Mrs. Hughes

Retro Inspired Sewing

  • About
    • About Tanya
    • Featured
    • Contact Me
  • My Closet
  • Tutorials
You are here: Home / DIY Projects / {tutorial} DIY Vintage Thread Spool Wreath

{tutorial} DIY Vintage Thread Spool Wreath

08/29/2013

I had been looking for ways to decorate my sewing room when I came across this wreath on Pinterest.

I thought this was a perfect sewing room decoration and was like:  “Hey, I can make that myself!”  This particular thread wreath is made with ribbon wrapped around wooden spools.  It makes it look much fuller and more colorful than mine is.  Mine is kind of more homespun looking as I used actual vintage thread spools.  These all came from my grandma and I probably was never going to use them, but I didn’t want to exactly ruin them either, if I ever needed thread due to a cataclysmic event or something (yes, I watch too many post-apocalyptic movies), I could just remove the spools and use them.  So I actually sewed my thread spools on rather than gluing them on.  This was much more time consuming, but at least I can always use the thread if I need them!

Vintage thread spool wreath

Vintage thread spool wreath

When I started thinking about this project, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to use as the base for my wreath.  I had made previous wreaths with styrofoam bases and they don’t last long as the styrofoam breaks eventually.  I happened to be talking with my MIL while in Joann’s one day and a guy cutting fabric overheard us talking about the styrofoam wreath bases and said that his friend makes them and wraps them with duct tape.  I figured that might actually work and decided to try that!

Vintage Thread Spool Wreath

Supplies

  • Styrofoam thread base
  • Duct Tape
  • Fabric scraps (if you are sewing the spools on, otherwise, use a glue gun)
  • Thread spools (and ribbon if you have empty ones and/or want to cover them with ribbon)
  • Liquid Stitch (if you’re attaching fabric scraps to the base)
  • Thread (if you’re using my method)
  • Glue Gun (if you aren’t sewing the spools on)
  • Ribbon for bow

First off, I wrapped the styrofoam wreath base with duct tape.  You don’t need to use a colored duct tape, unless of course you want to see it.  I just happened to have this purple tape.

Duct tape wrapped styrofoam wreath base

Duct tape wrapped styrofoam wreath base

If you want to hot glue your spools directly on to your base, you don’t need to do the next step.  As I sewed mine on, I needed to have something to sew them to, so I used scrap pieces of muslin and wrapped and affixed  them with Liquid Stitch on to my wreath base until it covered it.

IMG_0256

IMG_0257

IMG_0259

If you went with the fabric strip cover route and used Liquid Stitch, you’re probably going to have to wait until the glue dries.  The next part is assembling your spools.

IMG_0260

If you don’t have any of these spools, don’t worry!  You can buy them on etsy or find them at flea markets and thrift stores.  I bought some more off etsy and my MIL gave me those empty spools you see in front, in case I wanted to wrap any with ribbon.

Next, start sewing (or gluing) them on!  I put larger spools in and then filled up with smaller ones and kept sewing them on until I was happy with how it looked.  It took me a few weeks to make this as I worked on it off and on and also had to wait for the spools that I ordered to arrive.  I think I might make one with the ribbon covered spools at some point.  It would be a smaller one that I’d hang on a door.  This one is pretty heavy!

IMG_0261

IMG_0262

My wreath just hangs on a big nail in the wall, but if you wanted to make a hanger for yours, you would have tied a piece of ribbon/cording/string around the the top of the base and made a loop.  Or you can tie floral wire (or whatever wire you have) around and make a hanging loop.  You would have needed to do this before you started sewing or gluing your spools on.

The last step is to adorn it with a bow.  The inspiration photo has a burlap bow.  I used this lace ribbon I found at Michaels.  You could use anything or go bare.  And voila!  You have a turned some old “junk” into something to decorate your sewing space!

sewing room decor

Happy Creating!

signature

Share this:
  • Share via Email
  • Share via Facebook
  • Share via Pinterest
  • Share via Ravelry
  • Share via Twitter
  • Share via Google

Related

Filed Under: DIY Projects, Home Dec Projects, My Sewing Room, Refinishing "Junk", Tutorials

« August Fabric Finds
Sew Weekly Reunion Pantone Challenge: Emerald Green Voile Dress »

Comments

  1. Anella Nickolas says

    January 27, 2018 at 2:31 pm

    Tanya,
    I just found your charming wreath and have many spools of my mom’s and grandmother’s that I could not throw away. So I’m now going to adapt them into a wreath. Thanks for the great ideas.

  2. Emily says

    October 15, 2017 at 5:03 am

    Beautiful!! I absolutely love your wreath!

  3. Bonnie says

    August 17, 2014 at 6:28 pm

    Thank you for the idea… My mom is 99 years old and in a retirement home.. I make wreaths for her door there.. She always sewed and as we are cleaning out her home we have come across her old spools of thread.. This idea is a perfect and unique decoration for her door…

    • tanyamaile says

      August 18, 2014 at 7:00 am

      Oh, I think your mother would love a wreath like that! I’d love to see a photo, too!

  4. Maria says

    April 9, 2014 at 7:27 pm

    Hi Tanya … I’m a bit confused about how you sewed the spools to the wreath. Could you enlighten me about that? I really like the look of your wreath with the actual thread. Thanks for the information.

    • tanya maile says

      April 9, 2014 at 7:50 pm

      Hi Maria,
      I took a heavy duty needle with some thread (doubled and knotted at the end) and went first through the muslin. Then I put the needle through thread on the back of the spool (like you would do with a needle when you’re done sewing) an then back into the muslin. I did this at least three times for each spool. That’s what took so long with this project

  5. dottiedoodle says

    August 30, 2013 at 3:16 am

    Looks amazing, love it!

    • tanya maile says

      August 30, 2013 at 6:54 am

      Thank you!

  6. Gjeometry says

    August 29, 2013 at 5:40 pm

    Fabulous idea!! This is pretty. You gave me an idea of what to do with empty spools as well (yes, I keep them…..). I could paint them all different colours and then make the wreath. 🙂

    • tanya maile says

      August 29, 2013 at 7:49 pm

      That’s a great idea! I hate to throw those away.

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Subscribe to Blog via Email

My Favorites

  • The 1920’s Egyptian Revival Gown
  • The Embroidered Zig Zag Dress
  • The 1929 Pansy Dress
  • The 1930’s Silk Velvet Dress
  • Sailors are My Weakness [The Dorothy Lara Dress]
  • The California Poppy Blouse
  • The 1950’s Robin Hood Dress
  • The Broderie Anglaise Birthday Dress

Categories

Archives

“Dress Like Your Grandma” Host

Behind the Scenes on Instagram @tanyamaile

Meet my new favorite dress! This is the @gertie18 Meet my new favorite dress! This is the @gertie18 Charm #cinchitdress in cotton linen from @lafinchfabrics . It is my third and favorite version thus far. I did several alterations to this pattern for both fit and preference. This is a size 22/24 in upper cup sizes. I'm not sure if it's because I am on the lower end of the bust sizes at a D, but I raised the bust darts and also raised the shirring line a few inches. I took a wedge out of the back for a swayback adjustment, raised the armholes as they're too low for me and lowered the neckline slit. This version has the banded collar. Other versions I've made have sleeves and no collar. I also lengthened the skirt and am wearing my lightweight petticoat with this. It's difficult to see, but this version has a triangular pocket from a similar vintage 1950's tent dress pattern, which I also used to add more width to the shoulders and create a bit of a sleeve, which I'll be extending out more for my 4th Cinch-It dress. I just had my second dose of the Pfizer vax, so if I feel okay, I'll be cutting out another dress. 😉

This is a great every day dress. It's so comfortable and quick to sew. Without a belt or shirring, it looks a bit like a muu muu, which really isn't a bad thing, but I like some waist definition. My first one I made out of rayon challis, and that's a bit too drapey IMO for this pattern and I prefer this cotton linen and version 2 in chambray, which I'll share when I finish with the appliques and pockets on that. I love this pattern so much that I was going to use one of my treasured vintage Hawaiian fabrics, but didn't have enough yardage to cut this pattern out as that 50's fabric is narrow.  Now that I have this pattern fitted exactly how I want it to, I may just sew 5 or 6. 😉

#charmpatterns #lafinchfabrics #polynesianAF #vintagesewing #plussizesewing #sewistsofinstagram  #sewistsofcolor #curvysewingcollective #sewing #1950ssewing
I made a dress and took photos of it! 💃💃 Thi I made a dress and took photos of it! 💃💃 This is a @gertie18 Charm Lamour Dress and Dorothy Bolero made of cotton linen from @lafinchfabrics. 

#lamourdress #dorothybolero #charmpatterns #1950sfashion #plussizevintage #vintagedressmaking #vintagesewing #lafinchfabrics #curvysewingcollective
My new hussif/housewife sewing wrap that I made in My new hussif/housewife sewing wrap that I made in @the_sewing_room_alameda 's class at the @gbacg virtual costume academy last weekend. I sewed it in class and added the binding today. I love how it uses remnants and that I had everything to make it in my sewing room. It was perfect for this little piece of vintage fabric (printed off grain). I'm planning to make another one to go in my 18th pockets and do some embroidery on it.
I feel incredibly grateful that I've had my first I feel incredibly grateful that I've had my first dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. My husband (a teacher) has also had his first dose. It feels like being on the path to some sense of normalcy and being able to breathe again after a tumultuous year. I'm also looking forward to seeing my grandma and my aunt who is in a care home -- both of whom I haven't seen since before this pandemic began.

If you're curious, as I live in California and we are not doing great amongst the states with our vaccine administration (currently ranked 38) and my county has not reached my age group yet. On Monday, I became eligible in my state as high risk due to BMI (fat privilege!). I would have had to jump through hoops and wait to get a shot at the only vaccine option  my county has (I was on the list), and looked for other options. Our state vaccine website (MyTurn) gave me clinics in other counties which I am not eligible for as I'm not a resident or worker. VaccineFinder gave me locations at area pharmacies and I tried to get an appointment and they were all booked. Finally, a friend told me about Walgreens and I went on their website and made an appointment on Tuesday and had my first shot today. 🎉🎉
This lady head brooch by @lipstickandchrome really This lady head brooch by @lipstickandchrome really made my day. Thanks to @wanderingwhipstitch for telling me about it. 💖
It was pretty unbelievable when my husband and I f It was pretty unbelievable when my husband and I found these Pyrex orange butterprint Cinderella bowls at a thrift store the other day. The orange (along with pink) butterprint were promotional pyrex from the late 1950's/early 1960's and very hard to find. I never thought that I'd have some in my collection as I've never seen these for sale in person and there are so many pyrex collectors in my area. These are mint, but missing the 444 (largest size). At $75, these were not a thrift store price, but a steal considering the current going rate. Plus, I love them, which makes them valuable to me. I rearranged this hutch of my favorites so they could be displayed there. 😊

#pyrex #vintagepyrex #pyrexcollector #orangebutterprint #rarepyrex #pyrexcollection
Today, @mommarainbows and I had a Castle Cake-Off. Today, @mommarainbows and I had a Castle Cake-Off. Who wins? We both do. 🤣 I present to you my Count Chocula cake. 🧛‍♂️ It's a chocolate malt cake with malt fudge sauce, chocolate malt frosting, malt crumble and some somewhat charred marshmallows. I used the recipe from the Milk Bar. 

This is the fanciest bundt cake I've ever made as I usually just pour a glaze on with coconut, sprinkles or berries.
Just finished: A crewelwork pillow with California Just finished: A crewelwork pillow with California poppies and bachelor buttons. I made this from a vintage 1970's Bucilla crewel embroidery kit. This is the second Bucilla crewel kit that I've made and I just love using them. I was fortunate to find this one with my state's flower on it and it was a pretty quick embroidery project.

#bucilla #crewelembroidery #crewelwork #embroidery #handembroidery #1970sembroidery #1970sstyle #californiapoppy
Follow on Instagram
Copyright 2012-2021. Tanya Maile Hughes. All rights reserved. Please do not copy or reproduce any content from this site without approval and credit. Sewing graphics by katieshoestring and California poppy graphics by DigitalDesignsAndArt

Mrs. Hughes: A retro inspired, vintage garment sewing and plus-size dressmaking blog by Tanya Maile Hughes.

  • About
  • My Closet
  • Tutorials

Copyright © 2021 · Adorn theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 · Adorn Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in