Thursday, May 10, 2012

Cool Little Spool Tool

Remember my framing needle friend, Terri, whom I mentioned in my last post and who framed my Breakfast at Tiffany's piece?

Well, while I was at Terri's, we had to re-lace a certain section of the piece.  Since Terri is a framer and an embroiderer, she tends to lace a LOT of needlework.

And she uses this nifty little spool holder that her Dad made to hold her lacing thread...


When lacing, I have always tried to guess the amount of thread I would need to lace a piece.  Then I would reel off an estimated amount, usually yards long.  I would cut the thread and then pull the entire length of the thread through the piece using big arm motions.  Often, the thread would end up a tangled mess or get caught up on something despite my best efforts.

Enter Terri's little spool holder.  Terri threads her needle and and begins lacing one side...when she reaches the other side, she ties off the thread and then goes back to tighten all the laces.  Then you can cut the thread...exactly where you need to and there's very little tangling of thread and gnashing of teeth.


I've laced a lot of pieces in my life and I had never learned this method. Soo...maybe there's someone else out there besides me who might be helped by Terri's method. 
 

Thanks to Terri and her Dad for the gift of my own lacing spool. I just used it today and it's a HUGE improvement over my old method.

15 comments:

Rachel said...

That's a useful idea - I've laced pieces straight from the spool, but not with a holder to keep the spool under control - it must make things much easier!

Judy S. said...

Isn't it neat how people figure things out to make life easier? Thanks for sharing!

Recycled Cottage & Garden said...

Thank you to you an Terri for this info.

Catherine said...

Sometimes the littlest tools are the biggest help!

Laurel's Quill said...

Great idea!!! THX!

MeganH said...

That is *brilliant*
(emerging from tangle of stout thread used for lacing - I do my own pieces)

MeganH said...

*thought* A Koma wound with the thread would work in the same way.....

Suztats said...

That's a good idea!

Mosaic Magpie said...

It is a great idea!
Deb

Createology said...

That is the great part of like minded souls who are creative...they so generously share their techniques and ideas. Yay for Dad's brilliant spooler and to Terri for sharing with you and to you for sharing this with us. How sweet that now you have one of your own and it is helping so well. Blissful stitching...

WandarArt.Stitch said...

Susan, thank you for the beauty of science, technology, and as always willingly, I often read your blog,
hugs ..... :)))

coral-seas said...

I also lace from the spool. The spool holder is great and I would find that very handy. As I don't have one, I dropp the spool into a glass to keep it under a degree of control.

I also do this sometimes on the sewing machine. Some threads play up on the machines spool holder so I drop them into a tall glass behind the machine.

Teresa said...

It is always fun to learn something new. New gadgets are fun too!
Teresa's Heartfelt Stitches

Heather M. said...

How helpful! I will definitely try this next time. Thanks for sharing.

Elizabeth said...

Brilliant and simple!! Love it!! Thanks for sharing the tips! Happy Mother's Day dear Susan!!

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