Monday, August 8, 2011

Threads, threads, threads

Hi everyone:


Thanks to all who commented to give me suggestions about thread storage. For the present I have put the spools into smaller boxes, by type and manufacturer, in the thread drawer. The cones are standing up by themselves (wedged in is more like it!). I'll have to investigate some better method of arranging them in the future. As well as my readers' suggestions, I also found other ideas on thread storage on the internet. 

I liked this idea from Sonya at Sonya's Snippets. She is using the same type of rolling cart that I am (although she has much more thread than I do) and tried to use the shelf liner as she suggested. I found that the material wasn't thick enough to prevent the cones from falling over when I opened the drawer. Perhaps using several layers might help. 
Photo courtesy of Sonya at Sonya's Snippets
Mona is also using the same type of rolling cart and has glued in dowels to keep the thread cones in place. While this is a great idea, I'm not sure that I want to do anything that permanent since I tend to move things around sometimes, but those thread cones would certainly stay put!
Photo courtesy of Mona's comment on
thread storage solution on Quilting Board
I like using this type of a cart for thread storage as I am able to see the colours of the threads easily just be pulling out the drawer. This would be difficult to do this if they are in a non-transparent box or tin. The idea of a clear plastic box, such as Cathy suggested, would be ideal - if it fits the various thread cone sizes.


I see more storage shopping in my future:)

11 comments:

monika@mysweetprairie.ca said...

That's what I do too! I have 12x12 clear scrap booking boxes from Michaels to store my 250+ spools of thread. ; )

~Monika in Saskatoon

Chatterbox Quilts said...

Thanks for the information, Monika. I'll have to check these out at Michael's when I am there next time.

Anonymous said...

I have the rolling carts. I've never thought of glueing in dowel rods to stand thread up in them. Hmmmmmmm! Thanks for the great photos and a couple of new ideas.

Chatterbox Quilts said...

You're welcome, Heather. What would we do without those rolling carts? I think I have at least 10 or more in various rooms in the house - mostly in my studio:)

Ann Marie @ 16 Muddy Feet said...

You could always use a very thin piece of wood and glue the dowels to it, this was if you wanted to move things around, you could just take out the whole thing, and the drawer would be back to it's original state.

Chatterbox Quilts said...

Good idea, Anne Marie! I actually went to Cdn. Tire last week and purchased some drawer organizers that are the perfect size for the drawers and the thread cones. I was using these in my bathroom drawers and thought that they might work in my thread carts and I was right! Things are looking much tidied now.

Anonymous said...

Could you cut a piece of pegboard to fit the drawer and use the holes in it for the dowel?

Chatterbox Quilts said...

That would also be a good idea. I'm finding that the drawer organizers are working quite well. The only problem is when I get new thread - especially cones, as they take up so much room. I find I have to buy more rolling carts to accommodate my growing thread collection!

Featheronawire Sally Bramald said...

Found this on Pinterest where someone suggested using golf tees instead.

Chatterbox Quilts said...

That would be perfect - if you could bear to use your golf tees for that :) It would save on cutting the dowels done to the right size. Thanks for the tip, @Featheronanwire Sally Bramaid.

Fay said...

I love the idea of using pegs to keep my threads sorted, but even after trying different kids of glue, including hot glue, I was not able to get the pegs to permanently stick to the plastic drawer :-(