What does one do with hundreds of spools of 100% cotton thread from years of collecting and inheriting thread from a family member. It seems it breaks easy. I have every color and size and they all all mercidized 100 % cotton. I have four shoe boxes of them. It breaks easy in my sewing machine and use only poylester/cotton thread now.
So what can you do with these cotton threads?

eBay, baby! Take some pictures and sell them. Or sell them on here. That way someone will use them, and you'll have a little extra room and a little extra money!

I bite the bullet and try to use them but once I started sewing from a cone rather than a spool I can't seem to stop.
Someone who hand pieces might like to have them, the breakage may be less with hand stitching. ?. Don't know.

old quilter: Love it!

I have a box of wooden spools. Mine are the same as your they are old and break. Most of them were my grandmothers. So I got a clear lamp that you can put stuff in and dropped the spools in there. I put the lamp in the sewing room. It really adds something and I can look and imagine how my grandmother would sit and sew using those items.

I also have many needle cases. Many many years ago businesses would advertise on pin or needles paper cases. Some are big as a 4 X 5 with the logo cut out on the front. Very interesting. I have over a dozen of them. I am thinking I might frame them in the sewing room.

I use 100% cotton if it is at least 50 wt or higher for hand applique.

I did the same thing with a bunch of spools I inherited from an Aunt that passed away. I added an old tape measure wound around thru the spools and dumped a bunch of old buttons in too. It turned out to be a really cool lamp.

Framed needle cases would make neat sewing room decor!

i have a bunch of those old spools of thread too, would anybody like to have some of them? i'll just give them away. just pm me your address and say how many you want and what colors, i have lots of the small ones mostly i think.
Donna

I am looking for a vintage 40's 50's thread rack right now so I can start to fill it up with the correct thread. I have several spools of thread some dating back to the early 1900's that I have found with my machines when I bought them.

It is just something else to collect for me!!

Billy

I would use them as a collectors item, displaying them in some way. If the thread breaks easily, I would not attempt to use it.. But it sure would be pretty displayed using some of the other's suggestions :D:D:D

Sounds like the thread is rotten. Use it for a decorative purpose.

Thread does age and when it does it breaks. I wouldn't use it for sewing anything.

Sadly I don't think the thread is good any longer :cry: If you try to sell them be sure and mention that the thread is weak and breaks.

A Fibre Artist might be interested in them. They always seem to find a way to use up thread scraps. We use to save our thread scraps for a guild member who was also a Fibre Artist. I realize you have alot of thread, but, maybe someone like that could use it. Or you could donate it to a community centre that holds various craft/activities for senior groups.

I love this idea.

If anyone wants my baggie of old threads, send me a pm & they are yours. Crafting ideas are great but in my small space I love passing on supplies!

I have seen lamps like this and they are unique but we don't need another lamp. I will donate them to the local thrift store and state that the thread is weak and breaks easily. I do not have the heart to just throw them away. Your idea was great though.

Love the idea of selling them, but be sure to be clear about any issues (aged, etc) - I'd hate to buy it and find out it breaks easily, etc.

use them for decoration only--easy breaking thread has dry rotted and will only cause problems trying to use it. It does not matter if it is by hand or machine. I had some from my Granny that were wooden spools that I used as "feet" on a few small display cases. You could also arrange them in a shadow box for a really cool wall decoration for your sewing room.

You could give them away - possibly to a nursing home if there are residents that do hand sewing. If they break in your machine, they'll most likely break in other people's machines so I would make sure to let people know that. Donate them to the Goodwill, YMCA, etc.

thanks for the tips. I often thought about using the wooden spools for something. those i think I will keep and eliminate the smaller spools. there is an artist who is interested in the other ones as she is a fibre artist.
thanks again

I have seen cute dools with spool bodies & cinnamon stick arms & legs!

If you have a sewing room you can make a creative art display of them. Now that would be a really great eye catcher not to mention how more creative you will have become.

If any of the spools are wood, I'd simply throw them out, for that indicates that they're quite old. I've done this and don't feel bad once they're gone. Besides you're punishing yourself when you use them in your machine only to have them break. Just say "Bye, bye."
Madelaide

I found a couple of clear, glass "dishes". one if for starting tulips, etc in the house.other is one of those big, square glass jars that something came in. fill 'em up ! set on a shelf, they are great for display. fill a sewing basket with them,pretty glass dishes. they look great. I have one
square jar filled with old rick-rack.

HI would it help to use thread heaven. Swipe it through the thread heaven and then using your fingers from top to bottom swipe it 4-6 times

I agree. Don't let these bad spools scare you away from cotton thread. I use Aurifil 100% cotton, and it's wonderful!

thank you for the tips. I just found a large plastic snack container that I plan to use and fill it up. I can make a lamp from it also. Just have to get the parts. So I have another challenge and craft to do but it will give me alot of memories.

[frecklestweety]What does one do with hundreds of spools of 100% cotton thread from years of collecting and inheriting thread from a family member. It seems it breaks easy.
So what can you do with these cotton threads?

A friend of mine arranged all sorts of threads on washaway stabilizer and then heavily quilted it over a layer of very fine netting. It was many years ago at QBL; I think she used a thin batt and lining, if you're interested I'll ask her.

Throw away the thread, not the spools if they are wood.

You guys, I would love some of the old spools of 100% cotton thread. It would be better if they were not "rotten". Cotton thread is not as strong as poly but some machines work better with cotton.

If you are offering, I'll take some. Would be glad to pay something or postage at least.

Actually they are worth more to a collector if the thread is still on there.

Billy

The wood spools are worth saving not the thread though except for decoration or collectors. There will never be wood spools again.

Amen to that! If anyone has some they want to get rid of I'll take them off your hands.

I will not buy them unless they have the thread on them. You have to have something to show for the color that was on there. And if you have an original display rack its like collecting baseball cards, you have to fill the empty spots!!

Billy

I'm not a collector old sewing stuff so all the wooden spools I have are emptied of the thread. My granddaughter strung them together with yarn, stacked them, rolled them, and had a great time with my box of wooden spools just like my kids did when the spools belonged to my grandmother. :-D

Hi,
I have decided to keep my spools and make that lamp you mentioned. Do you have a picture of it that you could send. I found a large plastic container that had snacks in it and would be perfect to use and easy to drill for the center rod. Maybe I will lucky to find that clear lamp as there are alot of thrift stores and antique stores in my area. In the meantime, I thought I'd hold onto the thread. I have some really old wooden spools and the little ones are all wood which will really make it nice.
Mary Ellen
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