by Terri Beck
[Editor's note: I know it seems as though we address one topic in many different ways and this is not in error. We are truly an international community of friends, customers and at the very least, fellow embroidery enthusiasts. While one person may find a solution to a problem here in our articles and tips, someone on the opposite side of the globe may have the same or similar problem but does not have access to the same materials for the solution. So, we bring you as many solutions as possible. And, quite frankly, the ingenuity is astounding! You are all some terribly creative people! And with that, I give you the latest unique idea from Terri Beck.
Thanks,
rob ]
You know when you go get blood work or give blood and after your done sometimes in lieu of a band aid they put a piece of gauze there and then wrap this stretchy stuff around your arm that sticks to itself when they stretch it and cut it off?
Well I bought some (I bought the 3 in roll because it was only 50 cents more than the 1/2 in roll.
Then I cut it into strips about 1/4 in to 3/8 in width by whatever length needed to wrap around my thread spools so they won’t unwind.
It doesn’t leave any residue and can be used over and over. I especially love it for my king size 5000 yd spools. Just make sure the thread end is under the tape when you stretch it around and then it sticks to itself.
It works great and its really cheap.
I had an “aha” moment last night too. At first I thought this wouldn’t work on bobbins because you couldn’t see the color. I put the end of the thread on top of the bobbin and wrap the tape around the other way. It works GREAT. And it will still fit in your bobbin case if you have one or illuminates the need for one really.
this is a great one, I will buy this tap and try it out.
I have used this tape to wrap around my hoops to keep the material from slipping, but I never though about using it on my thread. It sure is a lot cheaper than the amazing tape I have been using. Thanks for this great tip.
Peggy in P’Cola
That is a fantastic idea. I had be puting a little slit in the bottom of the spool it slip
the tale end in but if you cut it the wrong way sometime when stitching the thread will get cought in it and break. I will deffnetly try this
one.
Wow!!! Wish I thought of that!!! I am also going to get me some.
Thanks!!
This sounds fantastic – and hubby says he thinks we already have some of this stuff. Can’t wait to try it. And thanks for sharing the tip!
Nan in MO
An Ah ha moment for me too! How about using this stuff on stabalizer rolls?
Loose threads have been a headache for me since my very first spool of thread. . . even more so with the mondo 5000+ spools. I’ve tried everything over the years and this takes the cake!! WOW, PERFECT! thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!!
I think that this tape is cheaper at the pet store and is called something like vet wrap?? I bought it
some time ago to wrap other sewing items to keep ends from getting away.
what a great idea! thanks so much for sharing
Again leave it to a man to find something that realliy works great and does’nt cost much. Walmart and a lot of other places sell this. 48″ x what ever you want Clear Plastic it sticks to its self. You can cut what ever size your thread spool is, it wraps around the spool it sticks to its self and you cover all the thread it lasts longer.And you can retighten the plastic around your spools and you can reuse it over and over again.
Great tip! Thank you! You should send this in to Sew News magazine.
Linda
Also, send to Sewing With Nancy!
Linda
It’s called COBAN tape and is made by 3M, the same company who makes Scotch Tape, etc. Great stuff.
Kathy in Sequim, Washington
I think this is a very good idea. I am going to get some today. It is hard to find just the right thing to wrap around those bigger cones of thread. I tried the see thru cling to itself tape but that doesn’t alwasy hold it very good. I never thought of this stuff. Thank you for the good idea.
Pony tail elastics that are like terry cloth work really well on bobbins. You can usually get 50 in a bag for $1.
What a great idea. I have some mesh covers, but they are too big when the thread get down. Will definitely use this idea.
WOW – I could see all the “light bulbs” coming on at the same time!!! Thank you very much for this idea. We had two rolls of the bandage stuff that my husband had needed when he had surgery two years ago.
Hi!
you also can get this tape at a feed store,
where they sell animal feed. they use this tape to wrap horse”s legs . it works great
thanks for all the good tips.
nancy
This is a wonderful idea, thanks for sharing. My bobbin case looks like it’s full of troll dolls most of the time. This works great.
This is a wonderful idea! I am going to use this in my sewing room. You should see all the thread I have. What an idea!
wonderful idea and I like the idea of using it on the hoops to keep from slippig. I tried the non slip shelf liner but it caused the hoop to hand up on the machine bed and mess up the stitching. I will try this instead.
What a great idea I never though of using this tape for my threads. I’ve used painter tape, but I think this is even better. Thanks for the tip.
Hello Gus,
Where at Walmart would I find the clear plastic tape?
Great ideal, will have to get some, use pony tail holders for bobbins.
Great idea! I also use the plastic tablecloth (or whatever you would choose to use if for) that you buy by the yard at WalMart or wherever. I get the thinner one & cut into strips that go around my thread about 1 1/2 times. You get LOTS out of a yard & it’s only 99¢
Holy Cow! Great idea and MUCH cheaper than the Glueless Amazing Tape the fabric stores sell. Thanks!
I recently read one other tip about this type of bandage. Someone was having trouble with their thread not keeping taught when her machine ran. She put this tape over the thread that ran from the guide to where you thread the machine. It just laid over the thread and kept it straight and taught. Another great idea for this tape.
Sounds great, now I’ll have to get someone from the States to buy me some and send it to the UAE, because I have never seen or heard about this stuff. It sounds like a great idea.
Great Idea
Hey, strop paying for this stuff! If you or any one in your family goes to the ER and does get a Wrap of this stuff YOU are CHARGED for the whole roll. So, make sure to ask for it before you leave. At he Hospital too. If they use is for an IV or any thing make them leave the whole roll you will be billed for it! I am a nurse and I always ask if the patient wants it. Most of the time they don’t so I ask if Ican have it. Now I know what else to do with it. A big thank you! Of course I will tell all of my patients who sew to keep it for this. You need to start packaging this for sale before someone else does. It comes in colors and camo too.
This tape can be bought a lot cheaper, at a farm supply store, where they sell horse supplies. It comes in many colors (it’s used to tape a horse’s legs) and is about half the price as the “people” tape. (Such as Tractor Supply store.)
I worked for years in the OR and we had rolls with small amt left after surgical procedure. It went into the garbage. then someone recommended that the left overs were great to clean your clothes after you sew and had little jiblets of threads on you or on the sewing project. Another person shared that it was great to clean off cat or dog fur from your clothes or furniture(no need for those sticky rollers). I have used a scrap beside sewing machine to catch my thread ‘triming’ and it works pretty good.
Thats a good idea. I have been using the blue painters tape. It works well also.
I am so impressed with this idea. This is a huge threadsaver. I have always stored my thread standing up with a wide rubber band on it so that it would not unravel but I like this idea even better.
Thank you,
Joyce Jagger
The Embroidery Coach
I’m sorry it took me so long to read this article. I have so much of this stuff in a big box still sitting in my bedroom! When I had my 2 back surgeries in Dec. of 09 and Feb. of 10 the visiting nurses had to use this because I’m allergic to adhesive! I get so frustrated in my container with all the thread stiching out…I’m forever giving hair cuts to my threads…LOL. This is such an awesome tip! Thank You!
This is a great idea. Thanks A Lot.
I’m glad everyone liked my tip.I had tried the ponytail holders which worked ok on the 1000 yd spools but not the 5000 yd one and I just didn’t like using the painters tape.The pony tail holders also cover the color on your bobbins so this works much better. Thanks for letting me know it’s so much cheaper at the farm supply store. That way I won’t have to be quite so stingy cutting the pieces so thin. TONI- If I new how to package and sell it I would but wouldn’t even know where to start.
Blessins’ to all
Terri
I read this tip, and went to get the sticky gauze. I have cleaned up my sewing room. Great idea, inexpensive, and works on bobbins, and stabilizer. I am so happy, and would just like to say THANK YOU! It is nice to be able to get my thread without having the tangled mess!
I use this stuff too, it works so much better than anything else I tried, and cheap too!!
We call this wrap ‘vet wrap’ because we use it on the ranch for lots of issues with our animals. The wrap is much, much cheaper when you buy it from an equine supplier. We see it at the pharmacy and also with pet supplies and can’t believe how much more it costs than purchasing it from a ranch supply. Great idea. Thanks.