This morning I made 36 yards of covered cording for a slipcover. Whenever I have to make covered cording or piping I pull out all my bobbins with just a little thread left or with those odd colors that you wonder where on earth you ever used them and I use them in the bobbin case and on top in place of a spool of thread to make my cording. Yes, I am running out of thread often, but I am expecting to and it is easy to watch for it to happen and I get to cheer a little each time I have redeemed another bobbin for future use. When you sew the cording into the finished product with the proper color and a closer stitch, the odd colors will not show.
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Replies
That's a good way to use extra thread. I have a lot of old spools of thread too that I sometimes use up when I am testing a pattern or I know the thread color will not show. Isn't it amazing how some of those old colors never seem to come around again? I never seem to have enough bobbins so I have gotten into the habit of using "bobbin mates" to wind the bobbin thread back onto the spool. I got some from Clotilde"s catalog several years ago and it's amazing how well it works for this. If you don't know what I am talking about go to her catalog on page 43. http://www.clotilde.com
Can you explain how the bobbin mate works? The photo looks as if it attaches a bobbin to a thread spool, but I can't see how you'd wind it back onto the spool that way.
It isn't my idea, I think the directions came with the tool or I read the hint somewhere.
attach a bobbin to the spool of thread with a "bobbin mate" and place the bobbin end onto the spindle as though you are threading a new bobbin
place the threaded bobbin onto the thread spindle and proceed as though you are going to wind a new bobbin, but direct the thread around the spool of thread instead. I usually hold the thread up with some kind of tool instead of with my hands, like the purple thang! I have a 1630 Bernina, but I think this would work on any machine that threads bobbins outside the machine.
This is a great way to wind extra thread spools for the serger without having to buy so many spools of the same color.
Thank you so much for your clear description! I was guessing that it might work that way, but didn't want to purchase the bobbin mates if I wouldn't be able to make it work.
I do a number of textile crafts that would be simplified if I could wind fibers onto spools, and one of my older machines works much better with heavier, wooden spools rather than lightweight ones. Your tip will help me make those transfers and save me a lot of headaches. Thanks!
That's a great idea!! After centuries of sewing I never thought of that one. Thanks - I sew a lot of home dec. as well as clothing. Brilliant!
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