include threading them onto string, printing with them and using them to blow bubbles.
 Thread spool snowflakes. Image from here.

  • Give them to your cat to play with:

My cats were pretty interested in the spools. You could also hang them on a piece of string and tie it to something, like the back of a wooden chair

Image from Blueberry Junkie

  • Make a back massager, using this tutorial - no pictures sadly, but please send me a photo if you make one!
  • Make Christmas decorations, like this garland:
 
Image from Maria's Quilt Scraps. Made using this Tutorial.

  • Use them to organise ribbons, bias tape or pieces of elastic:

This was the idea I chose, and it is perfect for keeping things neat in your sewing box. Just secure the end with a pin.

Have you got any other ideas of how to make use of empty thread spools?

K x

14 comments:

  1. I saw a great tutorial on using empty spools to hand circular knitting needles: http://pinterest.com/pin/144959681725628999/

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  2. Great idea Melizza! That would make them so much easier to find.

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  3. Some great ideas there! Love what you did with them.
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  4. I've got an old wooden cotton reel hung with red ribbon on the Christmas tree.
    Well time post though because there's 7 (not so pretty) plastic reels waiting to be used for something.
    No cats or small children here so I'm going with the ribbon storage idea.

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  5. Brilliant idea to use them for ribbon! I'm going to do that too!

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  6. Ohhh thanks for this.. I was growing them away but I think this is a great way to reduce waist

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  7. Ahhhh! I usually just throw mine in the recycling bin, but it's such a great idea to use them for bias tape!

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  8. Good one. I'll be using that ribbon organising idea!

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  9. Love that idea of storing the ribbon and tape on the old spools - thanks!!! And my kits would def love to get hold of an old spool to play with!

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  10. My cat LOVES those empty spools! But organizing ribbons with them is a really good idea. Thanx! :) xx

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  11. Great tips, Kestrel.

    hugs
    Gerry

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  12. Hi Kestrel, I used one empty spool at the center of a Ferris Wheel! You can see it here: http://www.remodelandolacasa.com/2012/01/accessorizing-cheap-way.html I even used your picture at the top! let me know if its ok.

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  13. Hello, I don’t know if this thread is still active but as for me I am using the Empty Gutermann thread spools On my serger. I buy only one big cone of thread and rewind the empty spools to use with all my sewing machines at the same time, 4 on the serger and 3 on the overlocker. I am having the hardest time finding the empty spools. If anyone would like to sell them, I would be very grateful, Annick

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Thanks for reading and commenting - I love to hear what you have to say