10 Ways To Repurpose Old Thread Spools And Give Them New Life

Anyone who has developed an affinity for sewing or embroidery knows exactly how quickly piles upon piles of empty thread spools can accumulate in your crafting room. To complicate the matter further, most thread spools today are made from plastic, and if they go straight into the garbage, they're unfortunately contributing to the millions of tons of plastic that end up in US landfills every year. The good news is there are so many unique ways to repurpose old sewing spools to give them a new life and keep them out of the landfill! From a nifty mobile phone holder to unique home decor, there are a surprising amount of uses for old thread spools.

Up until about the 1970s, thread spools were made from wood, and the switch was made when it became cheaper to make the spools from plastic. Even though they're no longer in production, wooden thread spools are still popular today for their pretty, vintage look. They're also very popular for crafts, and many of these thread spool upcycle projects feature wooden spools. With that said, all of these crafts can still be made using plastic spools. If you absolutely love the look of the old wooden spools and don't have any lying around the house, snag some off of Etsy or keep an eye out for them at your local antique or thrift shops.

The average American spends about four and a half hours on their phone every single day. Whether it's for work, watching movies, or simply browsing on social media, it's still a lot of time to be holding your phone, especially when the position of holding a cell phone can cause pain from cramping. If cutting back on phone use isn't an option, you can craft a mobile phone holder out of old thread spools, glue, and a little cardboard to keep your phone propped up and available for hands-free use.

Are your necklaces and bracelets always getting tangled together in your jewelry box? We have a solution! If you attach old thread spools to a flat piece of wood, you can create your own jewelry hanger and never have to painstakingly untangle your necklaces again. The hanger can be customized by painting the spools and wood to fit the aesthetic of your room. The flat pieces on the end of the spools are perfect for keeping your jewelry secured, so you don't have to worry about any rogue necklaces slipping off the holder and onto the floor.

Is your pile of empty thread spools more of a mountain? If your answer is "yes," you may want to try converting all those empty thread spools into a beautiful hanging door curtain! You can paint or color the spools to give the curtain your desired look and then put beads or little shells along the string between the spools to jazz it up a little. This is definitely a more intricate and intensive upcycle project, but the results are beautiful, and it's a great way to keep those little spools out of the landfill.

Storage baskets are one of those essential items you can never have enough of in the home. If you're running low on baskets and also happen to have a pile of old thread spools lying around, you can solve two problems at once by turning the spools into a cute little storage basket! Depending on the look you're going for, you'll just need to wrap the spools in yarn, twine, fabric, or old newspapers, add a base, and glue it all together. The design possibilities are very open for this adorable upcycle project.

If you have a big event coming up, like a wedding or bridal shower, or even if you're just hosting a dinner party, consider using your old thread spools as table decor! You can place mini flowers through the spools, wrap them in pretty paper and twine, or even paint them to match the party theme and use them as table decor. Old thread spools can also function as fun and unique name cards that your guests can take home with them as a memento from the event.

Just because you might be decorating for Christmas on a budget doesn't mean you have to skimp on your Christmas ornaments. There are so many different eco-friendly Christmas ornaments you can DIY, including ones made from old thread spools! The spools can be painted into little snowmen and Santas, wrapped in holiday-themed fabrics, or even stacked on a piece of ribbon to spell out "noel" or make up a snowman. Wrapping the spools in white lace or tinsel and adding crystal beads can also give your tree an elegant and icy look.

There's no shortage of fun things to do with tassels. They look great on the corners of pillows and on the edges of decorative rugs, add a touch of whimsy to your keychain, and can also function on their own as wall art. The shape of old thread spools makes them perfect for turning into fun and colorful tassels; you'll just need a little string, some fabric to attach to the end, and a few beads. Feel free to paint the spools or wrap them in some yarn to give them some color.

Before you hit the decor section at the supermarket in search of a wreath, try turning your old thread spools into a holiday wreath! For this DIY, you'll either need a plain white crafting wreath or another circular wreath-shaped item to attach the spools to. For example, you can easily repurpose an old bike wheel by using it as the wreath base. Then, you'll need to glue the spools all around the base of the wreath. Don't hesitate to add your own creative flare by painting the spools first or wrapping them in twine or fabric.

Similar to the door curtain DIY, old thread spools can also be fashioned into beautiful hanging art. This craft requires a flat piece of material for the top, string or twine, beads, glue, and a hefty amount of old thread spools, and essentially involves hanging strings of beads and decorated thread spools from the base. You can give the art a chandelier shape or build it into a unique hanging spiral. If you have a little one in the home, this same concept can be applied to create a darling upcycled mobile.

Since old thread spools are byproducts of sewing anyway, how neat would it be to repurpose them into something you can use while you're sewing? If you glue a little piece of cork or fabric to the top of your old thread spool, it easily transforms into a pin cushion! While plastic thread spools aren't the most sturdy on their own, attaching a few together creates a wider, sturdier base that can stand up. Alternatively, make one tiny pin cushion out of a single heavier spool.