Sunday, May 6, 2012

Organizing embroidery threads

Hi everyone!

Thank your for your words of encouragement on my embroidery, that meant so much to me!

As shared in my previous post, I had intention of organizing all my embroidery threads. I bought a storage box, some sets of plastic bobbins and this plastic bobbin winder by DMC, all were ready for my organizing task. But after a few times using this tool to wind them onto bobbins per the instruction on the label, I found that it took a lot of time, especially when I had to do that with hundreds skeins of thread...


I tried to figure out if there are any way faster, easier to wind all my threads instead of spending hours and hours hand winding. My sweetie suggested that I should try with my sewing machine, he thought it might help. Oh what a wonderful idea! I did it and the result was just GREAT! So, I'm very happy to share with you how I organized my threads with my sewing machine!

Okay, let's start. You will need:
  • These 2 pieces of the bobbin winder (just take it apart - very easy).
  • Floss bobbin (plastic card) which you have written the thread color number on.
  • A small plastic tube that is about 1 inch (I cut from a bag handle the craft store gave me for storing yarn). 

Now put the card holder piece into the plastic tube. You may need some fire to get it closely fit together.

Put the rest of the tube on the bobbin winder shaft of the sewing machine, slightly press to be sure it fully covers the bobbin winder shaft and the card holder piece is right on the shaft (no space in between).

You also need to unwind your thread by using the sewing machine handle, hold the thread and pull slightly, very quick and easy. Believe me, you don't want to get any tangle during the winding process.

Insert the card in between the card holder piece and push the peg tightly to secure it.

Wrap the thread around the card a few times and slide the bobbin winder shaft to the right. You are ready to go!

Hold the thread with your hand, start the sewing machine as if you are winding the bobbin for sewing. For the first few times, you may want to set the speed of your sewing machine at low level for easy winding, when you "master" it, you can set the speed at higher level and your job will be done much faster! 

Wind as many threads onto bobbins as you want... You will get into it!!! :)

My organizing task was done and here is my storage box...

I don't throw these floss labels with color number away, I'm keeping them in a small box just in case...

Still have some more but the box is full, I need to try to put them into as well, or I may need to buy another box!

Thank you everyone for your visit. I hope this helps you to have an idea on organizing your thread.

~ Wishing you a happy weekend! ♥

20 comments:

Mereknits said...

What a great idea, and so much quicker than hand winding. Enjoy all your beautiful colors.
Meredith

Hillery said...

BRILLIANT!!! How did you come up with this!!!

paula said...

When I wound my floss, I would take the band with the floss number and place it between the floss and the bobbin . . so the number would show. Then, I didn't have to write the number on the bobbin and, perhaps, write it wrong.

WHat an ingenious idea for winding the thread. When I wound mine, I always found it lulled me into a peaceful state of mind, no thinking was done, just wind. Kind of like when I wind a ball of yarn . . I have an automatic yarn winder, but I still prefer to wind by hand.

... Bimbi said...

That is the most amazing idea! How clever of you and what a perfectly neat end result. Ready to stitch!
Bimbi x

El Olor de Cádiz said...

HOLA LOVESTICH !!!!!!!!!! QUE BUENISIMO ESTE ACCESORIO !!!!! SE MARAVILLA UNO, AL VER QUE HAY ARREGLO PARA CASI TODO.....
QUIERO AGRADECERTE, TUS PRECIOSAS PALABRAS CONMIGO. EN VERDAD ERES UN BELLO SER HUMANO, QUE HE TENIDO LA SUERTE DE "CONOCER", AUNQUE SOLO SEA EN LA LEJANIA. MUCHOS BESOS, GUAPA.

Unknown said...

oh wow! The colors look soooo pretty! And what a great idea from your hubby! I find that doing tasks like this, that are on the mind for some time, really satisfy the soul!

Steinhäuschen said...

Perfect.
Barbara

Wendy said...

Absolutely genius!! Thank you so much for sharing this. I once spent days winding thread, now I'm going ot try this!

Anonymous said...

What a fantastic idea. The pair of your are a very clever combination!

Donna said...

That's one of the best ideas I have seen in a long, long time!!!

I've never seen the little winder, but I haven't actually looked for one, but I will!!!

This might help with your labels - instead of a box filled with the empty rolls, why not fold them flat, or open them flat, tape them down on paper and put them in a plastic sheet holder for reports? That way they could be stored the same way you are storing the threads? Same order, I mean. Either by number or color.

Thanks for sharing a great idea!

Blessings,
Donna

lovestitch said...

Oh that's a great idea for saving the labels, my friend!
We can open them flat, or cut the color number part only, tape them down on a sheet at the same order, that way we can have a instruction board for positions of thread, I think it helps a lot especially when we have more than 1 box like this!
Thank you for sharing your idea back! :)
Best wishes, LS

Teresa Kasner said...

How wonderful a way to organize your floss! I'm impressed!
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Lillie and Moss said...

You were very busy!! Very nice organization!
Well done :)Shari

Rafidah Ahmad said...

love the thread storing idea!!!tq for sharing dear!

Sandy said...

What a fabulous idea. I always did it by hand back when I cross stitched and don't remember them having the little winders back then. I still have alot of it, numbered on cards just like you have, even the storage boxes look the same. lol

Making rounds today from my newest blog, Flat Stanley and Friends. Wanted to invite you over for a look see. And since you're a Mom etc, thought you might be able to share stories or pictures of a Flat Stanley adventure.

He needs some help getting started, with visitors, comments, followers, and sharing stories.

Wendie-kins said...

You do know that by getting another box to put those leftover spools in, you'll end up filling it with more colours and then end up having a few more left over and needing another box.... LOL thats just how it starts :D x

Haddock said...

I like that step by step illustration.

Ericka Muldowney said...

You’re really passionate about sewing and embroidery. Since you use a variety of threads and sewing materials, it is really essential to have an organized storage box. It’s a good thing that you were able to maintain a well organized storage box like this. This will keep all your materials in an organized fashion, and will let you sew “seamlessly” (pun not intended), without having to scramble while looking for your materials.

Unknown said...

Absolutely brilliant!!

DragonladySue said...

Fantastic idea .lovestitch,to organise my threads i have several full sets, In have them organised in the same boxes you are using mine are in number order from the first to the last and a separate box for specials like variagated and metallics and also Ecru.x

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