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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / creativity / craft project / {saturday craft: fabric-covered spools}

{saturday craft: fabric-covered spools}

February 19, 2011 · 30 Comments
Filed Under: craft project, tutorial/DIY

As a gal that sews, I have {or used to have} a lot of empty spools of thread. At first it was a cute, *little* collection. Then it outgrew the basket I was keeping my empty spools in. Then I had to start throwing new empty spools away for fear of becoming a hoarder.

I’m sure I saw this idea somewhere else, but the thought of wrapping scraps of fabric around the empty spools as a play off of my ruffles//sewing//thread sounded super cute.

Want to know what’s the best part of this Saturday craft? I’ve used the end product to decorate my studio and table at a craft fair {scroll down for a pic}. It’s a totally practical craft :]

*

Here’s what I did: I used some orange satin ribbon {left over from our wedding, which was 3 years ago this coming summer (fist bump) } and used it as string to carry my empty spools of thread. I used about 30 empty spools for this project. I cut my fabric squares a little bigger than the width of the spool because I wanted them to have a ruffled look once they were glued on.

Materials needed:
empty spools
cotton fabric squares – one for each spool {mine were cut to about 3″x4″}
scissors
hot glue gun + glue sticks
rope: use ribbon, string, twine, yarn {about 5′}

I went through my bin of scrap fabric and picked out colors + patterns that I loved the most. I also found a few solid scraps to use in between all the print squares. And I’ll admit it, I totally ironed the scraps before I glued them on. Hah! :]

To start: draw a line of hot glue onto the spool from edge to edge {left photo below}. Place one edge of the fabric square over top of the line of hot glue {center photo below}. Press hard for a few seconds until the glue dries, then tightly wrap the fabric around the spool. About half way around, stop and squirt a dot of hot glue on the spool. Pull the fabric tight, then continue wrapping until you reach the starting edge of fabric {right photo below}.

When you arrive at the starting edge, draw another line of hot glue on the spool about 1cm before the end fabric {left photo below}. Pull the fabric tight and press down hard for a few seconds {right photo below}.

Repeat with another piece of fabric and spool ~

And… keep repeating :]

This is totally one of my favorite crafts to make. Just in general, I think ruffles are fantastic, so the thought of creating them to be used in a totally new way is… lovely *wink*.

You can see below I hung up my fabric-covered spools like a banner. Adorable. Know what else would be adorable? Use your fabric-covered spools as garland around your Christmas tree, scallop it down a banister, hang in a nursery, or use in a playroom to practice colors//counting//imagination.

I love my pretty banner ~ it’s the perfect element for this wall!

This jar sits on a shelf in my studio. Ruffles, they are literally everywhere in my studio! :]

This jar has also sat on my table at The Creative Connection {bottom left photo}. Can you find it? It’s kind of being sassy and hiding ~

Want another craft idea? Click over to see my first post in my *new* series, Saturday crafts.

* The winner of the Gussy Sews headband giveaway is Jenna Allen, The Indecisive Organizer. Check your email, chicky :]

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30 Comments
Filed Under: craft project, tutorial/DIY

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Comments

  1. Jilly says

    February 19, 2011 at 7:14 am

    SO CUTE! I’ll need to up my sewing to have enough empty spools for this though!! :o)

    Reply
  2. Ms. Megan says

    February 19, 2011 at 7:20 am

    Super cute!!!!! I LOVE this idea and I love the spools in the jars!!! Fun!! xoxo

    Reply
  3. Southern Gal says

    February 19, 2011 at 7:21 am

    I love this! I have so many empty spools that need a function. I just found my old tin of vintage spools in my kitchen cabinet recently. Love the wood ones. I’ll have to give it a try. Now if you’ll just come up with something to do with the serger thread spools….

    Reply
  4. nikki says

    February 19, 2011 at 7:21 am

    yay! i am so happy you posted this! i first saw your fabric covered spools awhile ago on your blog and have become a empty spool hoarder every since. now i just need a glue gun!

    Reply
  5. Erin says

    February 19, 2011 at 7:28 am

    I love this idea. Great way to recycle those spools!

    Reply
  6. Kristin says

    February 19, 2011 at 7:29 am

    great idea! and a project i think i can even do with my toddler’s “help”. :) thanks for sharing and happy weekend.

    Reply
  7. sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails says

    February 19, 2011 at 7:48 am

    I like the idea of using it at a craft setup too. Great ideas Gussy girl:)
    XO

    Reply
  8. Sarah-Anne says

    February 19, 2011 at 8:22 am

    love the new series, friend! you are so crafty… ;)
    Sarah-Anne

    Reply
  9. Bracey Pate says

    February 19, 2011 at 8:25 am

    step 1: start sewing more
    step 2: save my spools
    step 3: do this!!!

    It may take awhile, but I have to make fabric covered spools! So cute! Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
  10. lindsey says

    February 19, 2011 at 8:26 am

    oh i love the ruffled effect! makes an adorable garland, especially since your spools are already such pretty colors. i think they’d also be gorgeous covered in fabric & then made into a wreath like this one: http://modernjune.blogspot.com/2010/11/recycled-spool-wreath.html how cute would that be on your window or studio door? :)

    Reply
  11. Dee says

    February 19, 2011 at 8:29 am

    Gussy!! – THIS is adorable!! and so are you:)

    Reply
  12. ashlee says

    February 19, 2011 at 9:01 am

    This is so cute!! I have a ton of old WOODEN spools that would look so so cute like this!

    Reply
  13. Lisa says

    February 19, 2011 at 9:11 am

    That’s a great idea, thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
  14. Franchesca says

    February 19, 2011 at 9:26 am

    Gussy!! I am loving your saturday crafts!!! SUPER cute!

    Reply
  15. Lauren Stennett says

    February 19, 2011 at 9:47 am

    This is a great idea, I can’t wait to do it in my crafting room! I have been holding onto my empty spools but never knew what to do with them until now! Love it :)

    Reply
  16. April Foss says

    February 19, 2011 at 9:54 am

    Really cute! I just love the way it looks hanging on your window. Very bright and fun!

    Reply
  17. Tara says

    February 19, 2011 at 10:04 am

    This is so cute! I saw your fabric covered spools in the jar awhile back and LOVED the idea and I am so happy you posted this tutorial!! Great ideas Gussy!

    Reply
  18. Nicole says

    February 19, 2011 at 10:53 am

    I love this craft idea Gussy! It is so pretty…the colors of fabric you choose are also pretty! I like the idea of putting them on a Christmas tree. I’ll have to remember that for Christmas. I like that you did your craft on your ironing board. I often find myself doing a lot of crafts on top of mine and hoping I don’t spill anything…glitter for one. ;)
    Have a great weekend,
    Nicole

    Reply
  19. domestic extraordinaire says

    February 19, 2011 at 10:59 am

    cute! I am decorating my sewing space now so I think I just may incorporate this into the design!

    Reply
  20. Molly @ A Bit O' Shine says

    February 19, 2011 at 11:29 am

    That is SUPER adorable. I’ve been craving garlands for my curtain-less bedroom windows (I live in the country, no one but the horses can see me) and I’m loving the color this adds!

    Reply
  21. Amber W says

    February 19, 2011 at 11:54 am

    Love it!!

    Reply
  22. Kyla says

    February 19, 2011 at 2:06 pm

    Oh this is darling! Great idea.

    Reply
  23. Laryssa @Heaven In The Home says

    February 19, 2011 at 8:25 pm

    It’s adorable!

    Reply
  24. Andrea@KnittyBitties says

    February 19, 2011 at 9:46 pm

    Love it!! So cute and I’m pretty sure I know where I can get a few spools, LOL … now a reason to not throw them away. Give me a month or so and I’ll have my very own garland a’la Gussy ;).
    Happy Saturday my friend!!

    Reply
  25. Vicki says

    February 20, 2011 at 2:09 pm

    Oh! I love this idea! Love it! You, my dear, are a crafting goddess! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  26. Shelly W. says

    February 24, 2011 at 12:27 pm

    Hello, Miss Gussy! I don’t know how I missed putting your blog into my reader after Blissdom, but I did. *turning red now* So today I popped over and started reading. Oh, how I love you! And I LOVE this craft idea! Absolutely adorable. I just may have to link to it this weekend.

    Miss you, friend!

    Reply
  27. Pat says

    August 24, 2011 at 7:37 pm

    I LOVE the colors in your room! As for the fabric covered spools, I wonder if double sided tape would work on the spools with the fabric. Just a thought… : )

    Reply
  28. Midwest Magnolia - Melissa Lewis says

    August 24, 2011 at 10:39 pm

    Love it! What a cute idea:) Looks great on your window!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Tweets that mention {saturday craft: fabric-covered spools} -- Topsy.com says:
    February 19, 2011 at 11:15 am

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Julia , Maggie Whitley. Maggie Whitley said: get your Saturday Craft on! http://tinyurl.com/4zjtc7v […]

    Reply
  2. {scenes from the past week ~ also known as “I’ve done so many fun things!”} says:
    June 8, 2012 at 9:31 am

    […] year I wrapped fabric around them + created a cute garland for my home studio […]

    Reply

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ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
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So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

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