I read the first 4 pages and didn't see a duplicate of what I do with them. I wind my binding up on them as I'm pressing it; then run a ribbon thru the hole and hang it around my neck as I'm sewing the binding on my quilt. It doesn't get tangled or in my way as I sew; I also only unwind a small bit at-a-time keeping the remainder secure with straight pin.

I'm right with you ladies! I don't have space either; so out they go!
Blessings,
MaryAnna

I was just thinking, if animals love them so much, we should make toys for animals out of them and take them to the humane society. ???

I put them in the bottom of my flower pots for drainage. They get used year after year. I use less dirt for potting and the spools are much lighter than the rocks that I used to use.

It would be nice if someone knew of a company or organization that would take them.

I keep the wooden ones, recycle the rest....but like the idea of putting them in flower pots, will try this.... :lol:

I save the wooden ones. The plastic ones I savae amd make a christmas garland out of them to hang on a tree or outside. I cover the spools with christas scraps using a glue stick. depending on the size of the spoole you can use up strips of fabric to cover.You all probably have small strips of fabric. I have used ribbon to string them with but I am sure you could use other things. Try using a bamboo skeeper to push the ribbon thru or thread ribbon with long needle. You can even tie bows on them. Genny

Good idea, Genny....will try that....

I have seen so many ideas here to use these spools for. All have been wonderful. thanks for sharing them with me!!

Good idea!! I have found several things to start doing with mine!!!

I think you are a genius! I usually recycle my plastics and keep (for what, I don't know) the old wooden ones. From now on, I will keep the large spools (yes, I'm still trying to use up all of my small spools from my garment sewing days.) to use for the binding "trick." Thanks for sharing.






:lol:

I gave mine to my granddaughters and we glued scraps of lace and ribbon on them then they strung them on shoelaces - the younger gd wore hers as a necklace and the older gd also decorated a cigar box and used some of the decorated spools as feet for the box and a tiny decorated spool as a knob on top to lift the lid

Grandson hauls them about the house in his dump truck! And what a find he thinks he has, in fact, he inspects my thread holder whenever he is here to make sure I any waiting. Now as for my old wooden spools, they are in a glass bear for decoration. This is a fun thread (play on words - lol) and I appreciate all the ideas coming forth.

I recycle the plastic ones. I'm not into saving anything like that.

I save the wooden spools for display purposes. I use the plastic spools to wind bias tape on for small projects.

debra

They amuse my kitten and she lets me sew uninterrupted (only occasionally) if she's amused. They make great cat toys!!! Kitten is my avatar pic right now. Her name is Lily. ~ Chris

OK here is the use for 1, so pick your fav. Take the spool and insert the handle end of a seam ripper into the hole, this can now be used quite effectively to cut apart chain pieced parts by slipping the joining thread down over the business end of the seam ripper. Not my idea but one I found in a book somewhere. Works great as long as the seam ripper and the spool hole match up.:D

Since I have a long-arm machine now, I save mine to roll little bits of left-over thread from my LA bobbins, then put them in with my regular sewing machine thread.

burn the wood ones and recycle can for plastic.

Me too!

I wind my embroider thread on them. To me it's easier to use.

I have a pattern for Christmas ornaments and have my friends give me theirs. They know they will get a present, hehe.

Can you share your pattern using spools for ornament? I am sure we would all love to see it. Thanks!

I throw them away with abandon!

Really really good idea

I definatly will start doing this. Another great idea!

I have a friend who paints designs on the wooden ones (Christmas scenes, etc) and they make great Christmas ornaments. I've been thinking about giving it a try as I have some spools saved up. Will have to keep my designs very simple as I am not a very talented painter. :lol:

my grandpa and dad would make "cars" out of them for me and my cousins. if the spools were wooden (and they all were, back then) they would notch the edges of the spool to give them a bit more traction. i found a tute:
http://www.scidaho.org/Library/Outreach/spoolCars.pdf

the cats used to love to chase them, too...

we'd paint them, and make necklaces for mom and grandma--nailpolish odds and ends make good "paint" for that. we'd make paper beads to use as spacers, out of old magazines, as well-- a long, skinny triangle of paper with a swath of glue on it, wound around a toothpick or skewer, and gently slid off to dry.

glue and glitter with the paint, and a pipe cleaner through it to make a loop, and hang them on a christmas wreath or tree. pipe cleaner around it makes pretty "thread" on the spool.

the bigger ones we used as blocks, for stacking into little castles and villages.

they were prized when we were little. they made a great rainy day diversion. and i still share the "i can't toss them out" affliction.

Oh nooooooooo

I used to let my cat play with them too until I discovered my dog was chewing bits and pieces off them. I have a hard time throwing them away.

Judy

I give them to the cat to play with until I start tripping over them then throw them away (recycle).

I've been tossing mine but reading here I'll have to remember to recycle.

Mostly plastic and toss them