I've decided to use the last little bit of thread on the bobbin to make a greetings card. They only take a few minutes and it saves wasting the thread. I'll have a pile ready for Christmas! Now to find a way to use the even smaller bit thats left after the greetings card!

Thanks Sue - good idea.

Some great ideas here. Thanks to all. H&*

save these bits plus what you clip off designs in a zip lock bag. Any old, old thread snip into bag either all colors one bag or sort like colors together. When get enough stir bag up, lay between water soluable stabilizer and do a lacy design. I hate to waste so tape bag to sewing machine table for easy reach. My rayon thread going here.

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by leenova54 09 Nov 2010

Hey, that was my tip that was on Embroidery Library the other day and I got $5 to buy designs with, lol!

Right I do something totally different with the little bits of thread that are left.
Get two bits of the wws stabiliser and drape the threads all over one of them. Sometimes I add other threads with a different texture. Put the other piece of wws over the top so you have a thread sandwich. Machine the layers together, this is great fun as you machine in all directions until you think there is enough stitching to hold it all together. Then comes the fun bit which children love you put the sewn sandwich into water and the stabiliser vanishes. When it is dry it can then be cut out and small bits glued on cards. Sometimes I have used a coloured piece of fabric for one layer, this is then easier to cut in to shapes for cards like simple christmas trees cut in triangles if there is lots of green threads. Glittery bits can be glued, sprinkled on top too. Think I am beginning to sound like a primary school teacher here, sorry. Right when I have mastered the downloading of pictures... (thanks for the offer of help with this Sue, I will take you up on it) I will post a piccy in projects. Hey just thought you could do machine embroidery on the small piece of cloth produced and use that on cards. The ideas are endless. Happy sewing fellow Cuties

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by jayce 12 Oct 2010

I like this idea

I have always just used mine to the end, put in full bobbin, back up a few stitches and return to sewing. So I have never had the little bits on the end of bobbin. My brother beeps at me when I am just about done with a bobbin, and the little bit left would not sew on a button. I guess I have been Blessed. Hugs, Judy

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by leenova54 09 Nov 2010

My brother beeps and stops so I have to make it go again but it will only go a few more stitches till it stops again, I'd be there all day telling it to go again, easier to change the bobbin.

I save mine and use them in my sewing machine, so far it seems to work

Must try the knot - I've be throwing the bits away. What a waste!

I wind my own bobbins and when I think a bobbin is too low to sew another design with, I put it in a container with other bobbins waiting to be refilled. I dont pull off the thread on the bobbin I just tie a knot, cut the threads close to the knot and then fill them to the brim again. Before my dealer told me about this I was unwinding & throwing away the thread... silly me lol. xXx

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by noah 12 Oct 2010

Does it pull through when it gets to the knott & keep on sewing/emb. or does it stop the machine??I never heard of this??carolyn

by babsie 12 Oct 2010

I also use all the thread, but will certainly try your idea. Thanks

We are such a creative, generous and thrifty bunch. Interesting combination.

let us see your finished project. I don't like to waste either. When my bobbin size changed several years ago, I started putting my old bobbins on top of machine and sew with them. Works great.

I use all my thread on the bobbin,my machine warns me when it is nearly empty.( I wind my own Bobbins too).Why sit with a lot of half empty bobbins?
"Waste not want not" is always my motto.
From Bev

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by spendlove 12 Oct 2010

My machine starts to tell me its nearly empty when its still half full!

by katydid 12 Oct 2010

One of my machines does that. I just open the bobbin door and keep going. The sensor is in the door.

I have sent you a PM.

What a good idea. It always seems such a waste.

The best tip I ever found on this site via eggyannie is to knot the bits of bobbin thread together! I've saved a lot of money and time doing this. Never had a problem. I haven't tried knots with embroidery thread when doing fsl though.

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by beatie58 10 Nov 2010

I have been doing this too.