thread storage?
 

i'm really trying to figure out thread storage. so far, i've got some in a closet in a plastic box, some in the top drawer of my sewing table, etc....

i'm not really wanting to use one of the racks--i think the threads would get dusty. how are YOU storing your thread???

betsey

good luck .. i have the same problem i have lots of those plastic thread holders but they just don't hold much

My dad made two for me. Are quite large to hold lots of spools of thread. I just take small sandwich bags and put on like a hat on each spool. Keeps the dust of and I can see what I have for thread. Can be mounted on a wall or leaned against something if you don't want to hang it.

My spools are stored inside my sewing machine cabinet. Also, an old friend made me spool storage from reclaimed boards & 10-penny nails hammered into them. It works well, is inexpensive & I line the idea of using recycled resources.

I use clear plastic "tackle" cases. Each case is about 9" long by 24" wide and more than tall enough to hold a standing spool. It comes with separators that I can put in. I can get about 40 spools per case. I have 5 cases currently. One holds nothing but my Aurifil 50wt which is what I use the most of. Other cases hold my quilting weight threads (30, 28 & 12), and another with "odd ball" threads (60wt, metallic, clear, etc) ... etc. I label the front of each case. I also keep my thread notes (ie needle size and tension that works best with each thread) on sticky labels on the inside flap of the case.

I have a small book case in my sewing room where I keep them stacked along with my sewing books and store other notions.

I bought the Sulky cases that folds in half. The only thing is they are mainly made for the small spools when you get a medium you can get them in but it is tight. I have 4 of them mostly full.

I don['t really know if they still have these but I bought 4 matchbox car plastic storage containers about 5 years ago. They work great for thread. You can store 1 large spool or 2 regular spools in each slot. These are normal spools, not cone spools. Those, ummmm, I don't really know unless you want them on a board. I always thought mine would get so dusty out all the time so right now, most are in an old wooden bread box I've had for years. Works ok. Will be happy to see how others handle this.

Great idea with the baggies. Thanks.

Walmart sells clear vinyl plastic covers for the June Tailor thread racks that they sell.

I read this somewhere but can't remember where. I don't know how to post pictures on here by if you pm me with your e-mail address I can send the picture through my e-mail. Anyway, we took the picture boxes that JoAnn's put on sale, or use the 40% off, and glue golf tees to the bottom of the box. I used the long tees and I can store the spool of thread and the bobbin with matching thread on the same tee. Very cheap fix. And they have a lid. You could use any box that is deep enough to put thread and bobbin. I can get 18 in mine. I chose those boxes because I had a lot from collecting them over the years. On the outside I label them - all purpose, hand quilting, machine quilting, etc. They stack nicely on a shelf.
Just a FYI.

thankyou everyone for sharing! i'm gonna have to go shopping and see what i can come up with. would there be any reason to NOT store the thread in glass jars???

Here is a picture of what I use for my embroidery thread. It will hold the big sulky spools upright. I have all my thread and stabilizer in this little cart. Each drawer holds about 50 spools.

I got this one at Fleet Farm, but also saw them at Wal-Mart.

This is how I store my thread:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...m-t162426.html

I use prescription bottles and my husband drills a small hole in the top for the thread to pull thru. It helps when you drop the bottle the thread doesn't un roll. I can still see the colors and I just store them in a plastic ben.

I have the thread boxes from Joann's - they are great, but I needed so many that I gave up. I now keep the threads in one of the plastic drawer units and sort by type of thread. I still have thread in plastic shoe boxes, storage boxes, tins, etc. Anything that will hold thread is being used. I like the idea of the golf tees. It is hard to keep track of all your thread when you go on a buying spree like I used to do when I had lots of money and preparing for retirement when I wouldn't have much money - like now. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I bought the neatest cart on wheels with 10 drawers. It is light weight and easy to move around. It cost 24.99.
I have plenty of room for my threads and a lot of room for bobbins, rulers, rotery cutters and ect. I wheel it to my sewing area which is my dining room. The nice thing is I am able to take it back to the closet for storage to hide it. I would send a pic. but I can't download one as of yet.

I have a 3 drawer rolling cart. I place single colors in ziplock bags and place the colored thread bags in the top drawer and the neutrals (black, greys, white, creams, etc.) in the second drawer. The bottom drawer is for the large spools.

I have one of those too! (The wooden cart from Farm and Fleet) I too use it for my embroidery threads, hoops, and pens/pencils

I doubt that what I have done would suit anyone else, but I will tell you anyway. All my thread is stored in containers where they can't get dusty, etc.; I have different places for different types of thread. 100% cotton sewing machine thread is in one plastic 3-drawer unit; dual duty in another; polyester embroidery thread in the drop-down-door section of my book case; rayon cones in a plastic box under my bed; rayon spools in plastic storage boxes (stacked), each box designed for a specific style spool. It doesn't sound very organized but, in fact, it is because I know precisely what thread selection to look through. Because I have hundreds of machine embroidery thread colors, I keep a typed up-to-date list of the color numbers and where each one can be found.

I also keep mine in storage cart.

I use mostly cones so I have 3 of the plastic 4-drawer chests from Target or Wal-Mart. Keeps them free from dust and when I open the drawer I can see all the colors easily. I do group the colors together in the drawers.

thanks so much everyone for the ideas! i wish i had a fleet farm near me <g>!

I too use the toy matchbox car garage(s) as they're called; doublesided, stand up on end under the sewing table; handles on top and hold a lot of thread spools for a cheap price. I love them.

I use the "matchbox car storage" as well. Go to http://www.spacesavers.com/Storage/T...Car-Carry-Case. They hold 48 spools. I purchased 4 of them (because I inherited my grandmother's thread) but 3 was definitely enough. I like have that many because I was able to sorty my thread by color.

I jsut realized that the link I sent said "out of stock" but at the bottom of the ad is says manufacturer: Plano. It's been a couple of years, but I think I did a search for Plano, found the company and ordered directly from them. I called them first, told them I wanted match box car boxes. They knew exactly what I was talking about.

I use a combination of containers and drawers.
Long arm thread under long arm in drawers, spools I use when matching colors and varigated are downstairs in tub/tote, and one thread case with small machine spools.
I know where to look for what I want, so I guess that is half the problem:)

I purchased two plastic storage boxes with compartments that perfectly fit a spool of thread at Harbor Freight for $5 each. They hold a lot, you can instantly see what you have, they stack in a drawer, and are much less expensive than almost the same boxes specifically sold for thread storage. I've been pleasantly surprised with how many items I've been able to buy at Harbor Freight that are great quilting aids.

I cut pegboard to fit the drawers of one of those 6 drawer plastic carts and glued small dowels in every other hole. I use these to store both my embroidery spools and my regular sewing thread. For the big serger spools, I got another cart with deeper drawers which will hold 4 cardboard six-pack containers (like for beer bottles) in each drawer. The cones fit nicely into each compartment on the container. I drop the cones into the six packs with matching colors together (since you need multiple cones of the same color). Funny, one of my friends was here one day, saw the cart and asked " Why do you have all that beer in your sewing room?"

Could you post us a picture of these? Sound really perfect for thread. I love Harbor Freight for all kinds of stuff. Thanks.

There are some neat ideas on this site
http://blog.fabric.com/2012/01/thread_organization.html

I really like the first one, the frame...

I found one of those 3 drawer plastic units at Wally world, works great..I too had my thread on racks and they just collect dust. Good luck

I use plastic 3 drawer or 4 drawer cabinets with casters from Office Supply...my husband cut white peg board to
fit in the drawers, then cut and glued pieces of dowel into the holes...spaced them for room for the thread spools
works out great...I keep mine in a closet in sewing room and can just wheel it where ever I want it.

I use a pegboard: http://kitlangfiberart.blogspot.com/...ow-you-it.html and love it!

Terrific ideas on this thread!

Today, after reviewing the above blog, I cleaned up an old typesetter's drawer that I found at an antique store a few years back but never used. It is now hanging on my studio wall beside one of my sewing machines with my thread and my thimble collection on display. Not all of the thread would fit, as the compartments are not large enough for the big spools, so I kept the June Tailor thread rack that I have been using. It's hanging on the wall under the typesetter's drawer. I really like the "rainbow effect".

I have 4 of the June Tailor thread racks hanging on the wall. I use all the thread so much never noticed it getting dusty..I do alterations so it's used almost daily. Never thought about covering the racks

I purchased these drawers cabinets (the photo shows two) from Ikea and they are located next to the machine I use the most. A drawer for every color (though black, white and grey share one) with some extra drawers for machine tools, seam ripper, bobbins and other often used items.They work as an extension of my sewing table as well.
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I do lots of embroidery, so I have LOTS of thread. I got one of the multi drawer roller carts at JoAnn's. The drawers are different colors, so, I have red thread in the red drawer and so on. For general sewing or other speciality threads, I have red plastic boxes that I got at the hardware store. I have them lined up on the divider in my sewing studio. No, they are not covered, but don't seem to get much dust. I just may cover them with thin vinyl.

Those little tiny plastic bags they sell at Hobby Lobby. They are for Jewelry makers primarily, i think. They are just right size for a spool of thread. No matter how you store them they stay dust free and don't get unwound and tangled. I throw them into baskets. One for black and white, one for brown,tan,gray (gray is every quilters favorite color), one for red,pink,purple,yellow,warm colors, and one for cool colors blues and greens.

I have 4 June Tailor racks on my wall and I need another one for my regular thread. I use it everyday because I do alterations, so it doesn't really get dusty. My serger thread I store in 2 drawers in one of those plastic 3 drawer "storage dressers". I made dividers big enough to hold 4 spools for each color. Works great.

Previously, I had racks my DH made and placed above the windows. Yes, there was a dust problem, but not horrible as I have air filtration in every room. Now I have 4 drawers. One of the dresser drawers (Sterilite, plastic stackable dressers which I got at Walmart) is plain cone thread. Another is metallics and variable cones. I have 2 much smaller drawers for smaller plain threads, many for hand work. This set up works well for me, although the plain cone drawer is VERY full. All of my thread is protected from dust and from light damage.