How do you organize your floss?

samhain126

I am trying to find the best way to organize my floss and since I am determined to get myself organized and actually establish a craft area in my house, I thought I would ask to see what people like best.  I am looking at cards and boxes, but is it a major pain to wind all your floss?  Also, I am worried about storing silks in that fashion.  The DMC Stitchbow is another system, but I dunno, it seems rather expensive.   I am embarrassed to admit that i have been just keeping my floss in bags and in vintage tins which is a real pain in the posterior.  
Thanks for any advice, it's much appreciated!

guaynia

I used to keep it in little bags on a ring but it was hard to look for my colors. Took a look at bobbins and a box but they looked too exposed to me. I've noticed that the floss last longer if they're sealed. So used a binder that had laying around and bought sheets with pockets for baseball cards (pack of 10 sheets with 9 pockets each for around $3.00) and to seal the pockets used velcro dots cut in half. Now they are all visible, handy and organized by numerical order.

XStitchDoc

The plastic pages with Velcro dots is pure GENIUS!

I keep my silk floss (spools) in Jammer boxes. I use Thread Drops for skeined flosses once I've opened the skein to use in a project.

ValerieAnne

I haven't purchased anything yet, but I keep seeing containers that come with bobbins/cards (different amounts depending on the kit), where you can write/put a sticker of a number on the card/bobbin. The cards in the kits I've seen are plastic as well. They look interesting and don't seem like they'd take up much room but will keep organized.  Here is an example. This one doesn't include floss or anything like a lot of the ones I've seen do, but if you don't need those things, this is a great deal.

                               
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pinky66

I prefer plastic bobbins, have never had a problem with them kinking on the bobbins.   I used to have 5 of the plastic floss boxes for storage but I upgraded them in a big - 4 drawer tackle box that hold all the the DMC colours plus the newest 35 shades and some of the fancy ones

TheOraclePatter

I use snack bags with an index card inside (to help them stand up better) for my main stash.

For my WIP, I use CD sleeves - I have a separate envelope for each color in the pattern, and put there the approximate amount of thread I need for the pattern.

kittykatcrafts

I have my dmc on bobbins in plastic boxes.  The extra skeins of dmc and my other brands of floss are in little baggies (1 skein to each baggie, unless it's the same floss). The baggies are then sorted by color shades on binder rings.

xxstitcher

Wind onto plastic bobbins, number ordered in a thread organiser. I cut out the thread number from the label and tape it to the top left of the bobbin. Any spare skeins of colours I already have bobbined get put in a plastic ziplock

xxxtglxxx

Mine are all stored in groups, in organza bags, and then i bought some cheap smaller organza bags for individual numbers.  I like to move threads from different projects too, so having a master set makes it easier.

Marypain

I wrap my threads in the cards and store them in DMC boxes arranged for them.  I sort the numbers from big to small.  It is very easy for me to find.

Quiltera

In bags of paper, by project, and no bobbins just the original bundle by DMC...looking for ideas to organizing by color and like the DMC color cards, someone has an idea? :o

xsmom214

I'm done winding...forever;P  My DMC is on bobbins but as I replace them, I've been leaving them as is.  I have those and my Anchor collection in nults/bolts bins.

For my silks and hand dyed threads, I use Jammers cases.  I know some people have managed to store the entire DMC line in one case!!  That was by using bobbins.  Mine still hold quite a bit even without the bobbins.  

Have fun organizing:)

samhain126

Reply 2# xsmom214

Thank you so much, I really appreciate the input.  I have been such a start and stop cross stitcher even though I love it.  I think if i organize and make it less painful to find things I will actually start finishing projects.  Happy Stitching!

samhain126

Reply 3# guaynia


Okay, you are seriously awesome.  That is a genius system and I am going to steal the heck out of it.  That will work perfect for what I want.  Thanks so much!!  :D

xsmom214

You're welcome:)  Glad you found a system that will make you happy:)  You're right, stitching is much more fun when your supplies are easily found, LOL;P  There's nothing worse than knowing you have that color and can't find it!!

guaynia

Reply  guaynia


Okay, you are seriously awesome.  That is a genius system and I am going to steal ...
samhain126 Post at 8-2-2011 06:52

                               
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Thanks and you're welcome! I got tired of carrying a tote bag and dig through it to find my colors. Have to say that the velcro dots are a PITA to cut and place in the pockets but is well worth it and inexpensive.

"When In Need, Imagination Kicks In!"

sallyrose

I have been using bobbins and plastic boxes. The cardboard bobbins that come with the box are way too flimsy (bend and tear with use) and I had to slowly replace them with the plastic ones. What I do not like with the boxes is 1 they do not all close tightly, 2 the lid cracked off one of them and 3 the bobbins sit up nicely in the sections only when they are all in there. Otherwise, they are always falling over. I always have more than one project on the go, so there are always bobbins missing from the boxes. When I go to look for a colour, it becomes frustrating to read the number on the bobbin when they do not stand still. LOL.
I need a better system myself and really like guaynia's creative idea. How original!!
I would never have thought to do that on my own.

redstar

Floss bags for me, nothings wasted as useable cut offs go back in the bag and the threads are kept clean. I dont like Bobbins as i dont like the kinks in the threads. When i start a project i pick the threads (in bags) that i need and put them on a big floss ring which hangs off a hook on my stand.

quiltlady27

i put my threads on small cards , made from cereal boxes with a hole on them .
i note color numbers on the card