29 Nov How to Create Paper Sloyd Thread Winders

The next project in our Paper Sloyd Series is a set of thread winders. This project is the 5th model from the second year in the book Paper Sloyd for Primary Grades by Ednah Anne Rich. They were easy to make, as the measuring and cutting were fairly basic and no assembly was required.

Thread Winders?

Now if you’re sitting there wondering what you would do with a set of thread winders (never mind a set!), you’re probably not alone. I’m pretty sure I’ve never had the need for a thread winder in my entire life. Honestly, I’m not even sure why they would have used them in 1905 when this book was published. Maybe they would have been useful if someone was making their own thread?

Why make paper sloyd thread winders if they are useless to us? This is a good reminder of the purpose of paper sloyd. Paper (and cardboard) sloyd serve as a valuable precursor to other handicrafts. The purpose of this activity is not only to produce something useful, but to establish new skills and habits that will help to produce valuable items in the future, as you go on to learn other varied handicrafts. So, don’t skip this project! It has value as you develop your skills!

Materials Needed

The materials needed for this project are:

• A cutting mat
• An Exacto knife
• A pencil
• A ruler
• Bristol board (we used cardboard cut from a box)

Happy Handicrafts: How to Create Paper Sloyd Thread Winders

Once you’ve assembled your materials, it’s time to sit down and make some thread winders. This video is made with the purpose of helping other students work through this project. Homeschool moms may find this to be a great opportunity to set their children up with the video while they find time to relax with a cup of coffee – or more likely, get some other waiting task completed.

I felt like I got a little peek into life in the early 1900s while making these thread winders with my daughter. And although we don’t necessarily have a need for thread winders, we did find a purpose for our models. We used them to wind yarn, and we also used the shapes to create handsewn, felt Christmas ornaments.