Hi Everyone, my name is Annie, and I’m a mad passionate Gardener, and I love to make quilts. I’m also prone to a little bit of “hooky”. I have a few addictions, which could be worse, and they are FABRIC, PLANTS and YARN.

I’m the type of ‘gal’ that has trouble sitting quietly doing nothing. My husband often bemoans “can’t you just sit and watch TV?” I can’t you know, I need to be doing something, keeping my hands busy, creating, making progress, you know how it is.

Lately I’ve been spending a bit of time on Ravelry, looking at crotchet patterns, then printing them, then buying yarn, and then a few DVD’s later, coming up with some wonderful creations.

Crotchet is a great “car craft” when you’re not driving of course, and something you can easily take with you to appointments, Weight Watchers Meetings, Aunty Susan’s and just about anywhere – except work, although I have been known to take my crotchet projects to work on stressful days, just so I can stroke it in my down times.

My Ready Threader Tutorial is another great little project that would be a handy one to carry with you. They are easy, quick and fun to make, and also make lovely gifts for crafty friends.

This Ready Threader Tutorial is not my own invention, but a great little idea, and quick to make. A good gift for a crafty friend or a nice accessory for yourself. Some have even told me you could carry your lipstick in it, in your hand bag, or even a couple of "white mice."

*Some light card for templates
*Small amount of fabric from your scap basket
*Small piece of wadding
*Tiny bit of felt
*3 buttons
*Some embroidery thread

. . . and you're ready to go!

1. Cut from light cardboard the templates as shown below.

2. From the 2¾ inch circle template, cut 2 circles of your chosen fabric.

3. With the fabric on the fold, cut one of the 6½ inch by 3½ inch shapes.

Tip: For extra body, also cut one of these shapes from some wadding (batting) fabric that you just happen to have lying about in a box. I trim the wadding a bit thinner so that it fits snuggly inside and you don't need to cut the wadding on the fold.

4. From the smallest circle template, cut 4 extra pieces from the light card. These will go inside the yo-yo's for extra strength.

5. You will need to cut one shape out of felt, not on the fold this time.

6. Choose some buttons and some thread.

7. Measure 4 inches of thread and knot at each end.

8. Lay the thread on the right sides of the fabric with a little bit poking out the end and sew around the large shape, leaving a couple of inches for turning.

9. Lay your wadding over the top of one side, and turn the main shape inside out, which will then be the right side out.

10. Now you have your wadding on the inside, and you will need to hand sew the little gap that you left for turning.

11. Press your main shape.

12. Now make your yo-yo's and insert the 2 little pieces of card into each of them.

13. I left the long thread of the yo-yo for later stitching of the threader.

14. Now lay your felt over one side of the main piece and blanket stitch to that piece.

15. Now with your yo-yo's facing inside, sew them to the edge of your main fabric.

16. Once both yo-yo's are sewn on, turn the ready threader so that the buttons face outwards.

17. Now put your cotton in place, and slide your needle into the felt, and you are finished!

Enjoy the week of handy tips for Handwork – While you wait.

Cheers, Annie

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Thanks for sharing your Ready Threader tutorial with us, Annie. I really love your thread holder and hope to make one for myself!

Be sure to visit Annie's site here.