When I was a young kid, we weren't very well off, so my grandma made some kind of little "man" with them; a large spool for the head and body, small spools for the arms and legs. I think the center holes were threaded with elastic, because I could make it bounce and jump. I don't know how she put it together, but I spent many hours on the floor, playing with my toy while she quilted. She would sell her quilts for extra money, and when the spool were empty, she'd make more of the "thread men" for us to play with. I hadn't thought of that for years, so thanks for bringing this memory out today :)