I have different kinds of bobbins for different machines, so I have a bobbin box for each. When I'm piecing and all my bobbins are full, I'll just use up whatever is on them so I can start fresh. I have waaaay too much thread to be able to keep spools and bobbins together.

Thats what I do to. Then I divide the colors by warm and cool and put the thread in plastic tubs.

I keep mine in travel soap boxes, the kind you put in your suitcase. The thread does not unravel. each box has a different kind of thread.

I use the small soft plastic wheels made to store bobbins, this product's most appealing feature is the ability to hold the bobbins in place even when I drop it. I label each wheel with the thread weight or name. This allows me to match thread from my large rack with the bobbins with accuracy, and to pack them with ease when I travel to retreats and classes.

I use those three hole binder paper reinforcements to hold the loose end of the thread onto the bobbin (I wind the thread very close to the end, then bring the loose end up onto the side of the bobbin, and hold it in place with the reinforcement). 300 reinforcements for a couple bucks at the dollar store or W-mart, makes them cheap. That leaves the hole of the bobbin open to use golf tees, or other products that need the hole open to store the bobbin. Then I keep spools with their corresponding bobbin in those ridged styrofoam trays that sausage come in. They stack well, there's room for spool and bobbin side by side. They are easy to organize however one wishes - by colour, by type of thread etc. They also fit inside a ziploc baggie to keep dust free or for transport.

The dowels on my thread rack are too fat to hold my bobbins. So I came up with an idea....I cut plastic drinking straws about 4"-5" long and put them in the spool of thread. There is enough extra sticking out the top to hold the matching bobbin. Sure, I can't put them on my thread rack, but I can keep them in a box that is deep enough to hold them standing up.

I use the toe separators from pedicures to hold my bobbins. I tape a number to the top of the bobbin and a corresponding number on top of the thread. All of my thread sits in plastic "shoe box" containers and the bobbins sit on top. I try to keep everything in numeric order. So far though I have only used white, blue and green to sew my quilts (all three of them).

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL

I put my thread and bobbin in a small baggie also. W

RonieM ... In your other thread, you mentioned clear plastic tubing around your bobbins, but didn't explain. What tubing are you using?



Great thread and ideas .... Now that I've started building a thread stash, I've been wondering what the best ways to stash the stash would be! Thanks!

I went to Lowes and bought a couple of feet of clear vinly tubing (I think it was 3/8") and cut a slit the entire length, then I cut it into smaller segments that would fit around my bobbin. Since it is clear, I can always see what color thread is on the bobbin. Previously I used the small ponytail holders for kids, but I couldn't see what color was on the bobbin. I like the clear tubing better. But beware, if you do this, make sure the tubing is nice and round. When the get toward the end of the roll, it gets squished and ends up more of an oval shape which doesn't work very well.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_19635-104-SV...ing&facetInfo=