This week I will show you around my thread and buttons and odd stuff storage.
The first stop is thread storage. Let me begin by saying I love thread!
I keep all my cotton thread on spool racks on my sewing table where I can reach them in a hurry. I use Superior Masterpiece 50 wt thread for most piecing and machine applique work (spools on the right). I also use Connecting Threads Essential threads. I find they come in many more colors which I need for machine applique and they are a sturdy cotton 50 wt 3 ply long staple cotton. I don't use them for hand sewing, however, as the twist is not as tight as Masterpiece thread, and it tends to wind up and knot faster when whipping down binding.
This little clear jar has a spinner top with 6 compartments for buttons. I store them by color.
I keep all my cotton thread on spool racks on my sewing table where I can reach them in a hurry. I use Superior Masterpiece 50 wt thread for most piecing and machine applique work (spools on the right). I also use Connecting Threads Essential threads. I find they come in many more colors which I need for machine applique and they are a sturdy cotton 50 wt 3 ply long staple cotton. I don't use them for hand sewing, however, as the twist is not as tight as Masterpiece thread, and it tends to wind up and knot faster when whipping down binding.
In the drawers beneath the sewing table I store polyester and rayon thread for machine embroidery.
I use Superior Thread (spools) most of the time, but I also have a nice selection of Iris embroidery thread (small cones), which I really love. It has great sheen and is very strong, with great colors
In the next drawer down is Wonder Fil thread in several weights. I LOVE LOVE LOVE using InvisiFil 100 wt for machine applique. It is my new go-to applique thread. I don't need a wide range of colors like I do with cotton, as this thread blends into everything.
I also use Wonder Fil Deco Bob, an 80 wt bobbin thread. I can't say enough about this great thread for machine applique work. It is the best. Yes, I even like it better than Aurafil, which is a wonderful piecing thread. I also have a small tub filed with prewound bobbins. Yup, I love them in my 240 and my 440, but sadly they don't work in my Bernina 790.
My serger sits on my sewing table so I also keep serger cone thread handy. I have basic colors stored in the plastic drawers which sit under my ironing board.
On the other side of the room is a storage drawer with thread I don't use often. One box (the one on top) holds silk thread. I love to use this for machine applique, but have a very limited quantity of colors.
The plastic containers keep it clean and dust free, and keeps moisture out. I can grab the plastic tray and bring them all over to the machine when I am ready to use them. I keep a selection of 50 wt and 100 wt silk thread on hand.
Beneath the silk thread is an Aurifil collection of 30's colors I use when work with reproduction fabrics. There is also a storage bin for rayon thread and extra spools of embroidery poly I don't use very often. Most are duplicates of spools I have in my other drawer.
Last, I have this old cute storage draw container for odd bits. I don't use it much but it was my first storage purchase when I was a new quilter, and it held ALL my tools, back then. Now it holds odd bits I don't use very often. LOL
As for button storage, um, you can tell I am a bit low on buttons! Hahaha. I actually do have more, but they are in my vending bins with other items I sell when I have a booth. I have been downsizing my buttons for several years now and this is a good thing!
Now you get to see the real me! This is my ribbon, elastic, and zipper drawer. Yes, it is all thrown in there in a jumble and I am fine with just closing the drawer and not thinking about it.
I am a bit better with crochet thread and embroidery floss. Although, I also have bins with hand embroidery projects stored for a rainy day.
Ok, I have a lot of bins with embroidery projects store, and some Block of the Month kits, and some themed fabric, and. . . . .
a few project bins with fabric and pattern ready to go when I have time. And a few bolts of fabric just in case I need some. (Tongue firmly in cheek)
So that is the tour of my thread, button, and embellishment storage. Hope you found a few ideas you can use. This week, I have a pack of Aurifil thread to give away. Leave a comment below to be entered to win.
And as always! Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to visit the other designers on the hop to be inspired by their storage solutions and enter more giveaways.
Here’s the list of participants and the days of the week they’ll be posting. Click the links to go to each of their blogs below and follow them, or bookmark their sites so you can check out what each has to say every week!
MONDAYS
TUESDAYS
WEDNESDAYS
- Kate Colleran of Seams Like a Dream
- Kris Poor of Poor House Quilt Designs
- Jessica Caldwell of Desert Bloom Quilting
THURSDAYS
FRIDAYS
SATURDAYS
SUNDAYS
My thread collection is small so I am able to sort and store it in a few containers. The embellishments and buttons are stored in baggies and containers as well.
ReplyDeleteI've been known to keep threads in old / vintage cookie tins much like my grandmother used to do~ ooooohhh ! And her tin of buttons...Loved them
ReplyDeleteI try to keep everything in closed containers so dust doesn't built up. Otherwise I'd be sneezing all the time!
ReplyDeleteI have sewing machines in 2 different rooms (one is set up for quilting), so I have thread in different places as well. My quilting thread is contained in several baskets and I have other threads on hanging spool racks.
ReplyDeleteWow, your thread is organized so well - and you have a lot of it!! :) I long for a better way to store trims, elastic, and such like. I'm thinking I just need to realize they don't store well and just do the best I can. Thanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteThat’s a lot of thread. And so well organized. Thanks so much for sharing your ideas!!
ReplyDeleteI have thread stored in drawers by brand and weight, but I don't have near the amount of thread you do! Thank you for the ideas.
ReplyDeleteI store thread next to the machine it will be used on. Serger thread by the serger, long-are thread under the long-arm and piecing thread next to the sewing machine. I keep thread in drawers or ArtBin satchels with the spool inserts. I hate dust and don't want the thread to degrade from the sunlight damage. I don't have a lot of aurifil thread, so would love to win some. :)
ReplyDeleteI am really jealous of your thread collection! Mine looks paltry next to yours!
ReplyDeleteI moved recently and gave away so much thread. Wish I had kept it when I see how it can be stored.
ReplyDeleteThank so much for being part of the blog hop and sharing your ideas.
ReplyDeleteYou are soooo organized!! Even your drawer of elastic, ribbon & zippers is a nicely organized "jumble"! lol Great job! Thank you for the ideas.. Awesome! Thank you for chance to win your Give-a-way too :)
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is WOW!! at the thread collection.
ReplyDeleteYour thread collection is fabulous and the way you have them all organized is impressive. This blog hop has been a great source of ideas and I appreciate your contributions to our enjoyment.
ReplyDeleteHoly cannoli, you sure do have a HUGE collection of thread! Love how you have it all organized.
ReplyDeleteNice thread collection. Do they get dusty being open? I have wanted to try a thread rack.
ReplyDeleteWowie on your ideas for organizing thread. I would love to have all those colors and types of thread. rozz01(at)cox(dot)net
ReplyDeleteI keep my new threads in platic containers or bags. Old thread in an old suitcase makeup bag. 24Tangent@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI keep my thread in plastic boxes as it is so dusty here. I feel for the pioneer women, and what they had to put up with.
ReplyDeleteRight now my thread is in a couple of drawers of a dresser I have in my sewing room, but I am going to build a real narrow shelf unit that will fit behind my door to store them all in. Since I have started machine embroidering I have gotten more thread. I have drawers in the dresser for small tools, zippers, trims and what-have-yous.
ReplyDeleteI love your organization threads, mine are sorted by color only. So I will reconsider it! 😉
ReplyDeleteGreat inspiration for me to get my threads organized in a more convenient way.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to see I am not the only one with drawers of threads!
ReplyDeleteI have my Mom’s sewing machine cabinet with storage in the four doors for thread - it’s all Coats thread and I am using it. I also have Coats thread in my sewing machine cabinet. I have all my quilt machine thread stored close to the machine. I would love to win Aurifil thread and see how it sews.
ReplyDeleteHi Reeze, WOW your thread collection is great. Some on the thread brand I have not used so I enjoyed your explanation of each type of thread.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing
I also have a large collection of thread - various types, as I do machine embroidery, serging, sewing & quilting. I bought 6 large 18" spinners (lazy susans, from Bed, Bath & Beyond) to put in 2 corner cabinets (with 3 shelves & glass fronts that do not face the window). In one cabinet is embroidery thread (a few rayons & polys on different shelves) & in the other, serger threads, separated by lights, medium & dark colors. They offer quick access by turning it to the thread I need, while keeping light & dust at bay... and they look pretty thru the glass. All my regular sewing & quilting threads are in little drawer units stored in my cube unit, where fabric cubes store art supplies, a variety of yarns & scraps of stabilizer/ fabric. My sewing room is always over-flowing, in spite of constantly organizing & needs thinning out. Mostly it would help if I just completed some of my WIPs!!
ReplyDeleteWOW Karen, I would love to see your thread storage
DeleteI too have a large selection of thread, and for the longest time it was the bane of my existence because I love thread as much as I love fabric in fact I can't love one without loving the other because fabric is basically a huge sheet of thread that has beautiful designs stored in it. I also have a total of 5 not 6 machines, I have a serger, an embroidery machine, a long arm, and my Featherweight which I love and my Janome for bigger projects. I also crochet with Thread, and some yarn not much yarn though. I also do hand embroidery so I have a lot of floss as well. So anyway, I have tried many different forms of storing my thread and I continue to look for a better way all the time, My husband after many years of listening to me laminating about wishing for a better way to deal with my thread solved part of my problem. He built me a beautiful 9 or 10 drawer cabinet that is the perfect height to store the majority of my thread. The cabinet stands approximately 5 ft tall, and the drawers hold thread sitting up slightly larger than the aurifil spools. I actually can use it for my scissors, and small rulers and various other items. I am going to ask him to make me a matching one with slightly bigger drawers to hold all my long arm and serger spools next. I don't have many buttons so they to reside in one of the drawers in the cabinet. I do have beads that are also stored in the button drawer as I do use beads and rhinestones as well. Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteI love the divided container you have your buttons in! Mine are in jars & baggies. Threads ate so pretty to look at, all the colors!
ReplyDeleteI keep trying to organize things; it's always a work-in-progress but I do have a separate bin for different sewing threads - cotton, polyester and embroidery with a few little bags in there to keep the other kinds of thread I have. Wish I had wall space to get thread up there!
ReplyDeleteI too keep "trying" to organize, some day. Thanks for the great tips.
ReplyDeleteI have most of my threads in plastic storage bins. Several stack drawer cabinets hold zippers, toggles and webbing since I like to make bags in between quilting. Tks for sharing all the new storage ideas. Cassie
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of embroidery thread, most of is Floriani since I was taking the classes from his company.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. You do have a lot of thread and I'm impressed that you have it so organized.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful drawers you have! I have a small thread collection that fits in a clear plastic scrapbooking box. I'd love to have enough thread to require more organization! Thanks for the tips! I also have a clear glass jar for every bit of loose thread from trimmings and picked-out stitches (may as well get something out of the effort!. I use the loose threads in art quilts.
ReplyDeleteI don't have much thread to worry about. It fits in a couple of gallon sized zip lock bags. I would love to win some aurifil! ljbisme at msn dot com
ReplyDeleteWOW - you have ltos of thread!!! Mine is in plastic storage boxes!
ReplyDeleteI’m open to any ideas. My whole sewing space looks like your “ribbon, elastic, and zipper drawer”. KIDDING! No, sadly, I’m not. :(
ReplyDeleteHaha Mary Anne, I wish I was motivated to organize that drawer, but for now I feel lucky just to have it all in one place and not strewn about the room! hahaha
DeleteLove those bins! They are looking very organized, and you can choose whichever project suits your mood or fancy.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of thread!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your storage ideas.
ReplyDelete