How To Find The Beginning Of A Spool Of Thread
When you buy a new thread, many sewers find themselves cutting it up in different places looking for the beginning. This spoils most of the thread and as you use it, you will find some of the pieces you cut.
A common thought is that manufacturers don’t want you to find the beginning of a spool of thread quickly. This is not the case. Getting the beginning of your new spool of thread is quite easy. You just need to know how to look.
How To Find The Beginning Of A Spool Of Thread?
Contents
If you are looking for the beginning of a new spool of thread, take the thread out of the paper. Hold it upright and check for the bottom that can open. Twist and open it. Once it is open, the beginning of your spool of thread is visible. Pull as much as you require for your sewing and cut off the rest.
To avoid losing the spool again, tie the loose end of the thread to the easy to open bottom of the spool.
Method 1. From A New Spool Of Thread With An Openable Bottom
Step 1. You have just bought your new spool of thread and are ready to sew. Remove the spool of thread from its packaging paper and hold it between your fingers.
Step 2. Your spool has a top and a bottom. The top is open while the bottom is a base that you can use to set the spool on the sewing machine or anywhere else. Depending on the type of spool you buy, some may or may not have a bottom.
Step 3. Twist the bottom open. As soon as you open it, you will find a hanging thread. You have found the beginning of your thread of spool. You can pull from this ens to thread your sewing machine or needle while sewing by hand.
Step 4. When you have finished using the thread, you still have the thread hanging from your spool. Tie the hanging thread around a groove at the bottom of the spool so that you won’t have trouble finding the beginning of the spool the next time you want to use the thread. This gives you a visible beginning of your spool all the time.
Method 2. From A New Spool Of Thread Without A Bottom
Step 1. Depending on the type of thread you want to use for your sewing, you may buy a spool of thread without a bottom. This makes it difficult for you to find the beginning of the spool from which you will get a thread to sew.
Step 2. Hold your spool up to the light and look at the pattern in which the thread is rolled around it.
Step 3. You are looking for a thread that is hidden in the other threads and where the pattern ends. So, turn your spool around in your fingers while still holding it up to the light until you see the hidden thread. In some spools, you will find that the beginning is marked with a knot.
Step 4. When you find the hidden thread in the pattern, use a needle to pull it out of the threads it is hidden in. You will now have the beginning of your spool at hand ready to start sewing.
Step 5. If you find that a knot marks the beginning of your spool, rub the knot gently with your thumb until it comes off. This gives you an end of a thread that you can pull from your spool in ready to start sewing.
Method 3. When Using An Old Spool
Step 1. When you want to sew, you can either use a new spool of thread, or any thread that you have used before. Just like in new threads, you are likely to struggle as you look for the beginning of the spool.
To find the beginning of the spool easily in an old spool, it all depends on how you store your thread when you are through with it.
Step 2. When you finish using a spool of thread, especially if it doesn’t have a bottom that you can twist your thread around, cut a notch on the spool. You can use a razor or a knife. Make sure that you don’t cut the thread as you do this.
Step 3. Twist the edge of your thread around this notch. This ensures that when you want to use that spool next, you will not struggle to look for the beginning. You will just quickly unroll your thread from the notch and you will be ready to start sewing immediately.
Method 4. On A Spool With A Fixed Bottom
Step 1. If your spool has a fixed bottom, you can also find the beginning of the spool quite easily. Start by removing it from its plastic covering.
Step 2. Seeing that the base of your spool cannot be opened, where will you get the beginning thread of your spool. Your thread may also have boundaries on both ends. So, where do you start to get to the beginning of the spool?
Step 3. Turn the spool around on both sides and check for the side with paper on it. This paper is stuck on the spool by the manufacturer. It is used to provide you with details about the spool and to hide the point of thread at which the thread begins.
Step 4. Now that you have seen the side with the paper, look at the bottom of the thread near this side. You are looking for what looks like a strand of thread that is exiting the spool. You can lift it to the light to see it better and faster.
Step 5. When you see the thread, peel the paper at the point where the threads seams to leave the spool. You will see the point at which the thread is knotted on the spool’s bottom. Since the base is black, you will see your thread clearly if it isn’t black.
Step 6. Using a razor or a pair of scissors, cut the thread carefully at the bottom of the spool but above the base. This leaves with an open beginning from which you can pull the thread to sew by hand or thread a bobbin.
Step 7. When you are through with the thread, you can run the open end of the thread through the hole on the base and tie a knot. When you next need to use the same spool, it will be much easier to get the beginning of the spool.
How To Keep Your Spool From Unravelling?
As a sewer, you are either trying to find the beginning of a spool or looking for solutions to keep your spool from unraveling. Unraveling would cause a loss to your stock of threads. Thus, it is important to know how to properly take care of spools of thread to keep them from unraveling.
When you finish using your threads, you need to know how to store and care for the leftover. If your spool has a base, you can use it to keep the thread from unraveling. Find a notch on the base and tie the end of the thread through the notch.
When you want to use this thread next, untie it or cut it with scissors to get the beginning of the spool easily.
If your thread doesn’t have a base, twist the edge of your thread around the spool and then tie a visible knot. When you next want to use this thread, untie the knot and proceed.
These simple methods ensure that the next time you want to use a spool of thread, you start exactly where you left off. This is good thread management that everyone should use.
How To Keep Needles Safe?
When you are sewing, you need to have lots of needles. This is because you need to change needles on sewing machines as often as possible. This helps to prevent your needle from breaking. Different fabrics and threads also need different types of needles. Therefore, you may have many needles at a time.
To keep your needles safe, you can improvise a safety device. Use a piece of carton paper where you will stick your needles in when they are not in use.
Or, many spools of thread now come with an easy-to-open base. The spool is cylindrical and hollow. You can place your needles inside one of your spools for safekeeping.
Proper storage of needles saves them from rust and helps to enhance their durability and functionality.
You can also buy a needle case. Many types of needles are sold in sets. These needles are bought in clear cases for you to see and pick the needle that you need quickly. You can place back your needle in the case after use.
Crafting has always been a deep-seated passion of mine, one that has flourished and evolved over the years.
I've dedicated considerable time to both studying and practicing in the realm of fashion and sewing, amassing a wealth of experience and skills.
It brings me great joy to share these insights and experiences with you all, hoping to inspire and foster a similar passion for the art of sewing.
- How To Hem Chiffon With Tape - January 21, 2024
- How To Fix Ripped Jeans That Ripped Too Much? - January 9, 2024
- How To Make Pants Waist Smaller Without Sewing? - January 8, 2024
