Neat bobbin storage using plastic binding combs

Neat bobbin storage is a blessing!!!!!! I have been struggling with how to keep my bobbins from all unwinding themselves and making a thread nest in the process.  This afternoon I decided to give a try to a process I read about a while back.  It uses pieces of plastic comb used in binding machines to bind documents.  I found a 1/4" - 3/8"  gold one in my stash and decided to give it a try!  I snipped the individual tabs off o the the main comb using regular scissors and then trimmed them to the width of my bobbins.  They are tight onto themselves so you have to spread them out and then place them over the thread end which has been neatly wound onto the bobbin.  Keeps the end hidden so it cannot snarl up and the tightness of the comb keeps it nicely bound to the thread on the bobbin regardless of how much thread there is on it.  The little gap allows you to see the colour of thread on the bobbin.  Works really well and I did not have anything to lose to use up this little gold binding comb.  I went searching on line for other options and there are several very inventive solutions others have come up with.   For example - clear plastic tubing from the hardware store cut to width and then split to keep the thread in place.  Great because you can easily see the thread colour.  There are some keeping the combs intact and using the whole thing as a bobbin storage unit.  That would be good too!!!  I have my other bobbins in my drawer and that will keep them neat.  Clear comb would be perfect!!!  I am happy to have my bobbins stored neatly on my thread holder.  I cut a longer length of metal bar which allows me to store more bobbins on my stand.  It is working for me for the moment!!!!!    Therese

 

Quilt with my little slow stitched tree squares

I finished this little quilt today.  It has over the last week been left in the sewing machine when I was drawn away by other tasks.  I quilted the top to the polyester batting following both sides of the brown strips and then quilted this layer to my backing following both sides of the beige strips.  I chose a blue polyester cotton fabric for my backing which was wide enough for me to do self binding with it.  The blue draws out the blue of the tree squares and really helps to balance the weight of the dark brown in the quilt top.  I like the offset squares which creates a bit of a stepped look and breaks up the solid colours some.  It measures 38" x 50.5" which is the largest quilt I have made so far.  Went well and I am looking forward to getting one of my other tops started over the holidays.  Maybe the house one being as all the slow stitching is finished on that one.  I still don't have a plan but I will work up something that works.    Therese