StoneHouse Quilt Shop: spools of thread

While making a my quilt shop, I realized that I was going to need spools of thread.  A LOT of spools of thread.   I knew I wanted lots of different colors of threads!  I wanted this quilt shop to be a vibrant explosion of colors.   Sure I could buy something, but that is not the mission of this dollhouse.  This project is an attempt to creat everything from scratch and using items I already have at hand.  So I pondered for a bit and then I gathered my supplies.

All I needed were some q-tips, a variety of different colored embroidery floss, scissors and glue.   I was ready!

The first thing I did was to cut the cotton end off of the q-tip.   I found it best to just cut one end off to start.   I would be making about 5-6 spools from each q-tip and the second cotton side gave me a nice little grip/hand hold!

I then wound a bit of thread around the end.   I used a dab of glue to hold it into place before I started to wind and another dab of glue to hold the end into place when I had finished ‘filling’ my spool with thread.

After everything was nicely held into place with a dab of glue, (any glue works...I used tacky craft glue) I took my scissors   and snipped the q-tip  to disconnect the ‘spool of thread’ just a wee bit below the thread.  Seriously, I eyeballed this!

And voila.....we have a spool of thread!

I repeated this over and over.

And over ....

And over....

Until I had enough for my quilt shop.   Tedious, but so easy!!!

I decided to make shelves in my dollhouse to display my thread.  

I have plans to put make bins of white and black spools...those basic most used colors.  (Yes I made quite a few white spools and quite a few spools of black thread).  

It’s a work in progress, but these small projects are slowly bringing this miniature dollhouse quilt shop to life!!!!

Fabric for the quilt shop

I knew that I wanted an explosion of fabric in my quilt shop.   I wanted multiple bolts of fabric, fat quarters, scraps, you name it!  I want fabric everywhere!    I was so excited when it was actually time to start creating my mini versions of these items.   First up, bolts of fabric!!!

I started with bits and scraps of fabric that I had in my fabric bin (and that a friend generously donated to me).   I even occasionally pick up little scraps out the scrap bin at fabric stores.  

I quickly double checked my memory to verify the size of an average bolt of fabric.  I knew that for size, I just needed a very thin piece of cardboard.   I had some scrap cardboard leftover from within the packaging of an item that I had recently purchased!  Perfect!  I cut those pieces down into multiple mini bolts to attach my fabric to.  

I then took the scrapes of fabric and cut it  into strips the size of the bolt of fabric.   I varied the lengths, because I figured a true quilt shop/fabric store would have some thick almost new bolts of fabric and that they would also have some bolts of fabric that were almost sold out.   I started with a little glue on the cardboard and attached the fabric of the glued section.

I pressed down to make sure that it was securely attached.

And then I tightly rolled the fabric around the cardboard. 

I did this until I came to the end of the fabric. I applied another line of glue

And I carefully attached the loose end of the fabric to the bolt.  

At this point, I had completed my bolt of fabric!

I may place a small ‘pin’ in some bolts of fabric, but most of them will be displayed on a shelf and this a pin wouldn’t be visible  so I will not need that extra touch of realism!  

I did this over and over until I had a little mini pile of bolts of fabric.  

It will give me enough to complete the next step of my quilt shop!   I am so excited to share that with you!!!!  So stay tuned!!!