cjomomma

I don't have any suggestions. I just wanted to say that those wooden spools are awesome. I have a few and plan on displaying them if I ever get a quilting room. They are a piece of quilting history.

Rose L

Don't toss the breaking spools just yet!! Sometimes dust mites get to the out layers but don't penetrate the whole spool. Take several layers off the spool and then try the break test again! If it breaks after that then you can toss them or decorate with them.

amma

I would test every spool and see how strong they still are.
Quilts that are 20+ years old, have thread that is 20+ years old too :wink: :D:D:D

emerald46

I did exactly what Kas said when I inherited a "ton" of old thread several years ago. Makes a wonderful collectible and looks great in the sewing room. Some of my spools wold for 15 cents originally.

redquilter

I have a lot of my old wooden spools of thread and some that were my mother's. I found a couple of very big, antique canning jars and filled them with the spools and they sit on a shelf in my sewing room. Look colorful and interesting.

Prism99

Try freezing them. That is supposed to re-hydrate thread that breaks easily from loss of moisture.

Becky Crafts

I was recently told to put a drop of water on a spool of thread I had trouble with, put it in a zip-lock bag in the refrigerator overnight and it will rejuvenate it even if it's old. Not sure how true it is, maybe someone else can tell us if this would really work? The lady who told me this is a quilting teacher & told me thread just gets dried out. Sounds feasible, but I haven't tried it yet.

Kappy

That's what I would do. Rotten thread will break. If it doesn't it's good.

raedar63

Thanks for the link, I have just a very few of my grandmas thread I will do something like this.
You have a treasure!

Ramona Byrd

Yes, I looked at them carefully and you really should throw them away. Use a box from the post office and send them to...

my address is.........