How do you store your threads and bobbins?
 

I'm sorting out my threads, plus bobbins for 3 machines, and am looking for ideas on how to store them preferably keeping bobbins with the thread they have on them, without spending money on gadgets for doing that. Also, what do you store them in and how do you categorise - colour? type of thread? I need inspiration.

I store my threads in a drawer with the machine I just use a bobbin holder to store bobbins with thread on them. I also store the empty ones in the plastic box they came in

I keep my threads in alex drawer units (from ikea) beside the machine they will be used in. The threads for quilting in one unit and the rayon and cotton embroidery threads in another. In each unit I have a few of those bobbin holder rings with a label (cotton-50, rayon-40). Not perfectly matched but it works for me.

I like to keep thread and bobbin together because I seem to have thread colours that are too similar to discern the difference on a bobbin. I bought an organizer box for fishing tackle, but am sure there are others that would do the same thing. I store the thread and bobbin together in each section and wrap the bobbins with hair ties to keep the thread on them.

My thread is in divided boxes with each bobbin right next to the spool. I have about six of these boxes with machine thread, hand quilting thread and machine applique thread. The names of the colors are taped inside each divider.

I think I have tried every gadget & tip out there, but this works best for me. I got a bunch of tiny zip bags at the dollar store. I put the spool and bobbins in the bag & close. I have 3 boxes one for cool colors, one for warm and one for neutrals. I just toss the bag in the appropriate box. Might not be the prettiest or most organized, but the bag keeps the thread and bobbin together, keeps dust off and keeps the tails contained.

For my embroidery threads (FUFU now Floriana) I organize them by their color chart on my pegboards. I also printed the color # below each hook so I know where they go back. My quilting threads (mostly Connecting Threads) are organized by like colors on their pegboards, the larger spools are on a separate pegboard. My Aurifil and odd brands are in a drawer near the frame. My serger threads are above my sergers (2) and my regular threads are organized by colors on pegboards above the 2 sewing machines. All have 36 x 36 tee towels over them to keep the dust off. I keep the filled bobbins on the peg hook under the spool they go with.

For my quilting bobbins I'll use up the leftover threads on the bobbins for when I baste the quilt sandwich so I can eventually have my bobbin back. Mostly I use the bobbins with little thread left on them for this procedure.

I don't tend to have a lot of thread. My small amount go in see through cases( pencil cases but bigger) for the spools of threads. My bobbin thread stays in my Bernina wardrobe.

Those round flexible donut-like bobbin storage units ARE worth the price! You can see what you have, they won't spill if knocked over, and bobbins fit snugly enough not to unwind.
My mother has a wall with dowel posts where she stores the bobbin under the spool from which it was filled. You need lots more bobbins this way, and need to dust occasionally, plus the possibility of fading of rarely used colors. It surely does make it easy to find the right color for dressmaking.

I bought a thread organizer and dropped it when I got home. $12.00 at JoANn's. Glued it back together then went out and bought like this one. Cheaper and holds more.

I use to keep my bobbins separate since I only used Mettler but now that I have some Aurifil, trying to keep those bobbins with the thread.

I like to have my thread where I can see it. I currently have 5 of these on the wall:
http://www.allstitch.net/product/60-...-rack-5355.cfm
3 for embroidery thread, one for cotton thread and one for everything else. I love that the pins are tall enough to put matching bobbins with the thread and you can stack spools if needed.

Cari

I have many different kinds of thread and 4 different machines. Fortunately each machine's bobbins are different enough to easily tell at a glance which machine they go with. I find that for me keeping the bobbin with the thread works best. In order to keep the thread from unwinding on the bobbin I used a tip from another member of the board and bought some clear tubing at my local Lowes and cut individual pieces that fit over the bobbin and keep the thread from unwinding.

My antique and vintage threads are kept in vintage thread boxes and the bobbins are kept in the bobbin areas in those boxes. Vintage threads are organized by material (cotton, or cotton/poly, or nylon, or silk) and color.

My modern threads are kept in a variety of tins and I use that Hugo's amazing tape stuff to affix the bobbin to the thread cone/spool. Modern threads are organized by material.

Rob

To keep my bobbins with the thread, I use a plain ol rubber band. String it thru the bobbin and wind it around the spool.
Mary

I like this - simple but effective. Thankyou.

This is what I've been doing. There've been some great ideas on here, but I think I may carry on with this, as it has all the advantages you mention. The bobbins for my 3 machines are different enough for me to be able to store them together.

I store my thread, by type, in a small cabinet with lots of drawers that I label with the content of the drawer. I make sure the loose end is fastened down either with a notch on the spool or a small piece of tape. I do not want to have a lot of bobbins with a small amount of thread on them to match thread spools I only use occasionally so I either use the bobbin thread to piece with since it won't show (similar colors, of course) or, I wind it back on the spool and store it. Then, if I need that color again, I just wind it off on a bobbin. I have only 12 bobbins and that is great for me.

Years ago, someone posted a little thread cabinet that was made out of yardsticks. I just loved that look.

I have a three drawer organizer that is placed under my sewing machine farm table...each drawer holds a clear plastic shoe box. Colors are divided by neutrals, blacks and dark blues, and the last for my brights. Bobbins are held in plastic bobbin cases within the correct drawer. My Aurifil and Connecting Threads for quilting hang on the wall....one thread spool and it's bobbin in the next space.

I store them exactly like the picture shown with thread and bobbin together in a plastic divided container. Those that do not fit or cones I store in a deep drawer in zip loc bags...again keeping the bobbin with the thread...I find jewelry plastic bags work well also...I have been emptying my bobbins recently by using them as the top thread when I piece blocks....giving me more available bobbins to use...lol

I have seen a tip that said to use golf tees, stack the bobbin on top of the thread and drop the pointed end of a golf tee in. Obviously this if for threads stored upright.

I have a large picnic basket that I store my threads and bobbins in. I put like colors of threads and bobbins in plastic Ziploc bags. My rule is never put anything sharp in there like scissors or pins. So I know it is safe to paw thru for the right color. I have snack size for specialty threads up to quart size for standard white and grey threads. It's handy when I need, green for instance to pull out all my green threads in one bag.

I use these buckets for my all-purpose threads. I join thread and bobbin with a nut and bolt and cover the bobbin with a plastic ring cut from the pipe in the picture. I store my embroidery thread separately by color in closed drawers.

I keep my bobbins separate since I have 2 different machines. One bobbin case for my 401 and another for my 2662. But bobbins and thread spools are in same drawer.

Much like some of the previous pics, I use the plastic "school boxes" for my thread and bobbins. I have one for each of my machines and embroidery machine. The only exception to this is the one I use for my longarm bobbins. Because of how many I have for it, I actually use one of the tool box things from Lowe's with drawers. They are in the tool box by color.

Haven't tried to organize bobbins (need to though), but this is what I store my threads in(mostly floriani and r/a). All my cotton threads go in the bottom of it. Before I got this, I stored threads in a scrapbook container (4 of them) and had to take them all down from shelf when I needed a certain one). This works wonderful for me and I can just scoot my chair over to it when I need a different thread. Got it online from Sam's.
Also keeps the dust off.

I attach the bobbin to the spool with a pipe cleaner. I keep all thread in a covered bin to keep dust off.

I first sort thread by type. Sewing thread goes on wooded spindles on the wall. I cover it with a piece of fabric. Machine Embroidery thread goes in the drawers on my cutting furniture and are sorted by color. Hand embroidery thread goes in the drawer in the cabinet of one of my sewing machines.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]546350[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]546351[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]546352[/ATTACH]I have a hanging sleeve Pic #1 that fits of the back of my sewing room door, and holds my speciality thread, along with fishing tackle boxes (Pic 2)- one for each color, and a friend built me a wooden box (Pic 3), where the spokes fold down to take out the spools or sit upright to carrying purposes. I also use the bobbin holders in various colors (a different color for each machine) and keep them all in one plastic container - one for each of my sewing- bernina and janomi/bernina embroidery - machines.

Wow, DonnaJ, that is a lot of thread. Gold mine there. lol.