How do you store all the small strands?
 

I have a problem which I suspect that I share with many other sewing enthusiasts.

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I have a lot of strands of different kinds. It is everything from satin stripes, Velcro strips, small pieces of string, leftovers of bias binding, pieces of lace, zippers etc etc etc. The picture is just a small fraction of it.

Right now I store them i various containers of which I have to rummage through all to find what I'm looking for. Many times I end up buying something that I already have just because I cant find it.

Do you have any good storage ideas to share?

I separate them all. One container for each. When I have a lot of strings, I sew them onto phone book pages so I don't get overrun with them. You can safety pin the zippers together.

I get cheap plastic bags and label the type material that is in the bag such as; cotton, polyester/polyester cotton blend, nylon, denim and so forth. When I'm using that type material I pull the bag and throw the strips in it when finished (at least) 1 1/2" wide minimum. I don't close bags all the way, leave a little breathing room.

I also store by color which would be obvious.

What do you intend to do with them? Why not braid them and wrap on a paper roll or even a TP roll. They would be easy to unbraid and press.

I bought a bag of small size rubber bands and when I cut off selvages or narrow strips I roll them over my hand then secure with a rubber band. Then they are tossed in a basket or clear plastic bag.

Just saw something on pinterest where the items were wound around tongue depressors/Popsicle sticks and put in clear jar...

I wind leftovers strips of binding on empty paper towel rolls, pin the end, and store them in a drawer.

I put all my pieces of left over binding in clear glass gallon jars.

For zippers, I sort them by: metal, plastic, separating, etc. Place them in zip-lock bags, then put all that in a larger plastic tup. Makes it easier to find what I'm looking for.

Buttons: Sorted by color in zip-lock bags, again in a larger plastic tub.

Also, have saved those clear plastic zipper bags that sheets and comforters are sold in. They're great for lace + odds and ends. You can see what's there without digging too much.