VHS Cassette Yarn Dispenser!

by mattopensource

20K20617

Intro: VHS Cassette Yarn Dispenser!

Skeined Productions - 5 minute project to turn your favorite VHS cassette into a nifty two color yarn dispenser! 

Tools required:
Small Phillips head screwdriver
VHS Cassette
Scissors
Many feet of Yarn (can be any thickness)

STEP 1: Remove All Screws & Open VHS Cassette

Using the screw driver, remove all 5 screws and keep them because they will be needed for later. Open up the VHS by gently pulling the back straight off the bottom, don't worry about parts falling off or falling around, none of them are needed later.

STEP 2: Snap Off Metal Spring

Snap off the metal spring either by prying with a screwdriver or by gripping with pliers and tugging gently.

STEP 3: Wrap Yarn Around Spools

First remove all of the actual magnetic tape (Save the tape and see my other instructables on how to crochet the tape into a handle for a VHS cassette clutch!) Wrap the yarn around the spools (can do same color or two color). Be careful not to knot the yarn around the center of the spool, this way when the last bit isn't wasted.

STEP 4: Put VHS Cassette Back Together

Place spools back into the cassette and orient the yarn so it comes out around the screw holes so when put back together the yarn doesn't get crunched. Make sure when placing the two halves back together that the lid goes back on at the same time.

STEP 5: Enjoy!

Repeat this process on as many VHS cassettes as possible, keep them all on a bookshelf for all of your different color yarns when you need a little bit for projects or crafts!

Also can do your favorite ribbon, strings, wires, chains, etc. Send me your VHS cassette spooled project!

Thanks!!!

15 Comments

giorgia14 8 years ago

This is very clever!!! I have tons of VHS cassettes from my childhood and teenhood which aren't playable anymore... Thanx!

MikeA14 8 years ago

Is there a way to wind the same color on both spools and have it be one solid stand

ToniRose 11 years ago

Brilliant! No more dropping balls and watching them unspool across the room. I like to knit socks two at a time and this is perfect.

Question: how much yard (and of what type) did you load on each spool?

mattopensource 11 years ago

I laid the yarn out end to end loosely on the floor and measured out 42 yards of yarn. The yarn in the pictures is the inexpensive acrylic craft store yarn that's sold in the large skeins, I believe it is worsted weight?

I am working on another multi yarn dispenser that will use old CD's and DVD's and hopefully will hold much more yarn and more colors, stay tuned!

kcanti 9 years ago

42 Metres is an ideal length for small repairs to things or when you just need a bit of yarn for something.

Ysabeau 11 years ago

IMHO, will be better for stranded work than for knitting 2 socks at a time.

thispageiscringeignoreit 11 years ago

@firehorse
I might make this, but with ribbon, like you said it would be a good idea.

firehorse 11 years ago

this would be great for ribbon too

cyberviper42 11 years ago

This is a really ingenious idea. Keep uploading your projects!

mattopensource 11 years ago

Thanks cyber! I am working on even more multi thread dispenser ideas, hopefully going to have them up in less then a week!

Penolopy Bulnick 11 years ago

That is a wonderful idea! Just genius! If you have a bunch of them, you can just line them up on the shelf like regular movies and people will never know it's really yarn :)

MikB 11 years ago

If you do put these with your video tape collection, make sure you don't have a VHS machine in the house any more, otherwise children will try and feed one of these in to watch at some point. :)

The tangly mess will be horrendous.