Cross stitch storage/organization/transportation

[wedgetable]

When it comes to keeping cross stitch supplies neat and organized, I am by no means a pro. Right now I've got a bunch of those plastic baggies on 4 pairs of rings and booklets for them, similar to this but with two rings and end covers. I finally got around to reorganizing my thread and putting it in numerical order on Sunday, but those binders are bursting at the seams and I don't really want to buy another booklet for a system I find less than ideal. Beyond that, everything is just thrown into plastic bags - I've got one bag for transporting my current project (including scissors, needles and patterns), and one for everything else. Well, it's economical and modest, but everything gets tossed about and makes things hard to find later. Also, I have cats, and as any cat owner knows, cats LOVE to poke their heads into bags and pull out whatever's in them, especially thread! I'm amazed they haven't torn into my current large project, but generally I'm good about putting that into a drawer (a drawer they aren't capable of opening, lol).

So - I was at Michael's the other day, and was looking at the various storage systems available that weren't the ring-and-baggie systems. I really like the simplicity and efficiency of the bobbin box, though it would require me to spin all my floss onto bobbins, when most of it is still in skeins. It looks good for organizing my inventory of floss, but would be too much to carry around for just my current projects. I noticed Stardrifter using one here, which was part of my inspiration to start this thread.

Back at Michael's, I also noticed the StitchBow™ System... looked pretty cool at first, but I ended up spending about 15 minutes in that aisle just trying to figure out how the heck it all worked. I decided to see if anyone here had any experience with it before giving it a try... the main idea is you have large binders that hold plastic pages with skein-long pockets for thread, which you first put onto patent floss holders. It did look effective, but I'm wary about using a system that requires so many different components that are all trademarked. Not to mention they were selling the floss holders in packs of 10 when the plastic inserts hold 15... evil! That said, they did have a really cool travel bag available for it, which would be nice to have.

Anyway, I know with this sort of thing it's "to each her own", so I'm not looking for advice so much as I'm curious: how do you keep your thread organized - both at home and on-the-go?

[LiquidKarma]

Usually when i buy thread for a project (that i probably won't do right away) after i put it on bobbins, i print off the pattern and store the thread and fabric in a large zip-loc bag so everything is together when i go to do it. Left overs are currently stored in numbered bags ...only until i get a thread drawer.

Not very hi-tech but it's cost efficient

[deborah]

I have the thread I am not using in boxes and have cardboard pieces to put the thread on. The thread number is on each one of them. I have the clear plastic boxes you find in craft store. They have small compartments in them. When I am working on a project I have a empty box I put the thread in that I am using for a project. I have the thread all in one place.
I have some patterns that are video game related in protective plastic clear sleaves in a notebook.

[Stardrifter]

i dunno what i'd do without my organizing box

i have to put those skeins on bobbins or it drives me insane. it takes a long time to get them all wound (especially if you need a lot of different colors lol) but it never snags or knots or gets tangled coming off a bobbin.

i keep all my little odds and ends in an organizer box with drawers:


i'm starting to run out of room as you can see. this is all on my mom's coffee table at that. at my house in texas (or- i guess my fiance's house in texas is more appropriate at the moment lol) i have a whole tower of drawers overflowing with my crap >.>;

i do my best to organize it all anyway lol it gets hard sometimes when i get so much stuff on the go

[julie]

I had recently come across this web article http://www.craftstylish.com/item/8764/o ... dery-floss that described how to use a box and foam board to make an organizer.

I liked the idea because it seemed cheap to do, and I could buy a decorative box that matched my decor. That way I could leave my cross stitch supplies hidden in my box, but the box could remain in my living room where I normally stitch and it would be pretty. There's also no need to wind the floss to bobbins like other methods; just stick the floss in a bag, and label the color on the bag.

I have yet to build my own as I tend to procrastinate, but this is on my to do list.

[Caiella]

I'm a huge fan of my bobbin box for all my floss, which was a pain having to wind them around the bobbins before putting them in the box. For left-over threads, I've got this clear box, divided up into 10 little "sections", which I put my leftovers in, numbered and separated. Shocking system that one, but it works ^^

[nyami]

I'd go mad if I used the bobbins, my mum did that with her stitching, but it seems just...ugh lol. I personally love the StitchBows myself. Even if I'm doing a kit (like now, tho I use plastic baggies like yours for kit thread) I can still use the Large Travel Bag. It has a place for spare needles, scissors and pens, and a zip pocket that's half the size of the Bag itself for spare items (I'm holding two projects in it atm, so that half side zip pocket is holding my spare project). The back part of the Bag is a zipped storage for things as large as your pattern, paper, fabric, etc. The Bag also has binder clips in it. I keep my patterns in plastic slippies and attach them to this. So I highly recommend this bag or even the mini one!

Storage with the StitchBows themselfs tho, I use the StitchBow Storage Box. It shuts completely so I imagine no dust gets in and such. It holds up to 50 bows and it keeps each bow in a notch so they dont fall out! I love the StitchBows alot more than the bobbins I'd imagine. They're worth a try!

PS The large Travel Bag StitchBow plastic inserts hold up to 30 and the minis hold 15. So the packs of 10 aren't too bad

[DMLC]

I use the paper/plastic bobbins and 2 huge case type DMC boxes (I wanted another one but the person didn't want to sell them all to me) -- I'm only using one for floss right now. Other one holds my Aida and whatever else needlecraft related. I do have 2 smaller plastic storage cases that I use for projects -- when I done the the flosses they go back into my huge case that is numbers in order. I also carry my extra flosses in huge zip lock bags that are numbered and I can look thru without handling the flosses all the time.

[riotpatch]

I use the bobbin boxes for my floss and perler beads as well.
When I start a cross stitch pattern, I cut a piece of cardboard off of a cereal box or what not, label the holes with the symbol on the pattern and attach the colours for the pattern.
That way my portable project consists of only a small piece of cardboard which contains all my colours (no baggies, rings or anything).
I guess my system is similar to buying one of these but cheaper. =P

[EdzMasterChief]

I just keep all my thread in a zip-loc bag. I dont really ever transport it. I'm afraid being a guy and being into cross stitching doesnt carry well onto a college campus. Yes Yes I know it shouldn't matter but nonetheless I dont like drawing attention to myself if i can help it.

When ever I use thread i always keep the little paper label on it that it comes with so there cant really be any confusion. Ive thought buying some of those organizer things but id worry about the thread having to many kinks in it? Does that happen more with those type of organizers? And I really dont have that much thread. Most of my projects take up a whole thing of thread. Idk.. I digress.