Thread & Floss Keeper

Tired of losing chunks of valuable tinsels and flosses every time you put them away? Annoyed when that expensive and perfectly spooled wire slips from your grasp and unravels? Well, have I got the solution for you... Child's hair elastics.

Okay. So it doesn't sound earth shattering, but this tip can actually save you time and money, as well as protect delicate silks and flosses.

Very inexpensive, small cloth hair elastics can be purchased at almost any dollar store. Looped around the spool, they secure the material without causing damage - unlike the plastic Cerlox tabs you may have seen elsewhere. Because they are generally synthetic there is also little chance of colour transfer. Larger elastics can be used, but they may have to be doubled up for smaller spools.



Aaron

DIY Bodkin/Dubbing Brush

This is a little trick I came up with some time ago--a combination dubbing brush and bodkin needle. It slims down the tool kit just a little and makes a useful addition to your arsenal.

Materials:

• 1/4"-3/8" Doweling
• Drill fitted with a fine gauge drill bit
• 3/8"-1/2" strip of small loop Velcro with glue backing
  
• Heavy gauge needle
• Epoxy
• Fly tying thread
• Super glue (optional)
  

Instuctions:

1. Cut the doweling to an appropriate length (5-6" or so)
2. Drill a hole in one end about 3/8" deep
3. Affix the Velcro to the doweling at the drilled end either using the sticky backing or superglue to temporarily adhere it
4. Make a couple of wraps over the velcro at either end using the thread, whip finishing both to secure the Velcro to the dowel
   
5. Brush the bottom end of the needle with super glue if using
6. Place the needle in the pre-drilled hole
   
7. Place a good drop of epoxy at the base of the needle and let dry