Large Thread Spool Holder on the Cheap

While shopping for thread my wife came across large cone shape spools of thread on sale for half off. The price was to good to pass up and it was very high quality thread as well. We asked one of the workers at the store if that particular spool would work on a standard brother sewing machine (Brother Project Runway Addition).  She informed us that it would work for sure.

Of course we get home and it is entirely to large.  I did some digging and found spool stands, which seamed to be the solution to this particular problem.  Much like this one.  However I did not see the point in buying one when they seemed to be such a simple design. I figured I would simply make one instead.

This instuctable is amazingly simple and took me all of 15 min  to make and cost a total of $.80 to make.  Its mostly made of pieces I already had but which would be very cheap to acquire. Enjoy.

Step 1: Parts List

Parts
Dowel Rod- 3/8" Poplar
8 Gauge wire
Block of wood
Thread of course.

Tools
Dril
Drill Bits- 3/8" and other sizes
Saw
Glue
Sandpaper

I had the block of wood already. It is basswood- I use it for carving and I happen to have this scrap piece with several knots readily available. Any thick piece of wood will suffice.

I used 8 gauge wire which I already had. I suppose a thicker gauge would work and a a couple sizes liter might too- but 8 gauge seems sufficient. It runs about $.80 a foot at most box home improvement stores.

Any glue will do titbond is not necessary- I just really like it. You could use super glue, wood glue, even Elmer's might work.

Comments

[sunshiine]

I will have to make one of these when I get my sewing room done. Thanks for sharing and do have a splendorous day!
sunshiine

[rosewood513]

Ingenious!!! I have many spools like that and I just bought a Singer machine and I cannot use that thread.
Thanks so much for shring this, you just helped me fix my problem, I have all the things needed, this is so simple it is hard. lol

[tebany]

I was cleaning my machine last night and the spool holder snapped off. It is just a cheap piece of plastic and I can't see anyway to fix it. I got online right away to find a cheap machine on ebay or craigslist because I am in the middle of a quilt for my niece. Somehow I got on this sight and found your spool holder and was thrilled with your holder. I will have my brother make it for me right away. Thanks for making my day.

[gilleseg]

Glad you liked it. I hope it works well for you. My wife uses it when she made the Halloween costumes!

[Phil B]

It appears your wife's sewing machine is on a table and you may put it away when not in use. That would mean you probably need to remove the thread from the machine when putting it away, and rethread the machine when you want to use it again. I know my wife would never go along with that arrangement. I would suggest you could possibly cut a piece of 3/8 inch plywood to go under the sewing machine. Make it big enough that it extends beyond the back corner of the sewing machine and mount your thread on it with its dowel arm. Add some handles to the plywood on both sides of the plywood. Then you pick up the plywood and the thread holder comes with it in one unit. It is just an idea.

[gilleseg]

We currently live in an apartment and when we move into a place more permanent I plan on making her a crafting table with a place for her sewing machine. This was a temporary fix and a cheap copy of others I had seen. Clever idea though. I will run it by her.

[caitlinsdad]

My Brother XL2600 budget machine has the spool holder that is a post in a hole on top of the machine. It is oriented vertically so I just cut out a piece of cardboard for the spool base and taped on a popsicle stick to extend the peg. It is a pain to put away even with that footswitch powercord so I think an external spool holder would have made things not fun to use.