floss storage and change

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Vera39760	floss storage and change		Lead	[-]
Posts: 1528 04/11/08 01:23:40	Tags : None Does anyone else keep changing the way they sort and store their floss? I started out with boxes and bobbins, but TW's are a pain to blend colors when done that way, so I started precuting and storing in the tool organizer boxes. That does make TW's easier, but over the years I've started having problems with thread tangled. So I just started using the little bags and kept them on rings in order, but for a large project you have many rings and finding the right one can get agravating. Then I had the bright idea of using the DMC floss holders which store very neatly and for a small project works pretty good, but right now my project is very large and takes two binders for the floss. I spend more time looking for floss than actually stitching especially when it is one or two stitches of one color and then the next one. So I'm thinking about winding the floss for this thing and having all my thread in one little box again. My floss storage has changed over the years, but my methods really have. I started out with about a 10" round hoop, about 35 years ago, and gradually discovered I liked a purple 5" hoop. Then I got Q Snaps and a floor frame. The floor frame is sorta hidden because I just couldn't get really comfortable with it with my rocker. I used it for about a year and I could stitch quite a bit faster but it just wouldn't rock with me. I have Q Snaps in all different sizes and stiched with them in my lap until two days ago when I realized my hands were hurting from holding the frame. So I am back with my 5" hoop, only I can't find my purple one. I'm using a pink one. There is one good thing from all of this. My 11 yr old DGS has learned to stitch and he doesn't care how the floss is stored or if he's using a hoop or Q snaps as long as I let him have a metal board with magnets to help keep his place He's working on Alvin and the Chipmonks. I think the pattern is 12 pages. He's coming along quite well with it. Vera from Alabama
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vampyre0711		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 9 04/11/08 07:43:21	I still use the bobbins, but find that I wind 2 together with the blend. I have heard that some stitchers "create" a bobbin of just the blends together. Also, I have to agree with you...I use a 6 or 7 inch round hoop. I find that the q-snaps even the small ones are too heavy to hold in my hand. I would like to find a nice floor stand in the future. My 11 year old nephew wants me to teach him to stitch....must be "the age" Debbie in Wisconsin
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flying fish 98		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 96 04/11/08 08:46:49	Bobbins in boxes, with loops of floss thru' punched holes on strips of card for each project. i have a loop per symbol, so pre-blend etc. Then I'll salvage back on to bobbins: most of the stuff I stitch has so much confetti that slight differences between dye lots don't matter. All my spare floss is separated into sandwich-sized snap-lock bags, one bag for 200's, 300's etc. I keep overdyed thread in flossaway bags on ring binders and metallics in another sandwich bag. This has always worked for me. erin
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Erin in MI		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 785 04/11/08 10:42:56	I am a bobbin person at heart. However, my stash is so large, that I cannot bobbin things as I buy them, I'd have to buy stock in bobbins!! So I use bobbins in a box for my current project, but store my stash in the snack-size ziploc bags, grouped on rings by 100's - white to 299 on one ring, 300-399 on another, etc. I've even had to make a second bag for my white However, I decided about 8 years ago that I didn't like this method, so I bought those drawer cabinet things that guys store all their screws and bolts in and put each color away in it's own drawer, but those got so bulky and hard to manage, I finally went back to the baggy system for my stash. I can store all my rings of baggies in one plastic bin, so it's pretty compact. All of my specialty flosses are thrown in a gallon bag on top of the DMC - I really need to come up with a system for that....and the ribbons...yeah, someday. Now, when I'm kitting a project, I will reference my stash first, and pull everything I can from that. I'll store all I need for the project (except q-snaps, bobbin box and scissors) in a 2-gallon ziploc bag. This keeps everything together and dust-free and takes up little space. I'll wind bobbins when I start the project - if that's needed - but I tend to use partial bobbins first, to use them up. I've used q-snaps for a number of years now, but I'm starting to wonder if that is why my left thumb is starting to hurt - holding the q-snaps. Maybe I'll pull out one of my hoops and see if the thumb gets better. But what will I do with all the extra fabric on Flower Power if I move to a hoop??? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Erin in MI TW WIPs: Birdhouse Bellpull, Enchanter, Guardian, Woodland Fairy, English Garden Sampler. Other WIPs: Flower Power (Crossed Wing), Angel of Healing (L&L) Gaelic Banner (Dracolair Creations). Finished in 2008: Rejoice Ornament (M Designs), Love Ornament (M Designs), Hope Ornament (M Designs), Mother's Arms (Mirabilia), Santa of the Forest (L&L). PictureTrail: http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=erin_in_mi ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
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jenharper		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4857 04/11/08 12:11:31 Cheering 'gneer	I'm another bobbin person here. For big pieces I multiple needle it. All I do for setup is I cut lengths of every color the same before starting. I'll blend as I go and stick thread in needle. If ort is long, I have a scrap of fabric with tape along the top edge mark symbol on fabric stick in needle by label and grab a new needle for next color. After I've gone on a ways and have a ton of needles in my needle park, First I look for symbol there, if yes grab and go, if no, look up symbol colors thread and go. Repeat ad infinitum. I have a box for each large WIP. I can stick bobbins on a ring if the project is small or just toss them in a small project baggie if really small. I have a nice wooden DMC bobbin box that was a give a few years back that is my master bobbin floss organizer. I look there first for starting new projects. I try to keep a complete set in there and fail miserably most of the time. I love my Q-Snaps for Big projects and I use likely the same 5" pink hoop for smalls. I have an Elan Lap stand I use for my Q-Snaps. It can sit on a table or my lap and works well for the hand cramping. I bet it could rock with you if you are interested. Jen From SF Bay Area, CA
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Daffycat		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 18 04/11/08 15:14:12	I used bobbins when I first started stitching. Then I used baggies on rings. Now, I store my floss (cut to length) in floss storage baggies. In each bag, I put a white 3x5 index card to make it stand up. The bags are either stored in my floss cabinet or in index card boxes when kitted for a large project. For small projects I keep the floss bags on rings...or sometimes just scattered about on my desk! Each drawer of my cabinet is labeled with the numbers and it is easy to just turn around in my chair to grab the color I need. My DH built me my stitching area...I'm a lucky girl! Daffy My Blog The Peacock SAL
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bettyAB		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4737 04/11/08 16:54:25	DMC floss on bobbins in floss boxes; silks and overdyed is labelled baggies with metal rings. That's how I do it. I haven't come up with a favorite solution for blended threads yet.
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cathy219		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 201 04/11/08 17:40:24	I've changed through the years. Started out with bobbins, tried the Loran thingy, but I like the bag system best. I recently made a large box to hold all the bags and that is working so great I think it may finally be my solution. See box. I don't have to borrow from project to project which was so aggravating. It's all there in one place and easy to keep organized. I also love the Pako needle holder which my sister got me hooked on. That is one great stitching tool! ~ Cathy Finished! ~ TW Wedding Sampler Rotating ~ Santa of the Forest, First Day of Christmas Ornament, Fishing Buddies Stocking See my progress at C's Progress
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Patlynn316		#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2585 04/12/08 00:01:48 Moderator	was too lazy to take a pick of my jammer box I have had for years. (this is used for match box cars. I also have an extra box that IS for floss. found this blog with picks. mine is not that neatly done. but it is filled on both sides! http://upnorthxstitching.blogspot.com/2007/04/jammer-storage.html Pattilynn wips: Noahs Ark, Father Winter Ornie
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mykidsmum2		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 111 04/12/08 12:37:21	I use floss bags in plastic shoe boxes to store all of my floss. When I'm doing a project I put it on rings. For my HAED (most have 90ish colors) I found if I do 1 page and put all the colors for that page on a ring, mark the floss bag with # and symbol, things go much more smoothly. I do this with blends also, mark both #'s and blend symbol. I can't reuse the bags when I do this, but it makes stitching so much easier that it's worth it. Wips: Tranquility Sampler by Wiehenburg Designs, Bright Little Faery by HAED, and Amelia by John Clayton
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kimmyXS		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 5047 04/13/08 00:01:00	I have used bobbins since 1989 or so. I have tried baggies and also rings, but they don't work well for me. My storage floss is stored in tool drawers on my shelves. I do admit to having 4 older DMC boxes, but they cannot store my massive floss inventory. I blend as I go. It works for me. On occasion for a piece that has alot of blends, I will use the ring and tag thing, but only rarely. www.kimmyxs.wordpress.com
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nsaprof		#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2416 04/13/08 08:49:44	I have tried a number of different methods and use different methods depending on the size and complexity of the design I am working on. I find that the same method is not effective for every project. For overall storage I use three Artbin plastic boxes. They divided into seven sections which are the length of a skein of floss. I store my new/never been used floss in these containers organized in numerical order. The 100s in one slot, the 200s in the next, the 300s in the next etc. Three of these is sufficient to store the whole series of DMC. For partially used skeins ( finished projects) I have two binders with the plastic stitchbow sleeves where I store the partial skeins in numerical order. When I kit a project I first check and see if I have any partial skeins that have sufficient floss on them for the project and then if not I pull from the new skeins. I put the new skeins on stitchbows which are stored in plastic sleeved that fit in a three ring binder or in my DMC stitching bags. I keep both inventoried on an excel spread sheet so I can look up floss availability first and then pull what I need. I don't have time right now to describe the variations I use to handle blends and small projects but I will come back later and do that. I am back from church now. For small projects I just take the floss on stitchbows and put them in the project bag loose. This works well if you have 10 or less colors. If I have more than 10 colors I use stitchbows with the binder and sleeve approach. If I have a only a few blends in a design (5 or less) I blend as I go. If I am doing a design like a TW with many different blends I cut equal lengths of each color and using a slip knot( I am not sure what the knot is called) I place them on a Lo Ran project card with the symbol and colors beside each one. I try to stitch and entire length but if I have left over on the needle I use a scrap of fabric with masking tape down one side. I pin the needle with the blend on the fabric and indicate its symbol on the masking tape. Sylvia "Miracles do happen, but you have to believe." WIPs: StoryTeller, Dragon Ride, Dragon Virtues Afghan, Deco Spirits-Fire, Autumn Sampler, Wedding Sampler, 1st Day of Christmas, Mini Spanish Cottage, Exchange Piece, Christmas Star Completed 2008: Heart of Gold, Christmas Tree Mandala, Winnie the Pooh Ornie, Cranberry Christmas, Christmas Tree Ornie(2), Joy, Cozy Christmas 10 Project Challenge: 10/10 as of 1/16/08 2nd 10 Project Challenge: 5/10 as of 3/30/08 2008 WIPs & Progress 2008 Finished Projects Visit My Photo Album Faces of Change: My Cross Stitch & Life Blog Last Edited By: nsaprof 04/13/08 15:12:33. Edited 3 times.
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xstitcher82		#12	[url]	[-]
Posts: 837 04/13/08 09:40:14	I've used bobbims - hate winding them. I've used baggies (with and without rings) - too messy for me. The best method that I have found for me is ThreadBeds. You just slide the skein of floss in to the sheets. I store my master DMC in 2 large binders in numerical order. For my WIPs, I have a zippered binder with extra ThreadBed sheets. I share floss between projects, so my floss is just kept in the zippered binder in numerical order. If a project needs more than one skein of a color, I just use more than one spot for that color. When I have to cut a length of floss I larks head the extra to the end of the skein and wrap it around two fingers and slide it under the retaining flap For blend heavy projects I have a scrap of Aida with the symbols written on it. I place the blended needles there and wrap the floss around two fingers and then hook it on the needle ends so it keeps the floss neat and untangled. Cindy
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Nicola K		#13	[url]	[-]
Posts: 89 04/14/08 05:51:45	I use bobbins in boxes for most threads, and for in-progress projects at home. For blends I use cards with punched holes, and separate the threads back onto their original bobbins when the project's done. Projects on the move tend to be small, and I just throw the bobbins into a ziploc bag and rummage when necessary. I should pick up the tip somebody mentioned above and put the bobbins on rings. I don't really like winding bobbins, but one of my favourite online stores will wind bobbins for free, so I buy from them when I can. Nicola
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HaideeS		#14	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1909 04/14/08 08:27:29 Registered User	well, I'm lucky enough that I have a carpenter 'in house' so to speak. My best friends' boyfriend works in wood. He fixed up an art deco armoire for me. It has one large drawer (small kits, scissors, and general stitching 'junk'), two small drawers (fitted out with bobbin holes for my bobbined specialty threads), two shelves on one side for my fabric and most of my WIPS, and two long shelves with doors for storing my patterns, which are in binders and books. One of those shelves is for my threads. I have shiploads bobbined and stores in extra large tackle boxes. The stuff still in their skeins is stored in the same sized boxes in their hundreds. Each of my WIPS has it's own tackle box with fabric, threads, scissors, needles, pencils, highlighters, etc. This does mean I have a lot of threads bobbined. But it also means I can work on any piece that takes may fancy, knowing that when I pick up a project box that everything I need is in there. Photos can be found here: http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/52179065sBdxJI -o00o- Haidee "I'd hug you, but first I need a new shirt. And possibly new underpants - that tree demon thingy was scary" - Derik's Bane by Mary Janice Davidson Very Secret Diaries (slash alert)! Myspace http://www.myspace.com/reloc.cfm?c=2&id=44c15c30-7213-485e-a591-d492c49daea7 Facebook http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=1039070238&k=ZZMX2XS6Q4YM5A1ESB43PQ&r&v=2 her webshots album and her care2 photo albums *You gotta be able to see pictures in at least one of these!*
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Vera39760		#15	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1529 04/14/08 13:59:21	I've decided to use bobbins for large projects. Most of my TW's are already kitted with precut floss so I'm leaving them as they are and using the floss holders for smaller projects, or projects that don't have more than 50 or so different colors in them. A friend let me borrow a lap stand to try and I think I'm going to stay with my 5" hoop. When I'm doing a large project, I roll the extra fabric and use those plastic hair clipps to keep it out of my way. I was using them with the Q Snaps and clamping them to the frame, but they stay out of the way just rolled and clamped. The Q Snaps were difinately what was making my hands hurt so bad. I'm able to stitch a little longer with the small hoop. I don't have to hold it. Vera from Alabama
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1Terry		#16	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1845 04/14/08 22:32:25 Moderator	Ummm, I think I've done it all over the years! The one that I like best for me is using the floss away bags and the metal rings (that come in the 100 ct bags) for the actual projects I'm working on. I put the floss in numerical order. If there are blends, I list both numbers with the lower number listed first (3041/3042) on the floss away bags. If a color is used in more than 1 blend, I will keep it in a separate bag and mark the bag "no symbol, blends only", then I know what that color is for and that I didn't miss a symbol/color. When I use the blends, I usually pull both colors out and measure the same length to put into the proper bags. I don't bother winding floss on bobbins. I don't have time for that. When I'm done using the floss and the project, I have a wooden briefcase box that I put "used" floss skeins in to. This comes in handy when I have smaller projects to work on and don't want to use a new skein if possible. For the skeins I haven't used yet, I got 5 DMC boxes (like you'd see at lns's) that I put them in to. Then, when I start a new project, I can grab the new skeins from here. TerrY *TWBBer since Sep '98/Rotation Stitcher since Sep '02* "Improvise, Overcome, Adapt" from Heartbreak Ridge (Now, doesn't that sound like sound advice to use on some of our stitching?) Completed projects for 2008: 22 as of 7/1/08; 100 Project Challenge started 7/1/07: 60/100 done; "Finishing Off" Project Challenge: 34 of 35 done as of 5/28/08; 50 Project Challenge started 9/1/06 & finished 5/7/07
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LilStarDanes		#17	[url]	[-]
Posts: 14 04/15/08 16:27:32	Im a bobbin girl. I have a large wooden chest with drawers my hubby found at a garage sale that holds my main supply. I have the plastic bobbin boxes with extras in it. I use large plastic bobbin box for each large project (ex. fortunate traveler and Midsummer night fairy each have there own box) and I have a couple small ones I use for smaller projects. It can usually hold 2 or 3 smaller projects if I have that many going at once. WIP's - TW: Lady Of Shallot; Fortunate Traveler, Tempest (Teal Conversion), Lavender & Lace: Guardian Angel, Mirabilia: Middy, Other: Pray Tree #4, Fantasy Bears Blanket Kit: Wolves, Garden Gate, Knitting: Afghan for Hubby, Sewing: 2 market bags, set of 6 placemats, 1 small quilt for hubby. Cross Stitch Finishes 2008: 10 Other Finishes: 5 Rotation: 100% Screamer! Currently Screaming - Guardian Angel - Lavender & Lace Currently Reading - My Photo Album My Ramblings LilStarDanes
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LisaBC		#18	[url]	[-]
Posts: 772 04/21/08 01:32:24	I've changed my systems too! I used to bobbin-only with one master box of bobbins and every project was worked out of that. Then I started travelling with projects more and didn't want to haul all the extra with me, so went to a smaller box just for the project. Then, someone encouraged me away from OAATing it and I ended up trying flossaway bags. Right now, I have a little bit of everything! I still like bobbins. I can see myself returning to my original plan some day.
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Leda1		#19	[url]	[-]
Posts: 194 04/21/08 08:57:58	I am a bobbin person. I have the complete set bobbined up for little projects that only require a small piece of this or that. I buy floss for bigger projects and will bobbin them up and put in a plastic storage box. But my extra floss I put in two gallon bags and draw from that as I use up a skien. Of course I always have to go buy a color because I don't have it in my bag! I also am a hoop girl. Penny wip: Defender of the Kingdom - Canty, Dragon Rider - TW Design, You make my heart melt - Dona G., Egyptian Sampler TW Design, Christmas Wreath - TW Design, (and many more)
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Morri		#20	[url]	[-]
Posts: 17 04/22/08 12:29:18	I use bobbins and floss away bags. Most of my thread is stored on bobbins, one per color, in a plastic storage boxes. The extra skeins are kept together by color in the bags until I need them then they get wound on the bobbin that's already labelled in that color. The only change I've made in my 20+ years stitching is I switched from paper bobbins to plastic ones, as they seem to last forever. When I'm working on a project I pull the bobbins that I need. For big projects I have plastic sheets taht hold the bobbins. For smaller projects I will sometimes just pop them onto one of those metal rings. My mother got me a Pako Needle Park for Christmas last year and I have to say it is wonderful for managing blends and threads in general. I tend to stitch all over the place when working on a big project (keeps me from getting bored), so having a large variety of needles threaded and ready to go is good for me.
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