Friday, January 09, 2009

Spools of thread

What is it about spools of thread that attract all quilters and stitchers alike? Something that is a practical item used to wind thread for home use has become a thing of beauty! I am going to try and find more wooden spools this year for a fun Christmas project next year. I know this will be no easy task as so many search for them too. This year, I hung wooden spools in my sewing tree for the holidays. They are once again in my vintage sewing accessories cupboard.


But spools are sweet for yet another reason...
...they are a quilt block. I made this quilt back in 2005 to use for a quilt workshop. I was teaching how playing with simple half square triangles, you can create a wide variety of blocks including the traditional spools block. I called the quilt "Sew Many Spools".


These tabletopper quilts are wonderful ways to add accents to decorate your home. I have it in my laundry room now with my antique sewing machine and irons. I continue to use my little quilts throughout my home in various ways each year. By changing them off continually, the quilts all become new again when I get them out after not using them for a while.


17 comments:

Pondside said...

I love to change things around too - that feeling of freshness or newness when you can fall in love all over again with your quilt or bowl or whatever!

Brigitte said...

I love this collection of old spools, irons and your sewing machine. And all this displayed with your quilts - wahta beauty. It has always been my dream to make all sorts of quilts and change them around - maybe one I will.

Anneke said...

I left a comment but I'm not sure it arrived: so only this: I love this little quilt!

Barbara said...

Heidi, I love this quilt. I also love your collection of spools and your sewing machine.

Hugs,
Barbara

faerieeva said...

oh, how beautiful! I can't quilt, but it always fascinates me to see the endresult when others do it. There is something so pretty about the way the colours come together.

Ginny said...

I'm dating myself here, but I remember the days of wooden spools. My mom had some in her sewing box, and now I'm wondering what happened to them.

As always, I love your quilt, and your vignette. I wish I could see your home in person! And while we're at it, you could give me pointers on quilting, right?

Brigitta said...

So many beautiful things already on your blog Heidi, I love it. Those quilts a couple of posts down are soooo gorgeous. I still have soooo much to learn

mainely stitching said...

Oh, what a gorgeous quilt!!

I love wooden spools, too!

Nanny Ree said...

Heidi I love this quilt. I feel like I can "touch" the spools!!!! I have some really old spools in my sewing box in fact some of them are almost 50 years old ~ the thread is probably very weak but they came from the factory which my late Father managed & they made Irish linen tablecloths napkins etc so I wouldn't part with them. I remember as a child being fascinated with all the lovley colours I recently sewed a quilt for my cousin & hand quilted it using one of the spools. Marie x

Saskia said...

Hi,
I didn't forget to give you my wooden spools. As soon as my yarn is gone, I'll save the spools for you.
My laundry room had a make-over too. But not because I wanted to re-decorate..
About your last blog, the only thing I can say is, that there are people in the world who wants control on everything, and everyone. Little sad, it destroys peoples creativity..
Don't let her do that to you!
Hugs
Saskia

Roberta said...

Love all your antique sewing goodies. Your spool quilt is so sweet. Hope you are feeling better, and have a good weekend.

Robert

Elizabethd said...

It is so nice to see an 'old friend' that you havent used for a while. My stitching gets put away and then brought out, so nice to see it again!

Solstitches said...

Heidi,
I love your Sew Many Sppols quilt and the way you have displayed it is really lovely.
As always after a visit to your blog I come away feeling inspired.

Hugs,
Margaret

Tracy said...

The spool table-topper is lovely, Heidi! I have a "thing" for old thread spools too...I like thinking of all the sewing past. Your collection and photos here are wonderful. Your treasuring of the past is inspiring. :o) Happy week ((HUGS))

DonnaTN said...

Your table topper quilt is lovely. That looks like a project I could tackle.

Karen said...

It's beautiful Heidi and your laundry room I bet looks great. I love to change things around also. It always gives the room a fresh new look and it doesn't cost a thing.

Hugs - karen

Nancy said...

I love that quilt. The spools are so cute to put on a quilt. I might have more wooden spools for you, I thought I gave all I had to you, but I will look again.
Love you, Mom