Recycled cone thread holder
 

I saw this recycle tip in my internet travels today and thought I would share it with QB members. You cut a hole big enough in an empty pop bottle to put in your cone but thread the thread up through the hole with your hand first. The thread coming out of the hole is a nice height to go to your machine thread guide.[ATTACH=CONFIG]572023[/ATTACH]

I am using a wide mouth mason jar but I like the height of the bottle better..great idea!!

Good idea but I never have luck with make do thread holders. The weighted ones from CT seem to work the best for me. The one time I used a mug it fell over hit the floor and busted.

Clever idea-but I think I will keep using the one I purchased from Superior threads. It is weighted and stays 'put'.

Great idea tartan! If you glued it to a base that made it heavier it would be even better to hold it in place.

When my old serger took a dump, I took the thread holder and metal guide unit off the top of it before discarding it. I put the unit onto a heavy wood base to hold it steady. It works good, but finding just the right spot to place it behind the machine for it to feed right is a little tricky.

thanks for the tip

That would make a great "make-do" idea for a thread holder for cones if you didn't remember to bring one.
I have a stand up paper towel holder that I taped a tongue depressor to the "arm" that projects out. Then I taped two unfolded paper clip to make the thread guides. It works awesome, but I don't always take it with me when I travel to sew.

great idea! I have a friend that uses her water bottle--it has a plastic loop on the top that you use to hang it on a belt, etc and she sets the bottle behind her machine and runs the thread through the loop! I use a ceramic mug.

When I used to teach needlepoint and crochet to elementary school students, we took soda bottles and made them yarn holders. The yarn came out the top of the bottle very easily, and -- best of all -- the yarn stayed clean, The bottle kept it away from little hands which had not been washed before using it.

Awesome idea! Thanks for the picture and sharing this idea.

I like the idea. If more weight is needed, maybe Velcro it to a piece of wood. That way it is easier to load and transport.

But if you glued it to a base how would you get the spool in? I guess you could cut the bottle around the circumference and then fit it back together.

It definitely need more weight. The best way would be to pour something into the bottle. Cement, plaster of Paris, stones or sand in a plastic bag? ? ?

I can't see how the thread got in there, but it seems the bottle has been cut and fitted back together; the way we do a mosquito trap.

Thank you for sharing!

Do you have a photo so we can 'see' your holder, sounds like a good idea.

Love it! Thanks for posting.

Another idea is a tall olive jar plus a paper clip taped to the end of your sewing machine. Drop thread into jar, bring end of thread through the paper clip "loop" and then thread machine normally. Works like a charm.