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How-to

Video: How to Stabilize a Thread Spool

Evamarie Gomez and Judith Neukam; Shot by: Gary Junken

It’s no easy feat to keep your thread from rolling away while hand-sewing. But there’s a better way.

Viola Clara Vaughan from Indianapolis, Indiana suggests using a bill-spike to hold your thread. They’re available through stationary supply catalogues and some office supply chains. Bill-spikes come in handy for keeping spools readily accessible without rolling away while offering the freedom to pull off as much thread as needed without fuss. You can even place more than one spool on your bill-spike.


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  1. StitchinTam | | #1

    This a wonderful idea! Any suggestions for a removable "cap" to protect me (or my kids) from accidental punctures?

  2. User avater
    wicked_stitcher | | #2

    DOH! Love these "obvious" solutions! I'll be trying to find a "bearded" one at a thrift/antique store. Clever!

  3. user-3033558 | | #3

    This a GREAT tip! I think a PINMOOR would be a good cover for the sharp top of the bill stack. I know Nancy' s notions has them.

  4. Lady_D | | #4

    @ Stitchin Tam

    The point of the bill spike concerns me too... perhaps a cap from a cheap ball-point pen would work to protect us from the accidental punctures that we can both too readily visualize.

    Otherwise, a person handy with a power drill and some glue could make something similar out of a wooden dowel and a scrap of 2x4 lumber... The wooden dowel being flat on the end would be a safer option.

  5. user-2358762 | | #5

    Perfect use for a wine cork to make the end of the spike less dangerous . Or a piece of foam or an erasure .

  6. Ruminantia | | #6

    How about using a knitting needle point protector for the point of the bill-spike? Perfect and readily available...you probably already have some, if you knit.

  7. maggiern | | #7

    A very fine use of an 'oldie but goodie' piece of office equipment! I will definitely use this tip!

  8. Frontier_Lady | | #8

    What a novel idea. I do sewing demonstrations at Living History events in the Southwest and this would be a perfect use of a vintage item. Your videos and Threads newsletter give me lots of ideas. I also like to share them with other Living Historians via our Frontier Women's Living History Assn. blog http://frontierwomen.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-new-use-for-vintage-tool.html

    Thanks for the wonderful ideas.

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