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Saturday 24 August 2019

Scrap Busting: DIY Bobbins

DIY Bobbins by eSheep Designs
Bobbins made out of my Route 66 tapestry scraps...
Thought you'd seen the last of my Route 66 tapestry remnants?

Well, this is seriously the end of them. All that's left are small pieces that become smaller the more I handle them.

Thankfully, this actual project does not require finicky tapestry remnants. Regular fabric from your scrap pile will do.

What you'll end up with is something more useful than you might expect. I've been wanting to make these for some time and don't quite know what's taken me so long to get to it. (The idea came from seeing some plastic ones for embroidery floss.)

What exactly are these for?

Well, we all have short lengths of thread rescued from almost empty bobbins that are set aside for basting and hand sewing. Until now, I've wound my leftover thread around small pieces of cardboard. This is definitely a more stylish and effective way of thread management.

DIY Bobbins by eSheep Designs
An effective way of managing small lengths of thread for future use...

Unlike the smooth surface of cardboard, the textured fabric surface of this bobbin helps keeps loose thread ends under control.

If you also have remnants of bias binding that need to be organized, this is also the perfect solution for that.

DIY Bobbins by eSheep Designs
Keep your bias binding from straying...

These can be made in any size to fit your scraps and your specific needs. My templates — imperfect as they are — can be downloaded from here if you're interested. They are about 3" and 2 5/8" high as is, but of course, you can enlarge them.


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Making these bobbins couldn't be easier. Once you have a suitably sized template, simply trace it onto some single sided fusible Peltex and cut out the shape.

DIY Bobbins by eSheep Designs
Trace shapes onto Peltex...

If you want, you can go ahead and use the Peltex piece to cut similar sized pieces from your fabric scraps.

Because I was dealing with the loosely woven tapestry and had to handle it more carefully, I fused a scrap onto the Peltex first. After it cooled, I cut around it.

DIY Bobbins by eSheep Designs
Fuse onto one scrap and cut out a second scrap to fit... 

Next, I applied some glue (just used a common glue stick) to the other side of the Peltex and affixed a second rectangular scrap of matching size, trimming away the excess fabric afterwards.

DIY Bobbins by eSheep Designs
Second piece of fabric glued on...

A tight zigzag stitch around the perimeter is all that's needed to complete the project.

DIY Bobbins by eSheep Designs
Clean up the edges and it's done!

Snip away any loose threads that might be sticking out, and the bobbin is ready for use.


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Here are my tapestry bobbins at work.

DIY Bobbins by eSheep Designs
My Route 66 scrappy bobbins...

These bobbins are made out of quilting cotton scraps. (Note that even though all of these were made with both sides matching, there's no reason you can't use a different fabric on each side.)

DIY Bobbins by eSheep Designs
Bobbins made out of quilting cotton scraps...

A couple feature a Tim Holtz Eclectic Elements fabric. They were remnants from my fabric match box; remember that? Here it is with my bobbins inside.

DIY Bobbins by eSheep Designs
Bobbins wound with bias tape in my fabric match box...

I haven't tried it, but instead of Peltex, one could interface both fabric pieces with something that's less stiff. (Our scraps of medium weight interfacing are often more plentiful than Peltex.)

DIY Bobbins by eSheep Designs
My hand-sewing threads are now neatly organized...

To keep your bobbins together, you could punch a hole at the top of each and install a small eyelet.

DIY Bobbins by eSheep Designs
Add an eyelet and  you can keep your bobbins together on a chain...

By the way, if you stick a needle into the mix, one of these bobbins could easily be turned into an emergency sewing kit.

Hmmm... that gives me an idea.


5 comments:

  1. What a great idea! I always have scraps of peltex too. Good small gift for a quilty friend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, yes, it should be an appreciated gift for anyone who sews or quilts.

      Delete
  2. Clever and practical idea. You really have used up every small scrap of the Route 66 tapestry fabric. Great going!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the idea! I've stitched around all the edges except one end, inset a rectangle of quilter's template plastic, then stitch up the open end. Sometimes I need a little stiffer area to wind binding.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome, Vickie. Thanks for stopping by and adding your suggestion for those who might have the same issues.

      Delete

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