lynnie

I collect old spools. I have a quart canning jar full of them. i'd do anything for a gift like that. you're very lucky. they make a nice display. if I were you, i'd display them proudly.

Jingle

I had at least one large wooden spool of thread. Not as old. Probably from the 60s. I think I gave it to my oldest Daughter.
Good ideas to display them.

Sibi

Found this pic on google. You could turn them into ornaments!

gramajo

My DD has some strung on ribbons and hung on the wall in her sewing room.

pcraddock

in one of those decorative jars with a wired lid, like old canning jar, displayed would be nice to look at , makes you think up all different stories on sewing , great gift to you

Jackie Spencer

I have mine displayed in baskets with old scissors, wooden sock darners, and other old sewing things, and in old antique jars. The oldest one I have, still has lots of thread on it. Its a large spool and has gold thread on it that my Mother used to sew the emblems ( not sure what they were called) on my Dad's Navy uniform in WWII

gabeway

Collectors do want them.

Annaquilts

I have just several old spools, 4, and I stacked them together as decoration. You could put them in a glass vase, low dust, or make Christmas ornaments for your quilter buddies.

#1piecemaker

I remember when I was a kid, we used to paint them and string necklaces out of them. That is what I'd do now if I had them!

KarenK

I have found that the older thread breaks too easily when I use it in my sewing machine and therefore wouldn't use it in a new quilt. I use it for hand basting and display those cute little wooden spools in a clear glass canister.