Theresa, I would do that! My machines are so easy to thread it only takes a couple of seconds. :)

If it's really old thread it might be dry-rotted. Give it a tug and if it breaks easily throw it out.

I have a zillion cones of rayon & polyester machine embroidery thread. I do still have my embroidery machine, but I don't use it. I guess I should start embroidering everything in sight. :)

Donna

Theresa, if the almost empty thread spools are your only worry, you're golden! Just bite the bullet and toss them, I know constantly changing bobbin thread is the LAST thing I want to do. In fact when I'm doing a lot of sewing I'll remove the bobbin even when there is some still showing because I hate to stop in the middle of a seam (especially machine quilting) because the bobbin has run out,

Personally I would use them up. But if it doesn't bother you to toss them, go for it.

I don't have tons of thread, but I probably have more than I'll ever need. I really like Aurifil 50 weight for piecing, so I wouldn't use my leftover spools for that. I have tried to keep my Signature quilting thread to a few basic colors so I don't end up with a lot of that. I think I might just toss or donate the thread that I don't think I would use. I just did that with a bunch of cleaning products that had accumulated in my cupboard. I have to do that with my clothes too. I keep things thinking that I'll use that old tee shirt for gardening or cleaning, and then I never do. I think many of us are programmed to "waste not, want not." but sometimes my sanity dictates that I just get rid of stuff.

So, I'd bundle up those old spools in a ZipLock bag and drop them in a Good Will collection box. Someone who can't afford new ones will take them.

Lois, I need to cull my closet, too. I have a bunch of clothes I don't wear, either b/c they don't fit any more or I just don't like them. Then I think, if I get rid of all those clothes I'll hardly have anything to wear! But if I'm not wearing them now anyway, what's the difference?

Donna

Too funny...reading all of this sounds just like me talking to myself! Depending on my mood I may save, but eventually waste not want not loses and the old gets tossed!

Zip-lock to the rescue. Some were not even worth a second thought. Anything that was lighter in colour, I kept.

Theresa

Put a few spools in the button tin for the kids to string buttons together.

No button box any longer. Last fall, I started a purge and sent all my buttons to GGD #1 along with a whole whack of craft supplies which I knew I would never do again. She loved the glitter packs but I think Dad and Mom put those aside fro a while. A four year old and glitter spells trouble.

Theresa

To reduce the volume of thread, I wind small amounts onto bobbins. They take up less space, I can still use them, and often they come in handy for mending.

If old,I want to get rid of but, my wife will keep and use until it is completely used up. Rethreading and replacing drives me crazy every 3 to 5 minutes and my machines are easy to rethread. She uses the old stuff and I refuse to :)