Did You Know Thread Has an Expiration Date?

You buy a box of thread spools at an estate sale or garage sale or you are gifted a tin of these from a family member or friend. How do you know if you should sew with this thread? Well, if this thread is several decades old and the spool is wooden, it's probably past its prime. For sewists several generations ago, cotton thread was more utilitarian and probably not stored under ideal conditions. The easiest way to determine if you should sew with this thread is to pull a long section and apply steady traction on the thread ends. If it slowly gives way or disintegrates before snapping, it's not good to sew with. However, if it snaps, then it's probably ok. All thread will snap at some point, given enough tension. Dr. Bob of Superior Threads demonstrates this technique. [There are many more videos on Thread Therapy here.]

   

 It can be distressing to look at all these spools. So, what can you do with them if you can't use them on your machine or in your garments or quilts? 

Deborah Moebes wrote a blog about expired thread and solicited possible uses from her readers. Some of the ideas are pretty ingenious. 

They include: 

• Knitting or crocheting (also known as "micro crochet" or "micro knitting"). Althea Crome is a master miniature knitter. 
  
• Bumble Bee 
  
• 100 Micro Crochet Motifs
• You could remove all the thread from the spools and use it as stuffing in pet beds and other projects requiring stuffing.
• Use in fiber art projects, such as felting or embellishing. 
• Since the thread won't be subjected to tension or possible seam failure, you could use the threads in embroidery decorations at hems, cuffs, and collars.
• Remove the thread from the spools and stuff into jars and vases as colorful decorations. Or if the jar or vase is large enough, just drop the thread spools in.
• Remove the thread from the spools and use a dissolvable stabilizer like Solvy to make a beautiful scarf. 
  
  

What if the thread is long gone and you can't bear to throw out old wooden spools?

There are plenty of projects online to use these and this list is only a small selection of fun ideas!

• How about a cute bracelet? I would totally do this!

• What about vintage spool drawer pulls? 
• Use stamps on your wooden spools (with or without thread) to create beautiful art.
• How about a sewing wreath to hang year-round?

Finally, if you want to know the value of your wooden spools, you can read all about it here:

Antique wooden thread spools