DIY Thread Spool Holder

I just finished making a multiple thread spool holder from a few simple and easy-to-obtain items. I got the idea for it after considering buying the Bernina Multiple Spool Holder for use with my Bernina sewing machine. Although the design of the Bernina spool holder is good, I didn't like the way I would've had to lean over the top of the machine to see my spools or change them out. Plus the table that my machine sits on is against a wall, so I can't walk around my machine to see or work with the thread holder positioned on the back.

What you see above is what I came up with that sits to the right of my machine on the table. I began doing machine embroidery projects, many of which I needed multiple colors of thread to complete. With this holder, I can simply place my needed spools in the order I will need them. I order them front-to-back in columns, but they could also go left-to-right if that is one's preference. I designed this stand to hold 'Isacord 40' brand spools, and simply traced the bottom of a spool onto cardstock to make a pattern as seen below.

Although I think the cost of the Bernina Multiple Spool Holder is pretty reasonable, I saved a significant amount of money and have a lot more stems to put my needed spools on; my spool holder has room for 48 separate spools!

Below are photos of all of my materials and supplies I used, along with what I paid for them. I already had a drill, bit, hammer, saw, sandpaper, and paint brushes on hand. I also used a small Dremel tool for sanding the holes but that tool is optional for this project. I used all of the dowels for this size holder and cut them to 3 1/2" each, getting 3 pieces from each 12" dowel.

I bought the pre-made palette plaque for the base, dowels, wood stain and clear top-coat, all at Walmart.

The wood base and dowels totaled about $9. The stain and top-coat were the most expensive part, setting me back about $18 for both. Still, the entire project cost me well under $30. If you have stain or paint already on-hand, it would cost under $10, but I consider it a bargain even at what I paid!

Lastly, I did NOT glue the pieces of dowel into the base so I could remove them for storage purposes. To keep track of the dowels, I made a simple storage pocket for them out of a piece of canvas I had on-hand, which I attached to the back of the stand with some velcro. Now my dowels won't get lost!

If you attach a storage bag to the back of your holder, you must add feet to the palette to lift it up so it doesn't sit wobbly on the table! I cut 4 thick leather squares, (see picture) but you could purchase feet, or make them from foam, wood, or whatever you have on-hand.

You could also just put them in a plastic zip lock bag or fabric drawstring bag if you wish, but the pocket keeps them with the base.

Materials (Walmart):

1) Hello Hobby brand pre-made wood palette plaque: 12"x16" - $6.94

2) Hello Hobby brand 16-ct. wood dowels: 3/16" (5mm) D x 12"L - $1.32

(I bought one bag and used them all; buy 2 if you want extra!)

3) Minwax Wood Finish Stain (1/2 pint) in 'Gunstock.' - $7.47

4) Minwax Fast-drying polyurethane (1/2 pint) in 'Warm semi-gloss' - $9.97

5) Canvas for bag (optional)

6) Velcro for bag closure and for attaching to the palette base

6) 4 feet for bottom of palette - (I used leather squares)

7) E-6000 for gluing feet

Created a circle pattern from cardstock and cut a small

hole in the center for marking dowel placement.

Drew straight guidelines and traced my circle.

Drilled and sanded holes and entire base.

Cut dowels to size and gently hammered into holes.

Stained and applied clear topcoat with stems in place. I let them dry this way and then removed them by gently hammering them out from the back using a small hex wrench. You could stain them separately if you didn't want to risk breaking them during removal.

Dowels removed. This is the bottom.

Cut and sewed a simple rectangular bag with 4 pockets and a flap with velcro closures. I also used velcro to attach it to the palette bottom because it was too thin for staples! I dyed raw canvas by soaking it in strong brewed coffee for 30 minutes to give it some color, and then hand-washed the excess coffee out with Dawn dish detergent, before drying it in the clothes dryer and giving it a quick iron. Coffee is my favorite go-to natural dye and lent itself perfectly to the look I was after for this particular project.

I got lucky with the estimation of my bag's size because I didn't try very hard and all 48 dowels actually fit perfectly. Whew! Measure, estimate, and hope for the best!