I currently use the pony tail holders but I'm going to switch to the clear poly tubing. We use the tubing in our business and we always have off-cuts that would otherwise just be tossed. I asked my husband a while back to bring some home ... I guess we both forgot about that request.

I keep my thread in a clear poly sectioned tackle box (made in the US too!). I have several boxes that stack and I have labels on the outside of the boxes stating the contents (two boxes of 50wt Aurifil). If/when I have a bobbin with thread still on it I pop into the same section as the thread.

I love the plastic tubing idea. This board has taught me something that has helped with the bobbin overload problem, use them up when piecing. I realized I have bobbins from things I did years and years ago. I know I will never match that bobbin to the right thread to make something again in that color, so I have been using them up. That said, I do keep my embroidery bobbins separate and extras wound, so the plastic tube would be very useful there.

What an excellent idea....I'll have to check your earlier post to see particulars about the hose....

Thanks so much....this is a really helpful hint.

I have bobbin cases that I've had for years. I have the greens in one case, reds in another and so on. I also have a case for the heavy duty. Also the number on the spool of thread is matched with the same number on the bobbin. I use the little round adhesive tabs you see on yard sale items. They're cheap and you can get them anywhere in different colors. The small snack size Ziploc bags work well also. They're big enough to hold a couple spools of thread and bobbin spools. Also great for traveling.

If you use Fluticasone, or any other brand of allergy nasal spray, they have these neat little rings on the tops to keep it from de-compressing in your purse...yep...they fit perfectly around my bobbins! I love cost free re-purposing!

I have a different bobbin box for each machine's bobbins. I buy the boxes at Wal-Mart. It is easy to store the many different bobbins I have..I mark the top of the box with each machine name so I can go right to the bobbin I am looking for...

I keep bobbins, filled and unfilled, in clear plastic containers that medicine (pills) come in. The bobbins stack one on top of the other in the bottle and I can see at a glance what I have. I don't bother to secure the threads; somehow they don't seem to tangle. The only drawback is that this method doesn't allow for keeping spool and bobbin together, unless you have a large container.

I have clear containers for all my thread due to the dust, ( got some a WM and last two at connecting threads) and keep all bobbins with the thread, they fit, then when I want to sew something with a color, if I have a bobbin it is all ready to use, do lots of sewing that is not quilting.

I guess I'm a little different here.

I have 3 different sewing machines rendering 3 different bobbins. I can never remember which thread I loaded which bobbin. So, I store the bobbin with the thread, using little plastic zip lock bags:

http://www.joann.com/self-sealing-tr...g/xprd1002427/

Sound crazy? Maybe it is! But it works for me. I also recently just purchased a double sided thread box that is big enough to put the bobbins with them, and this works well, too.

I like to keep mine in old pill bottles I have from my meds. I prewind my bobbins so i just have to change it out when i am sewing and not have to wind each time. I then mark the bottle with the color inside. the top can be marked to with the color if you stand them up in a drawer. i have the plastic cabinet that fits under the desk so it is right by my machine.Two drawers for the thread and the top drawer for the bobbins. I have a small box in the drawer too to throw the emptys in to wind for my next project. one bottle holds about 6 bobbins.