Are your cross stitch threads a bit of a mess? Are they kept in a box that you have to rummage through endlessly to find what you need for your next project? Look no further! Here are a few clever ways how to store and organise your cross stitch threads so you can find them with ease.
Small plastic bags are a great, easy fix to organise your threads. This is quite a low-cost solution and you might already have some clear plastic bags at home you can recycle to get started.
You can place each individual colour thread into a separate bag and then put a piece of card in the bag or a sticky label on the front of the bag with the thread code on - this will help you find the colour that you are looking for.
You can put full skeins as well as any leftover bits of thread into the bag to keep all of your colours in one place. All your plastic bags can be stored in boxes, baskets, drawers, or anywhere else you fancy!
This is a very flexible system where you can easily add new colours to your collection and easily take out the threads you need for your next project. These can be stored in number order, colour groups, or whichever system fits best for you.
Bobbin boxes are a compact and colourful way to store your cross stitch threads. You can place your bobbins into the compartments in number order, colour groups or even in groups ready for your next projects. One downside to this is that you will need to wind the thread around each individual bobbin before placing them into your box - when you only have a couple of skeins this isn’t a problem but when you have a huge stash this can be very time consuming!
The thread can also become creased over time due to long-term bobbin storage. This can cause the threads to be wrinkled when you unwind it from the bobbin and it can be more prone to knotting.
You can get cardboard, plastic, and wooden bobbins. The plastic ones are available in a few different colours. You can write the code of the thread on the bobbin so you know which one is which. Some bobbins are available in a set with the code pre-written on so you don’t have to worry about doing it yourself - which is very convenient if you ask me!
These boxes are available in a variety colours. The transparent ones are very popular as you can see your assortment of colours without opening the box. Bobbin storage boxes are usually readily available from most craft shops, some supermarkets, and many online suppliers. They are usually inexpensive but prices can vary.
These little gadgets come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours but they're normally made from wood or acrylic for durability. A set of 4 'fish' floss drops in a pale blue acrylic (plus hinged craft ring) is included in every Caterpillar Club Box 14 Playful Pets! You simply attach your threads and when separated, there’s a separate hole for single of double threads you’re using.
A set of drawers is a super fancy way to store your threads! You can get wooden or clear sets. The clear ones will make it easier to see inside so if you went for a wooden one, it might be easier to label each drawer so you know what threads are inside. Depending on how many drawers there are in your cabinet, you might have to put more than one colour in each drawer so you might have to search through to find the one that you want.
It is quick and easy to store skeins or bobbins inside each drawer but this method of organisation can be quite pricey. Even though they may look fabulous in the space, more than one set of drawers can take up a lot of room.
This particular wooden set of drawers is the official DMC Wooden Collector's Box which comes with a skein of DMC stranded cotton in every colour - that's 500 skeins in total!
It has 5 pine wood drawers with removable dividers so you can easily organise your skeins or bobbins. There is a large top compartment that opens with a hinged lid so you can keep all of your other cross stitch goodies inside.
Happy organising!
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