Get Organized - Day 2 - Thread

Welcome to day 2 of

Today we're talking THREAD.

I've heard tales of people who only buy black and white thread.  I think that those are myths.  At least sometimes this 2 tone color scheme can be blamed on expensive serger thread.  But when it comes to sewing, especially when I make clothing, I love to use matching or coordinating thread.  

This has led to a massive collection of spools, in rainbow colors.  I have 4 colors of brown.  Did you know matching browns is difficult?  Anyway, here's a good bit of my collection.  Some is inherited, some I bought, some I bought in bulk, some came in sewing kits gifted to me.  There's outdoor UV protected thread, poly/cotton blend, just cotton, fancy thread, cheap thread, elastic thread for shirring...a pretty good selection, I must say.

I've really struggled to find a great way to store all this thread.  I had no drawers, so I was limited to how to store things. And let's face it - CRAFTY PEOPLE LIKE PRETTY THINGS.  

We like things with character. Things that speak to who we are.  Traditional storage that is as plain as water isn't fitting for this girl.

I've tried the traditional thread storage plastic bins...I hate them.  I couldn't even find a picture of one like mine to show you.  Here's the problems I had with mine:  The lid doesn't firmly stay on.  And I outgrew the thing in no time.  Some spools were too big or too tall to fit, and it just didn't hold that many.  I saw recently they make a larger version of the plastic bin....Maybe it just isn't the storage type for me, because I had no urge to buy it.  It looks cheap, uninspired, and flimsy, like daytime TV.  (yes, cheesy jokes, that's me).  I like pretty things, and that just didn't cut it.

So I moved on.  I made a corkboard with nails set out on a grid.  It looked cool and held lots of thread.  And then they just started dropping. I'd wake up in the middle of the night to a spool falling behind my sewing table. I can't tell you how many I dug out.  So that system didn't work for me.  Maybe I'm just that bad with a hammer...I don't know.  It drove me nuts.  Actually, I chucked it, and never got a picture... Sorry!

Next I tried a house.  You know those tacky miniatures (that I secretly ADORE, especially the little stoneware ones)?  This is a little display shelf house for those I found at a thrift store one day.  

It held the thread nicely, except I couldn't always see what I was looking for, and I outgrew it pretty quickly.  Very cute, and looked nice on my shelf.  It just wasn't perfect.

And then I finally replaced my mobile sewing table with a real sewing area.  I'll let you in on that secret soon!

And I was gifted with drawers - actual drawers in my table. I never had those before. I scoured the aisles at Target looking for things that would hold thread nicely...and I came across a nice silverware tray for my thread.  Here it is with the spools I had at the start of writing this post. (Yes, there's more spools later).

There's different widths for each bin, so tall spools fit in one area, small ones in another.  It works out nicely.  But my Pick Your Plum deal just came in...look at these gorgeous spools of ice creamy pastel colors.  Wow.  Wonder if they fit too?

Here goes nothing - And look!  This holds...wait for it...50 SPOOLS OF THREAD.  If I own more than that, it's my own fault I can't find a way to store it. Right?

This is what works for me. You may have found your own solution - I'd love to hear what you used! I made a point of using something for my storage that anyone could find...but I know not everyone has drawers - goodness knows I didn't until yesterday.  Wall hangings and shelves were my only options, hence the cork board and house.  I think the moral of my story is buy something for a table that has drawers.  ;)

Thanks for making it this far, and I'll see you back tomorrow for Day 3 - maybe some embroidery storage ideas?  And there might possibly be a special deal for my readers...come back tomorrow!

See you soon.