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Are your cross stitch threads spread out everywhere and a little bit messy? Are they kept in a box that you have to rummage through endlessly to find what you need for your next project? If so, then look no further! Here are a few clever ways to store and organise your cross stitch threads so that 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 that you can repurpose to get you started.
Place each individual colour thread into a separate bag and then put in a piece of card too 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 could also use a permanent marker pen directly onto the bag itself. You can put full skeins in as well as any left over bits of thread loose or on bobbins to keep all of your colours in one place. All of your plastic bags can then be stored in boxes, baskets, drawers or hole punched and in a binder!
This is a very flexible system where you can easily add new colours to your collection, as well as easily take out the threads you need for your next project. These can be stored in number order, colour groups or whichever system works 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 stitch-a-long project! One downside to this is that you'll 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! You can however use a genius system whereby the plastic bobbin is held securely using an electric drill (not as dangerous as it sounds!) and when it starts to rotate, the thread winds on for you without the manual effort!
The thread could become creased over time due to long term bobbin storage when wound tightly. This can cause the threads to be wrinkled when you unwind it from the bobbin and it can be more prone to knotting but you could iron them if you really wanted to (or even use hair straighteners if they aren't too hot!) to easily smooth down the threads.
You can get basic cardboard, plastic or wooden bobbins. Online you can even find some beautiful acrylic shaped ones. The plastic ones are available in a few different colours. You can write the code of the thread on the bobbin using a permanent thin liner pen so you know which one is which. Some bobbins are available in a set with the code pre-written on or come with stickers 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 readily available from most craft shops, some supermarkets, and many online suppliers. They are usually inexpensive but prices can vary. The ones we use at Caterpillar Cross Stitch are from DMC.
A set of gorgeous wooden drawers is the ultimate way to store your threads. There are a few available made from either wood or transparent plastic. 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 but if you have a system, this will be straightforward.
It's quick and easy way to store skeins or bobbins inside each drawer but this method of organisation can be quite pricey - the official DMC wooden drawers currently retail for around £500! 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 - what a beauty!
Let us know on social media how you like to store your threads and get organised for your next stitch-a-long project.
