Cross-Stitching

I keep mine on plastic bobbins (I think that's what they are called) and then they are sorted into ziploc bags. I group them by number (100-199, 200-299, etc.). Then I have all the bags lined up my number in a plastic shoebox type container.

What's your system?

• Reply from Brenda Fletcher

  Saturday, March 13, 2004 12:36 PM

  Hi,
  I keep mine on plastic bobbins too, but then I store them in the boxes you can buy specially for the bobbins. Really easy to keep numbered and in order.!!! Happy stitching. Bren. Go to top
• Reply from Estelle

  Saturday, March 13, 2004 2:28 PM

  I also wrap mine on floss cards. But I use floss-A-Way bags to put them in. The bags not only hold the floss cards but extra floss of that color. Then I put the floss-A-Bags on 3 or 3 1/2" rings according to number. I have two dresser drawers full of floss as I have all the numbers that are available in DMC. Krenik and beads are kept in a plastic divided box that I found and the krenik's can stand up to read what they are. The beads are put into 2 x 2 plastic bags which I number and are kept in numerical order in the box. Go to top
• Reply from Maria S.

  Saturday, March 13, 2004 3:24 PM

  When I first started cross stitching, just shortly after the ark was built, I found plastic storage boxes the size of the skein of floss. I bought 1 1/2 doz. Good thing too with all the additions to the DMC line over the years. The boxes are numbered and each box holds a number of threads in numerical order. I once read that wrapping the floss around small cards caused the threads to break down over time. All that time wrapping floss around cards kept me from my stitching. I pull a length of floss approx. 1 yd. cut it. When I finish stitching, I wrap the floss around the original skein. If I had to do it over, I would use the plastic floss bags. No wrapping and you can keep your bits of floss in the bag. The bags are also good for storing those rayon threads too. My overdyed threads and silk threads are are kept in clear plastic storage boxes the size of shoe boxes. One type of thread in each box. My Kreinik threads and Mill Hill beads are kept in plastic boxes that use to hold chocolates that were wrapped in gold foil. I also leave notes in the floss boxes to remind me where a particular floss might be if a project takes me a long time to stitch and a quicky comes along. Far less confusing for me and cuts down on "hunting time". Go to top
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  Reply from Rebecca P

  Saturday, March 13, 2004 6:35 PM

  I use the bobbins as well. However, I have discovered a storage solution that I love! I went to a hardware store and bought a unit like you would store nails and screws in for the garage. It has 60 drawers (wide enough to hold bobbins). The drawers are clear, so I just put the number family (e.g., 100's, 200's, etc.) on the front of the drawer and put the bobbins in numerical order. If I have mulitples of a color I don't put it on the bobbin, and I discovered that the drawers are just long enough to lay thread still in the skein in (again in numerical order). It took a little while to set up, but it's super efficient now; especially since I can put the thread in either on or off bobbins! It is also great if I end up with more bobbins than I have room for in a drawer, because the drawers are removable/rearrangeable, so I can move them around to add space as needed. Go to top

  • Reply from Paula Liby

    Monday, March 15, 2004 8:46 AM

    My system is similar to yours, Rebecca. I found these plastic craft boxes that are divided in rows the same width as the bobbins. I have 4 of them, and I keep all my regular floss in 3 and use the 4th for my rayon and variegateds. I also have a 5th one in a smaller size that I use for organizing the bobbins I'm using for a current project. The one thing I have never liked about the bobbins is that it puts creases in the threads, which then create kinks and knots while I'm trying to stitch.

    I've also just discovered that the kinked thread doesn't like to unravel to fit on a stitchbow very much! If you wrap it loose, it flips over on itself and tangles - wrap too tight and the bows bend...... So, now my transition to the new system will have to be done as I replace colors from my bobbins, instead of redoing the ones I have. :-(

    I do like the stitchbows, though. The plastic storage sleeves are a bit stuck together with static cling from shipping, but once you peel them apart for the first time, they are fine. The project bag that came with the set is just about worth the cost of the whole system as far as I'm concerned! It's a really nice portfolio bag with a 3-sided zipper and sturdy handles, and it has a clear plastic pocket with a hard bottom for you to keep and protect your pattern in while you use it.

    Well, that really turned into a novel -- sorry for rambling! ;-)

    Paula Go to top

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  Reply from Alanna

  Sunday, March 14, 2004 3:18 PM

  Hi! I store my floss on paper bobbins, and keep them in a box that came with them. :-) Go to top

  • Reply from Becky

    Sunday, March 14, 2004 4:12 PM

    Wow!! Such great ideas!! I knew I'd get some great responses to this question. Rebecca, I really like the idea of the storage bin. I may try that. We actually have one laying around here that hubby isn't even using. So it won't cost me a cent to give it a try - just the time to do it. Although it does sound like a rather time consuming job. Go to top
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  Reply from Charlie

  Friday, March 19, 2004 1:39 PM

  To begin with, you have to know that I own about five full sets of DMC. One full set on the plastic bobbins which are stored in seven of the Darice floss boxes. The other sets are stored in numbered snack sized zip lock bags, which are stored numerically in Nine of those cardboard photo storage boxes. If I am working on a small project, say a RR, or something of similar size, I will pull the bobbined floss and keep them in a one quart ziplock bag, which goes into a one gallon zip lock with the rest of the project. I cut lengths of floss from the bobbin and unused floss gets attached to the hole in the bobbin using a larks head knot. For larger projects, I will pull a fresh skein of floss from my photo boxes for all f he needed floss. These are kept in one quart zip lock bags which go into the 2 1/2 Gallon zip lock bags that contain all of the ingredients for the project. I then set up project cards made of stiff cardboard (the kind of stuff that comes in new shirts) by punching holes along the edge. One for each symbol in the design. I then label the holes with the symbol from the chart as well as the floss number(s). Lengths of floss are cut from the full skein and any unused floss gets attached to the correct hole with a larks head knot.

  Go to top

  • Reply from Jackie

    Saturday, March 20, 2004 11:36 AM

    Like you, I make extensive use of Zip-lock bags for the supplies for my current project/s. Gallon sized to hold everything, sandwich sized ones inside that to hold bobbins, skeins, beads, etc. About 2 years ago the handle on my project tote-bag (had for 20 years) broke, so I went looking for a new one. What I found was a nylon lap-top organizer. The main body of the bag is big enough for leaflets/magazines as well as my project and supplies. A zippered pocket the full size of the bag has smaller pockets and compartments which hold my scissors, Mark-B-Gone, pencil, highlighter, needle container, etc. There are also other 2 zippered pockets - one on the back and one on the flap. While the bag is large, it is easily flung over my shoulder and has places for both my wallet and cell-phone, so I don't have to carry a purse too.

    Until last Christmas, I used a 2-sided tackle box for floss storage. One side had compartments the correct length for skeins. The other side had movable dividers. However, my fiance' made me a wooden floss chest for Christmas. It has 16 3"x3"x10" drawers on the bottom. The top has a hinged lid with just an 3" deep open space where plastic baskets hold bobbins, metalics, beads, etc.

    My floss normally stays in the original skeins until:
    a.) the original labels are lost
    b.) skein becomes too tangled to easily pull
    c.) I'm down to a small amount.

    Then I prefer to use the cardboard bobbins as I don't have to mess with labels, I can simply pencil the number right on the bobbin. Back when I first started cross-stitching, I made my own bobbins out of any lightweight cardboard (shirt package weight) I could get my hands on!

    I still save cardboard to make "remnant cards". Instead of punching holes in the side, I cut little notches. These remnant cards are stored in the top of my chest also.
    Go to top

• Reply from Danielle C

  Saturday, March 20, 2004 11:23 PM

  Mine are also on plastic bobbins in the plastic cases you can buy. I have them in order by their numbers. Go to top
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  Reply from Becky

  Sunday, March 21, 2004 11:59 AM

  Well, I think I finally made my decision. I bought 2 inserts & a few floss holders of the Stitchbow to see what I thought. It looks like a great system but I don't think I'm going to buy it after all. It just looks so time consuming to get everything all switched over and with all the floss I have it will probably take more than one binder. Plus I really like the project box I have. It's divided and is perfect to organize the threads I am using, needles, etc. for the project I am working on. So I really don't want to throw all of that out the window to switch over to Stitchbow and then decide I don't like it. So I think I am just going to get one of those organizers that Rebecca said she uses. I tried to take the extra one hubby has but he already started sorting screws, bolts, nuts, etc. into it. So it was taken. But I did try a few bobbins in an empty drawer and it looked like the perfect solution to my storage dilemma!! So THANKS REBECCA!!!!! Thanks for a GREAT idea!!!! Go to top

  • Reply from Rebecca P

    Sunday, March 21, 2004 6:06 PM

    You are very welcome. I'm just happy to have ideas to share. Happy stitching! Go to top
• Reply from Stephanie

  Monday, March 22, 2004 11:22 AM

  I use plastic or cardboard bobbins. Currently, bobbins that are not IN a project, are stored in a large plastic bobbin case (Floss Central). I don't actually wrap floss onto a bobbin until I'm getting ready to start a project.

  Several gals on another board have recommended those Matchbox storage cases for storing bobbins (for a floss central). Stores a lot more than the individual bobbin boxes, so I'm considering that for my central floss storage. Since I buy by the project and don't have any interest in maintaining a complete collection, my needs might be different than someone who wants all of a manufacturer's color range.

  For individual projects, I use small or large plastic bobbin cases that are put into the 2 gallon ziploc along with all the other project materials. If I only have 10 or 12 different flosses, they just get tossed into the Ziploc. Since I only started cross-stitching last September, I haven't finished any large projects yet (I'm doing rotation style). Go to top