Another Re-user Idea

If you are one who sews or knows someone who sews, one thing you will have a lot of is thread spools, especially empty ones.  Well don’t throw them out.  Here is a way to use them that will give them a whole new purpose.  It is also something the kids can help with and make some Christmas gifts at the same time.  You will need a spool, any size will do, some yarn and a little bit of fabric, a darning or plastic craft needle plus some glue.

spool

If your spool has some writing on the edge like the thread company name, color number and amount of thread, you might want to cover that up.  You don’t have to but I did.  I used a marker to cover the lettering.  If you have craft paint that will work too but let it dry thoroughly before you go further. 

spool with edge painted

Measure the area where the thread would be from one end or the other, this is how wide you want to cut your fabric strip.  You can measure the circumference of the center part of the spool and cut the fabric to fit.   I just glued one end and then wrapped it around leaving a little lap over and then trimmed the fabric piece.  Make sure you use enough glue and let it dry thoroughly.

fabric measured for center of spool

Fabric glued

             

The yarn will be the loop for your ornament and also a bit of a tail at the bottom.  Determine how long you want your loop add two more lengths if the spool (you will double the yarn when you insert it in the spool hole) and then the length you want for the tail (remember to double this as well). You actually want to cut more than you need because you will be making knots to hold the yarn in place when it is on the spool.  You can always trim it later.

spool and yarn

Then with a darning needle or plastic craft needle, thread the yarn through the hole of the spool.  Now so the yarn wouldn’t come loose, I tied a knot at each end.  I actually did a double knot to make it fit over the hole.  If that doesn’t work, you could add a big bead at each end to keep the yarn in place when you hang the ornament.

spool threaded with yarn

Finished ornament

                                                   

These are great for children to do (young ones might need a little help). These ornaments are wonderful gifts for grandparents, teachers or if you make enough of them for a holiday craft sale.  They use empty spools, scraps of fabric and yarn which are then kept out of the land fill.  Try one and then make many more.

©2019  Cheryl Fillion