i had some wooden ones my DH varnished them and put them on my fan&light as pulls

This would never do for the modern child BUT: My Mother made us children a train using any round cardboard box (such as oatmeal) and wood thead spools as wheels. I believe the "cars" were hooked to each other with yarn. I do remember the smoke stack on the engine was also a spool. I loved that train and my sister and I played with it for years and years. To be honest, I think most children today would find it rather silly.

I'll bet they would love it. My great grandchildren, 6 and 4, love the computer and computer games, but they love sidewalk chalk, sand pile and sand castles just as well. And all the hand push cars and dolls I have in their toy closet are just about worn out. froggyintexas

Mine are almost always the same size. I save them, then, during the holidays when I do a lot of fudge and other yummy things that need to spend time in the refrigreator, I put the spools between the cookie sheets to let me stack 4 or 5 sheets on one shelf. Works great.

I give mine to the preschool teacher and they also use them at the day care with a plastic yarn needle and yarn. Teaches them coordination and they love the necklaces.

Carol J.

If they are bigger, I use them to wrap my binding around when I am sewing it to the quilt. My machine has a vertical thread spool holder in the front (it is one of those that you can put a spool if needed so the pin comes out) and I can put the spool on the pin and unroll the binding without having it hang around my neck or bounce around in my lap.