jlarke

I throw it in a box with all my snips, then recycle the box when full to a lady who uses it as stuffing for dog beds.

jcraine

If you camp, it makes a good fire starter with your scraps.

osewme

I am generally able to use it up when I have something to sew by hand....sewing on buttons, closing up an area when I make something that I have to stuff, etc. Very little of my thread goes to waste.

Yesterday I was sewing & my bobbin & top thread ran out at the same time. Now that was a first ever for me!

Daylesewblessed

I use it for piecing or hand sewing the binding.

My grandmother got a stepmother when she was 8 years old (in the 1880's). The lady was a professional seamstress. It became my grandmother's job to pull out the basting threads from the dresses in progress and wind the thread on a spool, so that it could be re-used.

Sewnoma

I usually use them for piecing - my machine is drop-in bobbin with a clear lid and clear bobbins, so I can check it and sew right down to the last couple of inches.

But if I need a bobbin, I'll pull off several feet of thread and toss it. Life is too short and I'm too prone to hoarding anyway. I can't save every little scrap of everything! I already save every little fabric and batting scrap to make dog beds, saving every little scrap of thread is one step too far for me.

For awhile I had a thread ball going - I pulled a bunch of rotten but very colorful thread off of about 30 vintage bobbins and wound it all into a ball. I added to it for awhile before I decided I was just being a hoarder and tossed it. I can't say I miss it.

nativetexan

I usually piece with it. short stops and starts make it easy to change and fill.

Evie

Yep, this is what I also do.

Chester the bunny

A threadbowl??
I just looked it up, how lovely. Great, now another reason to keep my loose threads )
I forbid anyone from suggesting a use for my dryer lint, other than fire starter. lol

wesing

This is what I do. Also, some of my bobbins work just fine on the thread spool, so if there is a good bit of thread on it, I put it on the top thread and another "waste" bobbin in the bobbin to piece with. But if it I should a very small amount of thread and I need a clean bobbin, I pull the thread off and toss it.

Jingle

Less than 2 feet I take off the bobbin and shamelessly throw it away. If more than 2 feet I use for piecing, unless I need the bobbin for color I am quilting with. Like fabrics, I have more thread than I will ever be able to use. No rotting thread here.