Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Still Feeling Grinchy!

My daughter brought home this hilarious Grinch Tree. I adore it, and all things Grinchy! I am feeling rather Grinchy about being sick, especially at this time of year when there is so much to be done/enjoyed. But I am "on the mend".(see how I tossed in a sewing word to describe my condition??! LOL)
I am also feeling quite Grinchy about this thread problem. I think I left the spool in the bottom of my quilting bag and now it is a total mess. Does anyone have a solution to these kinds of unravelling spools of hand quilting thread?? 
Speaking of the Grinch, I think it's time to get the Grinch quilt out to decorate the design wall again! No progress has occurred since last year :(

16 comments:

Ellen said...

Glad to hear that you are starting to feel a bit better.

When I first looked at the thread I thought maybe Max had found it! Would an elastic band wrapped around it a couple times help to stop it from unravelling?

Judy said...

If that is the YLI spool, there should be a little groove on the bottom edge to hold the thread tight.
If it gets shuffled around a lot in your bag, then get a roll of magic tape or wonder tape. I use it for my rayon threads that tend to be very slippery. Triangle Sewing has it. The large roll lasts a long time and the pieces are reusable.

Quiltsmiles said...

I hate when this happens and seems like it's the way that certain brand of thread is sold.
Two different ideas besides using that cellophane wrap to contain it would be to find a snack size plastic food storage bag, insert the spool then using a straw or something straight and stong through the bag and the center holder of the thread, (That way the ends of the spool will at least stay on it) then load a needle with the thread end and sew it through the bag before you zip lock it. Thread end will always be available and hopefully keep the whole spool contained in a more usable fashion. Good luck unscrambling those thread nests and have a very Merry Christmas. Jane

Deanna W said...

Small soft ponytails, I use them for on my bobbins. Or the wide elastics you get on broccoli might grip more!
Glad you are on the mend...love the grinchy tree.

Anonymous said...

The bandages used after donating blood are perfect - they grip themselves, have no adhesive and are reusable.

Kathleen Gee said...

The top (elasticized) part of a child's sock slips right over the spool keeping the thread under control but still allowing easy access. Cut the foot of the sock off first :)

Dolores said...

Love the tree. Here in good old Toronto, there is a BIA that puts up the Grinch trees at Christmas. Very festive.

Carol Swift said...

I love that Grinch tree...too cute! Hope you feel better soon!

Betty Lou said...

Glad you are starting to feel bettor. How about keeping a couple of small rubber band handy and wrap those around your spool, catching the end thread.

Janet O. said...

I so want to make a felt Grinch face for that tree! : )
Sounds like you have had lots of good suggestions for your thread. I've learned a few tricks from them.

Teresa in Music City said...

I SEW hope you are MENDING quickly my friend :*D

I'm feeling pretty Grinchy myself - mending too but not quickly enough. There is so much to do and I don't feel like doing any of it :( Hoping my energy returns soon! I LOVE YOUR GRINCH TREE!!!!

scraphappy said...

Such a cute grinch tree. I was ready to suggest some thread ideas, but looking through the earlier posts, it seems like they have them all covered. Though there is a lot to do this time of year, most of it is optional. You can't do more than you are able.

margaret said...

good to read you are feeling better, re the thread it looks a bit beyond rescuing to me!

Unknown said...

I use baby food plastic containers that I think fruits come in. Punch a hole in the middle of the top and the spool stays inside and I just rethread when needed by pulling on the hole sticking through the top.

Created by Kathi said...

Love your Grinch tree and excited to see how you place your grinchy pieces on the design wall... just had that question answered about holding thread from unraveling on Celebrate Handquilting on fb so check that comment list out... lots of creative ideas for storing thread to keep it from unraveling there :) Have a Happy day! Hope you are feeling grinchily better now :) Kathi

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

The cheapest thing you can get to keep the thread from doing that is a hair bungie. I use little one's for bobbins, but, you can use big one's for larger spools of thread. There is also this plastic stuff that wraps around the spool, but, I can't remember the name of it.