So, my little bobbin case usually doesn’t bring me much pleasure. I grab a bobbin and shut it before I can see the disarray.
However, a couple of weeks ago, Rachel, got her bobbins under control with a package of tubing that she found at Home Depot. I thought it was such a great idea that I thought I would like to share (plus there is a cheaper way).
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| Cost of taming your bobbins: only 75 cents |
On the weekends, I work at a pet store. Any pet store or aquarium store has 2 different sizes of flexible plastic tubing; you are looking for the larger size, which is 5/8″. This can be found in the fish section. The tubing usually has 5/8″ printed right on it, so you’ll know you’ve got the right one. It is available by the foot, and 1 foot should be plenty (I only needed to use half). The one foot of tubing cost me only 75 cents.
So when you get your tubing home (I used my debit card to buy mine because I don’t normally carry cash…must have been the lowest sale of the day, lol), you’ll want to cut it into pieces using your scissors, between 1/4″ – 3/8″…it doesn’t have to be exact.
Take one of your sections and cut a slit. Since the tubing is flexible, it will retain its curve.
Slip one of these handy plastic pieces around your bobbin. It will keep the thread nicely in place. I like this technique better than others I’ve seen (rubber bands, pony tail holders, etc.), because the tubing is clear, and you can still see the colors of the thread while the bobbins are in the box.
And here is my beautiful bobbin case now! FYI the little threads poking out are the bitty pieces of thread at the bottom of my wound bobbins, so this thread will not be tangling inside the bobbin case.
I haven’t finished a sewing project this weekend, BUT I did get something accomplished! Woot woot!
this is so smart!
how to tame my thread reels????
Wow I was just looking in my bobbins today and thought there HAS to be a easier way to do this!!! lol Thanks!
I always grab my bobbins and shut the case real fast too. I’ve seen this idea before but forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder!
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ahhh genius. First I need a bobbin case – lol
This is the most awesome thing ever. I’m pinning this!
oh so clever!! Those pesky threads have been annoying me for ages – thank you for a great solution!
xx
Wow! What a great idea! Thank you!
I bought a case that holds thread and bobbins together on the same shaft – that way I never have to worry which bobbin thread belongs to which spool!
That is a fabulous idea!!! Thank you for sharing!
What a great idea. I will give this a try – messy bobbins bug me!
Yay for bobbin-taming! SO much better without all those threads everywhere. 🙂
Great idea! I use that round rubber ring and it works similarly, they are just not encased. I get annoyed when the threads get all wild like that!
I can’t wait to try this! I told my husband to pick up some tubing next time he was at Home Depot, and he actually said, “Wouldn’t that be easier to find at a pet store?” So next time the cat needs food, my bobbins will be organized.
Great tip! I’ll be going out to get me some tubing. Thanks!
Definitely a good idea!
YEA!!! This is such a great idea!!! THANK YOU!!
how smart! just need to found this tube…
Great idea. I was just looking at my bobbins today and thinking there has to be a better way.
Спасибо за интересную идею!!!
Thank you so much for the tip! I seriously need to dedicate some time to organize my sewing area and supplies. I think I’m going to add this to my list 🙂
Great idea. Now, what would you suggest for keeping bits of ribbon and lace under control? I was given my great grandmother’s sewing kit last night and I need to sort out what’s there so that my sister and I can share it between us. There’s a shoebox that’s one big glorious tangle of things and half of them, if they were bundled at all, were bundled with elastic bands that have perished, so I’ve got to peel the shrivelled rubber away.
The rest of it looks fairly easy to tidy – every possible colour of cotton on old wooden reels and a dozen boxes of buttons and beads, but the ribbons are looking much harder to control. It’s like Christmas! Katy ([email protected])
Great idea! Thank you for sharing.
Seen this tip and must utilize it friend–love how you mentioned puttin’ it on the good ole debit card(don’t we all do that!)
good! good! good! good blogging, good idea! i got a card of small, fat, stretchy ponytail rounds [30-36] to use as bobbin bras and they work just fine. but using the tubing like you do means you can see the tread color though the tubing!
Great tip!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Love this tip ! Thank-you sew much!
Yay you! I will be buying tubing tomorrow for this exact thing! Thanks for sharing!
Alrighty, next time I have to hit Petsmart for cat food, I shall look for tubing! Thanks for the tip 🙂
What a great idea!
What a cool idea — thanks for showing this! 🙂
Wonderful idea!! Am getting some tubing ASAP!!! Thanks for sharing!!
This is such a great solution, I’m going to post it on Twitter en FB! Thanks!
I’ve used the toddler pony tail holders, but I have a hard time seeing what color the thread is… this idea is a perfect solution! Thanks!
thank you for this great idea. I like the idea of see through, and that I can also write/initial the thread type on this which will be great!
Beyond genius! So simple and cheap!
You are a genious!!
This is pinned to one of my boards! such a great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much for this tip! I read it a while back, and finally got around to getting the tubing. I even got a better deal on it than you did… my husband picked it up from our local small-town store when he was getting some other stuff, and they just ‘gave’ it to him, as in FREE! 🙂
I squealed with delight when I saw this! I can’t wait to organize my bobbins! I shared you idea in a round-up of great tips on my blog today. Thanks for the inspiration! http://www.positivelysplendid.com/2012/03/12-more-why-didnt-i-think-of-that-tips.html
Would you believe that I just bought a new bobbin case at Joann’s yesterday? Grand Opening, Woo hoo. I was putting my bobbins in and they were still messy. What to do? Then I saw your post. Genius! Thanks.
I totally just pinned this idea! It’s genius!
I just got about 50 feet of tubing in 2 sizes at a yard sale this past weekend, for $1.00. I planned to use it for parrot toys, but now I have another project for them too. Thanks for the great idea. I think I will make up a bag of them as a little gift for my quilting friends.
Great tip! I hope it’s ok that I borrow the tip and pictures to my blog? I have a Swedish tip blog. I will of course link to your page as the source!
You are brilliant! Next pet store I pass, I’m going in to get some. I have two bobbin cases and I always worry about my cat getting thread because it’s very dangerous for them if they ingest it.
Great idea. I am always looking to get my sewing more organized and this is great. But I am wondering what you used to cut the tubing with?
I wonder if I cut it longer it would work on my small spools of thread. Never have liked any of the other fixes I’ve tried.
I bought my tubing at Lowes, they also have a tool to cut the tubing. It is a Kobalt tool #0150944. I haven’t started making mine yet, but I am excited to get going on them. Going to make some for my daughters
Absolutely brilliant -no more tangled threads – thank you
found you via #30daysofquiltdesign, love the “taming” idea and will share it with my “real life” quilt group
I use the pen/pencil grips. I get them from the dollar tree so super cheap but this is also a great idea!