Tool Thursday :: Storage Solutions

   

You know the feeling, pulling out those skeins of embroidery floss from your craft store shopping bag..like delicious bits of candy full of possibilities. So what's next? In a heartbeat, they will turn into tangled bits of  craziness..so you'd better get organized before you start stitching! I know, I'm a downer, but you'll thank me later!

Before we start, I must show you the Porsche of DMC floss holders I came across first. Lordy, lordy, as my Grandmother would say.

But if you don't want your sewing space to look like your own personal Michaels then here are a few alternatives:

This is called the "Floss-A-Way" which keeps your floss tidy in glorified ziploc bags that hook onto a ring.

PROS: Inexpensive, easy to use. Quick access from wide zip-close opening. White "write-on area" for color numbers.

CONS: Although the bags are small, they can get bulky if there are a large number on the ring. Doesn't seem like a good long-term solution.

 

The Stitch Bow Floss Holder from DMC is another way to keep your floss in line. You stretch a skein on each of the floss holders and unwind floss as you need it. There are special binders that hold the plastic doohickeys, too.

PROS: Looks like the perfect tool for lazies like me. Plop it on there, no winding necessary. Inexpensive. They claim that the "patented design of the Stitch Bow floss holder allows you to keep the original shape and fullness of the all-natural DMC skein when storing it." Quite the infomercial, no?

CONS: Awkward shape for storage unless you invest in their binders, as well. And what about the little bits of thread you have left over? I'm not sure they would be able to wind around it.

 

I'm calling this the "hang-loose" holder, for lack of a better name.    Each skein of floss hangs on a peg and gets cinched to keep if from falling off.

PROS: Looks very impressive, indeed. Makes it easier to separate strands. Relatively inexpensive. Handy strips slip in for color numbering.

CONS: This wouldn't last a second in my house. I would have to hide it away to prevent it from being used as an impromptu bridal veil or dress-up hair by little hands. Even though they are cinched, I think they would be easily tangled, too.

This one will probably always be my personal favorite. The good 'ol floss box with plastic or cardboard bobbins you wind your floss on. When it's all tidy, it looks like an artist's palette...just waiting to create!

PROS: Inexpensive. Takes up a small amount of space. Can be rearranged easily by color or number. Mine has a little space on the side for needles and small sewing scissors. When it's not so tidy, you can still shut the lid and walk away!

CONS: If bobbins are on their side, it's hard to read the numbers. That's about all I can come up with.

These are just a few different options for storing thread. We'd love to see your floss keepers! Post them to the Flickr group, leave a comment here and we'll do a special freebie giveaway next week. Thanks for reading!

Comments

[sara]

I'm just gettign into this and have no idea wher eto start, nor did I think about storage... I like the last option. Where can I find that?

[miss paula]

It's a quiet day here in my home so I decided to take you up on the challenge and I posted my Floss Keepers on Flickr!!

Thanks for the little contest!! Miss Paula (in Stitches)

[Julie]

I didn't even think to put my floss standing up in my box. I always put it on its side..hmm learn something new each day!

Julie

[Denise Felton]

Love this post! I've scheduled a link to go live from my blog tomorrow morning (Central USA time), August 30. Y'all just rock my face off.

Denise
http://needlework.craftgossip.com

[jenne]

I have the stitch-bow system. You are totally right on about storage of loose remainder threads...I usually just wrap the extra around and stuff it into a binder slot...but it annoys me every time.

[Lauren]

Hi Sara! The plastic floss boxes are available at most craft stores in the needlework section. Also, online check 'em out here:
http://www.createforless.com

[Patty]

I get such a thrill out of winding my floss on to plastic bobbins and putting the number stickers on them, and then into the box they go. Even better is opening the box to see all the pretty colors in numerical order and deciding what to do with them.

[smoose003]

On the cons for the floss bobbins you missed the fact that you have to wind the floss on to them. I personal prefer Stitch Bows. I used floss bobbins for 15 years and I have used floss bobbins for the past 5 years. When I started using the floss bobbins I found that I was winding them to tightly and it would put creases in the floss. I try to buy the bobbins and storage sheets when Michal's and Hobby Lobby are having sales to save some money. I was able to get a couple of binders free from work when we had a surplus. We did donate most of the binders to a local school.

[Ali]

It's a floss box for me. I find the winding therapeutic. And the playing with arranging the colours.

I put a photo in the pool:
http://flickr.com/photos/domesticali/424524588/in/pool-pimpstitch

[monique]

I just added a photo to the pool... I hate to wind DMC onto bobbins, and I found ArtBin containers at Joann which fit the skeins perfectly! Less time winding means more time stitching :)

[Billie]

I have the floss box method, too. Had it for years. I started with the "hang loose" method, but it just looked messy to me. I didn't mind winding the floss, it was like playing with colors to me. Also liked cutting the little numbers and taping them to the spool cards. I guess I was a little wierd.

[Steph]

I definitely prefer a floss box (or four). My mother gave me her floss when I started embroidery. She preferred the 'jam it all in plastic bags' method and it was a msjor pain to wind the floss onto bobbins neatly!

[Juliana]

At the moment, all my floss, regardless of colour, is sitting pretty in a rattan basket! Shame on me. I've been putting off thinking about proper storage. Thanks for this great post! Love the box idea.

[Annie R]

Ha!
I'm just re-discovering my hand embroidery stash after years of mostly neglect. I love the idea of being so organised, but for me it's the jumble of old handed down threads in a selection of bags & baskets. What I find an advantage of this lack of control is that while I'm looking for a thread colour I often see an unexpected colour combination which inspires a different choice... I do my own designs & often free-form as I go...
great blog by the way - thanks

[Plastic Storage]

These are some valuable tips! Awesome post. Thanx.