Don't you just hate it when you get ready to use a spool of wire and it springs loose on you? The result could lead to kinked wire if you try and use it in that state. So here are three ways to keep the spool under control whilst you work and save your sanity.
1. Bowl it!
Just place it in a small bowl or a large tea cup to stop the coils from unwinding. This method is especially useful if you are stringing beads onto the wire as for wire crochet. The beaded wire can also be loosely coiled back into the bowl.
2. Bag It!
Slip the spool inside a plastic zip lock bag just big enough to fit it. The wire feeds out easily as the spool will turn inside the bag. There isn't enough room for the wire to uncoil. This method also takes good care of your wire as you can just zip it close after use.
3. Rubber band it!
This method came about by accident. I had been using wide rubber bands to try and hold the coils in which didn't work very well. Then one day one slipped. It was an eureka moment.
First slip the rubber band on and make a figure 8. Then fit the lower loop around the spool. The elastic band stops the wire from springing loose but will still let you draw from the spool. Tip : use an elastic that's slightly smaller or the same size as the spool so it stretches. A loose band will not do the job.
Do you have any favorite ways to share too?
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11 comments:
Pure genius! These are techniques I've used for yarn in knitting and crocheting, but never thought to utilize them for wire! Another idea is to mount the spool on something like a paper towel rack, and it works well for storage too :)
I have no advice. I find I do everything the hard way until someone shows me different. :(
I do get annoyed when the wire uncoils...I usually store the rolls in a bag...never thought of the other ways!!! :0)
What annoys me even more is when the Tiger tail, Soft Flex etc., unravels...the finer ones will kink up if not careful!
Cheers
Very cool ideas! Thanks for sharing. I currently use the "bag it" method but I'm always looking for easier or more efficient ways.
-Stephanie
Yes, thanks for the tip! The "bag it" idea is especially good for sterling silver wire, as it tarnishes easily.
: )
Thank you for the tip!
Great tips. Why do we always make things hard? I'll be using at least one of those tips (maybe all)
Great ideas! I like the rubber band one. Should even work with the spool on a dowel. Will have to try it and see. Thanks!
Thank you so much for the tips! This is my first time working with beading wire and I was getting really frustrated with the uncoiling!
Jen
Just found your site today. That rubber band method is definitely a "now why didn't I think of that" moment. Love it, thanks!
Pearl, your rubber band idea is very clever. I will probably have use for it when I begin to practice wire crochet.
I agree with Azure Island Designs about the annoyance of having beading cable (like SoftFlex, AccuFlex or Tigertail uncoil. I have purchased some cable in the past that came with a hard plastic stop which was C shaped and snapped over the inside of the cable spool holding the cable in place. Unfortunately I've not run across those in ages. Sometimes good ideas like that one are lost because it costs a bit more...though it would be nice if someone invented a special storage unite that we could purchase just for this purpose.
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