I usually use them up in smaller projects. If it is only a little bit, my kids just LOVE to take off the thread.

I, too just use them up in my next pieceing project. Dark thread with dark fabric and light thread with light fabric. I have never had any trouble of guilt doing this :)

I keep many colors for my apparel machine, but for my piecing machine, I only have 7 bobbins so I empty them by using them as top thread. The 301 isn't the easier machine to change the bobbin on, so I tend to not use them there.

Since I only have 6 bobbins for my vintage Pfaff, I have to have a system. Black, white, and off-white each has its own bobbin. The other 3 bobbins have to hold everything else, so I use them up on odd projects and even though I have read somewhere that it shouldn't be done, I will sometimes wind a different color thread on top of a bobbin that still has some thread on it.

I will use them for piecing, usually darker colors. I will use them for piecing, I don't worry if they really match. If I need a bobbin and I'm using lighter thread than on the bobbin, I will pull it off and throw away. I have lots of threads and don't mind throwing away a few feet every so often.

Wow, I love all your crafty re-use ideas. I also have one, if I have to pull off a bobbin, I cut it in smaller pieces and put it out for the birds. But, I really like the idea of using up for scrappy's and basting. I really don't thread baste my quilts. But, just in case, it's a really great re-use idea. I get such great ideas from all you quilters. A big thank you.

BellaBoo, that is a truly interesting idea. Do you have any photos of what they look like? I'm intrigued.

I use mine in my hand sewing kit for like making yo yo's .

I like that idea, too! I've been considering keeping all my thread cut-offs and using them in an art quilt.

Lots of blocks can be done with any old color. Periodically, I use up 'old' bobbins on a project (but not the quilting). I also have a lot of bobbins.

I don't even close my eyes. I have my natural colored thread and white thread (which I use for putting my quilts together)down to the very end, but the colored thread I really don't worry about that much, mainly because I only use it for binding and sewing down my label. Most of my colored thread is from people who have either quit sewing or have leftovers, so I am loaded with colored thread. I generally use most of it up except for the tail end and then I throw it out. Edie