THREAD NESTS – Embellished!

Save all those little leftover thread clippings.  I know many folks do. This is just one idea (or two!) that I personally like to use them for.  

I begin by grabbing threads out of my thread bag, and rolling them in the palm of my hand, much like you would do with clay, to make a round ‘ball’ of sorts. 

Add more threads if you’d like. 

Just wind them off the spool with your hands until you have what you think looks good for your little nest!  Add more threads, if you don’t have enough. Particularly if you need more of one color (or more)

Just lay the little ball of threads down on your project; in this case, they are going to be my flower centers.  I could also lay some water-soluble stabilizer film on top to keep the threads trapped, but I’d have to wash it out!  Easier to just ‘free motion them down’ and my favorite foot to do that is the Bernina #44 foot.  

It’s large, clear plastic round foot is perfect for this little embellishment assignment.  The same type of plastic foot is also available as an attachment to the BSR if you own one (Bernina Stitch Regulator), although it’s a bit smaller.

My stitches look like this on the back…just keep it simple, and stitch a few times in a circle until mostly those threads are bound together!

 I free motion with a matching thread (or not!). 

It might look a bit like this when you’re done. 

Then, I take the point of my scissors (and gently) ‘loosen’ the threads, and make them loop as suits your style. (sorry bout the  bad lighting!)

Clip them, let them be loose, fluff them, play them up as you please.

And then start thinkin’ where else you can play with your little thread clippings!  Like this lovely embellished button and flower from “Play With Abandon” (click link to see more pictures and post)

And how beautiful are these beads, adorned in their little thread nest.  It looks like they were ‘hatched’ there!!! 

 and here on a jacket I made a long while back! I am working on a future post about that jacket…

Oh, I hope your creativity bursting with ideas by now…   What are your thoughts?  Inquiring minds want to know!!!


EnJOY!