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, its 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. Ive noticed that the floss last longer if theyre 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.

babo4ka

Well, I tried lots of options (bobbins, plastic bags on a ring, plastic pouches, Darice organizers), etc. and was not happy with any of them. I am an avid stitcher and also a second hand store scavanger. So after all these years I accumulated a lot of floss. I mean TONS. So I came to a simple lazy solution how and where to store it.
Imagine a huge plastic bin full of gallon-size plastic zip bags. Each plastic bag is marked by 100's (100s, 200s, etc up to 3800s). In each bag there are 6 strand skeins of DMC, just as you see them sold in Michael's or HobbyLobby. The skins are stuck as is, based on their number (ex. DMC 754 in the 700's bag). Of course, there happen to be duplicates, triplicates, even quadrupliactes of the same number in each bag. Sometimes there are leftovers from completed projects (either wrapped around a bobbin or in a small separate plastic bag), I try to select those first. Also in this bin there is a DMC Threaded Color Card booklet.

So, if I start a new project where there is a pattern and a DMC floss list, it takes me 1-2 min per DMC number to find a needed skein. All I need is to pull a marked zip bag, consult the DMC Threaded card, search for the color in the bag, and voila!
The bin is stored on the floor of the closet, under the shelves.

There is a smaller plastic bin of "Other than DMC" floss, with bags "Anchor", "Dimensions", "Bucilla", "CXC",  "Others" and "Unknown" in it, but I use that one rarely. It is stored in my carfts room on the shelf.
My own system of organization, and it works for me.

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 Ive opened the skein to use in a project.

SmallStitch

I got a bit over-detailed and I have my master floss set stored on thread cards - hand made using heavy duty card-stock. 14 holes down one side of A4 lengthwise. one whole per color. All extra skeins are stored in bags by color - 100s in one bag, 200s, then 300s, etc. Granted, I kit up each project on their own with individual floss cards and project bags, so I only use my master set when I prepare a new project. It keeps everything nice and tidy EXCEPT when I pull it all out to kit a new chart. Good thing I don't start a new project at random.

Raidersterry

I wind mine on bobbins and store in the plastic boxes. It works for me. The boxes seal shut and are in numerical order.  

1145108703

thank you very much.

MioRica

I'll make a note.

Pcmesa

me interesa

xsmom214

Im done winding...forever;P  My DMC is on bobbins but as I replace them, Ive 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

Youre welcome:)  Glad you found a system that will make you happy:)  Youre right, stitching is much more fun when your supplies are easily found, LOL;P  Theres nothing worse than knowing you have that color and cant 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 youre 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 guaynias 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