For the small short left-over floss pieces, I save them in a bag and in spring I put them outside. Birds and squirrels use them in their nests. Put them in a tree they will feel safe to access them. Always happy to help the little creatures.
When I work on a project I make a tray to keep everything together. All the bits of floss that I pulled a few threads out go on there. That way I know where everything is and I can easily grab the tray and have everything I need if I want to move to another room. For hoop storage I put some coat hooks on the wall, which is working well for me. :) Hope that was helpful! Your work looks lovely!
Hey when I get the floss I put it on the DMC bobbins and put then in the box. And I take on the ring when I am going to use the floss. I dont use the labels you have got, put use the nr. labels the floss has. I make it smaller and put it on the bobbin with tape. I am happy about the bobbins and the way to store them. I mostly only use dmc, because it is what I can get here in Denmark, and I like DMC very much. When I am ordering floss on internet I ordrer 2 of each nr. and one of them are coming in the box and the other one is coming in a plastic tote f.eks from 0 to 100 if the floss have a nr. in that part. I startet to stitch again last spring and I stitch every day, so I have now to dmc boxes which are full. I dont have the beautiful project bags, because I would like spend money on floss, fabric and pattern. So I have some thick projectbags which got from a danish shop, They are very good and they can be used in very long time. I hope that you can understand what I mean. Kirsten from Denmark
Hey Kirsten - thanks for sharing what works for you! Great idea about rescuing the floss labels and bobbin labels! I think investing in a couple of nice project bags sounds like the way to go, too!
I used the plastic bobbin boxes, I ended up with 6 of them to hold the whole dmc collection!! I Made a box to hold all my floss but I still use the plastic ones sometimes. I use a sharpie marker to write the numbers on in case the stickers fall off. I store mine by number. You’re doing great!! Keep having fun!
Just some feedback on the storage .., the DMC labels eventually fall off the plastic bobbins. There’s a Joann Fabric product for thread storage. It’s a Creative Options double sided clear plastic container that has a handle. It holds the full DMC set of threads. On Amazon, you can find plastic bobbins in bulk. Q-Snaps provide great tension for the fabric while you’re stitching.
I love bobbinating! I find it relaxing. I do it as soon as I get my floss. I love seeing the colors all lined up. There is a floss winder made by DMC. You can clip it right in you bobbin box. Also a great tip to pass on to you, if pull the floss from the end that the label has the color number. It pulls out easily from that end and doesn’t tangle. If I have more than one of the same color, I store the extras in a baggie. You could store it in the long section of you storage box until you run out of room. Also if you put the stickers on before you start winding, it’s a little easier. Love seeing your growing stash of stitching and quilting.
Oh I also meant to say; I made a small project board (using the same Lori Holt tutorial you used for your quilts). I stick my working floss to it to keep it tidy.
I use a bobbin and a floss drop for each color while I'm stitching, I pull a length out, cut it, & remove a piece of floss from the hank. If I have small pieces while stitching, I put them on the floss drop. When the project is done, I remove the strands from the drops and wind them back on the bobbin.
I always use 2 strands of thread on my project and I have like a scrbooking box that fits all my thread and my project I also brought a bag at hobby lobby that's big enough to hold my project
I have used the poly bag system for 30 years Hobby Lobby sells them the brand is Yarnology... I own every color of DMC, I have them in a decorative blanket box in order of number. When I start a new project I open my box and pull each bag of color called for. I then put them on rings (in number order) and pull out the floss, cut the length I want pull out the number of threads I'm working with and put the rest back in the bag zipping it back up... when I'm fully finished with the project, I pull the bags off the rings and put it back in its box... I have tried other systems, seams the winding bobbins takes more work than I want to do, the tags that you undue the floss fold it in half and hang on the tag seems all well and good until it gets all tangled up...
I keep floss as is and wrap extra around the top. When it gets low I bend it in half and wrap the ends. Then I buy a new one and wrap what’s left in the middle and tuck the end. If a little piece falls off I throw it away.
I'm not really a big fan of bobbins, I don't like the creases that they make in the thread. It might be my imagination, but i feel like when the floss gets creased like that, it knots & tangles more while I'm working with it. I keep them skeined the way they come for as long as possible, then i put them on bobbins when I absolutely have to, and I wrap the working floss that I'm taking individual threads from on the bobbin perpendicular to the way your supposed to put it on. It isn't very secure, but if I'm working with it regularly, it doesn't really matter to me. I then put all the threads I'm using for one project (both skeined & bobbined) in quart size plastic zipper bags.
I know this video is almost 2 months old, but I'm just now, binge-watching your channel. Just in case you're still using your floor stand, and no one else has suggested it, try adding washers to your screw handles (if they are long enough, and even if they already have a set). They should help keep the screws tighter longer. Welcome to cross stitch! Stay safe and sane.
Hailey, I’m enjoying your floss tube adventures as well as the organizational part. I too quilt and knit and have come back to xstitch because of flosstube. I use the zip top bags from the Container Store for each individual project which will hold the pattern, fabric and floss. I buy the DMC floss for each project and if it requires a lot of different colors I use the floss away bags and a ring. If there is a small amount of floss required I use the floss drops and a smaller ring. My goal is to not have too many WIPs going because of all the other crafting supplies. Hope this gives some ideas.
I've been enjoying watching your videos I'm new to cross stitch too and have some of the same questions. Most cross stitch videos I see people are using linen or evenweave high count I just feel intimidated. So far I stitch in hand and have only used the stamped kits on 11 ct. Looking forward to seeing your progress in all of your projects.
Hi Hailey, My suggestions are that I would definitely put all the DMC floss on the bobbins and of course put them in the box numerically. Then I would get a few 2" binder rings from either your local office supply shop or Amazon to put the bobbins on for the project you are working on. I'm sorry if this is too obvious, but that is how I would get started. I am excited for you to explore more cross-stitch projects. Enjoy!!!
Hobby lobby has projects bags and my daughter got me like 10 poject bags at amzon and a friend gave me a big Deming bag that's fits my pojects and my floss
Look into the Bisley cabinet at the Container Store. You can get a foam insert and acrylic bobbins that not only have large numbers, but also an actual picture of the color.
I store my threads on the bobbins in boxes which are right next to my stitched spot. I can then take out easily the colour I am working on and out it straight back away. When using a colour I leave it out next me. The loose thread sits next to it on the table to the side of me to make it quicker to work. When I am done with the colour I then wrap any remaining back around the bobbin. If I am traveling I then take the colours I need out and use the ring. I have a couple of projects on the go so this allows me to use the same colour and bobbin across projects
Whenever I get new floss, I wind them on the bobbins and store them in organizer boxes like the one you have. I got my at JoAnn Fabrics. It is time consuming, but I think it pays off in the long run. For one thing it makes gathering colors for a project easier.
I converted from bobbins to floss tags/drop and it's really convenient using it while your stitching. Cauz if you stitch with your bobbins you need to unwind it to get the 6 strands then you need to get 1 or 2 strands, depends on what you need, then wind it again in your bobbin then after you finish that strand/s you need to repeat again argh the torture! But in thread tags/drop you can get a strand easily! You don't need to do the so many process like in bobbins. In storing the thread tags I have I just put it in a ring by color and put it in a mini mega box (that's their brand name dunno what is the name of that type of box). So much easier and a lot faster than using a bobbin.
Great job on your second Flosstube! I have been cross stitching since the 80's-90's and have 3 of the clear storage boxes to store my thread in. Back then, people usually only worked on 1 project at a time from start to finish so I have always stored all of my thread in the box. I put them on the bobbins as soon as I purchase them and label with a sharpie. I recently bought the DMC stickers and started to use some of them but they are kinda small to see. I also store them straight up and down and in numerical order. When I get new floss, I may need to adjust the placement to fit the new color. I still have not filled up all three of my boxes but am getting close. I do have a plastic bobbin winder that you hand crank and it does make it easier to wind. This year, I have planned several starts and am going to try the WIP method. I still haven't decided if I want to pull all the thread to keep together with the project or just work from my box.
Hi, Jodi! Thanks so much for sharing what works for you! I always thought I’d be the person to work on one thing at a time but there are too many awesome patterns out there and I want to start them all!
Hi Hailey! Like a few of the others who have commented below, I also use Floss Away bags, or the little no-name bags like that. Each skein goes in its own little bag, and there is a little space on the bag to write in the floss color. I keep all my little bags in number order, in small plastic rectangular baskets that you can buy at Walmart, usually in their storage container area...you can store quite a few in each little basket.To work on a project, I pull out each bag I need, and put them on a metal ring to keep with my project. (You can buy smaller, or varied sizes of the rings). I pull out the needed length of floss from the skein, leaving the labels on the skein, and when I’m done stitching, I just put the leftover piece of floss back in the same little bag, so nothing goes to waste. I find the bags to be efficient because it keeps all your threads protected from dust and prevents tangling and they are easy to store. As the skein gets too small to hold the label, just leave the labels in the bag! 🙂 The rolling cart from Michael’s is great, isn’t it? I’m enjoying your videos! Keep enjoying stitching! 💃🏻 Meline
I’ve found thread drops work better for me than bobbins. It solves the question of what do with with the floss as you are working on a project. With thread drops you can just pull off a single thread at a time. It is not nearly as time consuming as using bobbins. Annie’s Keepers have a great storage solution using thread drops. You can still use the mental rings and make your own thread drops or purchase them from amazon or Etsy. I bought mesh project bags on Amazon. They are affordable and reusable. Enjoy your stitching journey 🌻
@@HaileyStitches also for a permanent solution, I use the floss-away bags, those can also be kept on the mental ring or even put in a binder. You can also search for floss tags on Etsy which are basically the same as the thread drops. You mentioned supporting small businesses and that’s a great way for go for that.
I don't wind bobbins anymore. I organize my dmc floss by number and place them into trading card holders with the numbers on the front of each slot. When I am working on a project I pull out my skein and put it onto a thread drop, writing the coordinating number on the drop. I put a note inside the slot with the name of the project that it is being used for and then put the floss drop into my project bag. When I finish with it I can just take it off the drop and put it back in the card holder. I can also tell at a glance when I need to buy more floss. I store the card holders in binders but they can also have rings attached and lay flat in a drawer.
I made design boards of different sizes (Lori Holt has a how-to video). I use them for laying out blocks for quilts, and I use the smaller 7” square ones for floss, needle minder, scissors. They fit nicely into project bags and help keep everything together.
When bobbinating or unwinding skeins for thread drops open the skein into a circle and put it on your wrist, it helps to reduce the occurrence of tangling the thread as it comes off the skein. I inherited most of my thread stash from people who used bobbins as as I go I am transferring to Annie’s Keepers and much prefer that system. Some of my thread has been on bobbins for 20 years and it kinks really badly. It’s still usable of course and is completely a matter of personal choice. Annie’s Keepers are not a cheap solution compared to bobbins, so I would watch a bunch of flosstube videos to see what other people do. I think there’s almost as many ways of doing things as there are flosstubers 😀
Thanks for sharing, Lorraine! I totally agree that organizing is so varied and changes from person to person. It’s been super helpful to hear what everyone’s preferences are!
On the working thread.. I wind it on the bobbin but along the top/bottom not around the middle section. Instead of using the stickers, I cut and tape the actual DMC number from the original floss skein paper. Stickers are notoriously known for falling off. Usually store the bobbins standing up so the number can be visible when you’re searching for it. Some people have DIY’d a hack by using a drill to wind the floss onto the bobbin.
I'm like you and use DMC and Aida cloth. All of my DMC floss is on plastic bobbins that are labeled and all the bobbins are in the storage boxes (I have 5). The front of each box is labeled with the floss number range that the box contains. Inside each box is a slip of paper that lists the DMC numbers of the duplicate flosses (for that box range) that I have that are NOT on a bobbin. All of the duplicate DMC flosses are stored in a gallon ziplock bag. When I kit up a project, I pull the flosses and put them in a small sandwich bag that goes inside of a project bag that I have made. I don't do anything fancy at all--I don't have rings to put the floss on or needle minders. I'm older than you and I guess old habits are hard to break. I really enjoy your channel and your projects. When working on a project, I cut off the floss I need from the bobbin. When I'm done using that color I wrap the loose thread back on the bobbin to use again. Sometimes when working on a project, I wrap and unwrap the loose thread several times because of color changes. I don't keep my threads loose.
Hey! Great video, you have so many great and sensible questions! There are so many floss storage options, you may have to try them out a bit to find what (combination) works for you! I have master storage boxes like yours, for all my bobbins not currently used. I pull out what I need for my projects and the often have their own floss storage boxes. I store my bobbins upright, or to the right, so my dmc numbers are top left. I saw other people commenting that a sharpie, or for me just a biro as mine are cardboard bobbins, may be better than labels as they can fall off! Re the working threads for bobbins, yes, I wind it back on the bobbin, but at a diagonal so it's easier to see. And then if I don't use all the working thread, I put that at a diagonal to the second layer, so the three layers are - then / then \. Not sure if that makes sense, but I know I what I mean! And there are indeed such things as bobbin winders which I think you attach to a table, however I tend to find it quite mindful when bobbinating. But I will say that I have never sat and bobbinated a whole project, I just bobbinate the one I need and keep all the skeins in a bag until I need one. I haven't lost any of the dmc numbers on the skein ties yet! I have recently discovered thread cards that came with my kits and also thread drops in general, where you cut the lengths, attach with a Hawkshead knit, and then take one strand of thread off at a time, no winding or unwinding. Does save time, but takes up more space. Look into similar to Annie's Keepers for these.. I have one for a project of 90 odd colours, but I'm only using one Annie's Keepers ring at the moment, so when I move to more colours I don't know what I'm going to do! 🤦🏼♀️ 😅 I haven't thought that far ahead!! Teresa Little Stitcher did a full coverage mini series last year or the year before and one of the videos it aaaalll about floss storage and organisation etc. I learned a lot and would recommend it, for all stitching, not just full coverage! I look forward to seeing how you get on! Love the cart by the way! Just spent half an hour looking for one here 🤣 Jo x
Great idea about winding the working thread at a diagonal! I will definitely check out the series you recommended - Thanks for sharing what works for you!
I like your approach to purchasing items for new craft adventures. Be careful with the stickers, they tend to fall off the bobbin over time. I feel like organizing is an ongoing process because your needs are constantly changing. I keep my fabric in a storage cube. I don’t bobbinate my floss. I keep them on thread drops so they are hanging on hooks by number. When I did use bobbins, I put all the floss on the bobbin before the project. I would wind the extra back on the bobbin. I keep patterns I want to stitch in a portfolio binder and the ones I already stitched I keep in an expanding file folder. I love to organize things!
Since you are putting your floss on bobbins, put all your floss bobbins in semi-clear bobbin containers in numerical order. I pull out the bobbins that I will be using on a project and put these bobbins in a cute decorative metal box with attached lid. I make sure the color numbers on the bobbin are at the top, 1 bobbin behind the other, again, in numerical oder so I can pick the color I need easily. If I have any floss left over, ie., a short strand of floss, I just wrap it back on the bobbin so I know the color number of that short strand. I may have 2 or 3 projects going at the same time so I have that many tins of bobbinated floss. I do not have 50 projects kitted up at 1 time. I hope this helps you. You can find very cute, different sized decorative tins in a lot of places. Have fun!
Hi, Jodie! Thanks so much for sharing what works for you! I’m definitely going to look into purchasing some tins - that’s a great idea for how to store the floss!
Hi I use floss bags but I just get a no name brand that has a writing strip on it put my own hols in and I cut the floss to the length I like and you put no on and symbols there lighter Easter when I kit up I put on the big ring then when finished you still have the bag and it stays clean and tangle free and you don’t need a winder I hate the way bobbins crinkle the floss hope this helps xcaz 💕💐
Definitely prefer floss drops to bobbing. There is a floss winder you can purchase. I'm just not a fan of the kinks that happen to the floss after its been wound and stored on a bobbin for awhile. With floss drops you just cut your floss in equal useable lengths knot them in a half hitch through the hole and then I can just pull off one length of floss at a time to stitch with. The rest stays on the drop on a ring. Way easier than bobbins.
Welcome to the World of cross stitch. What I have found that works best for me is I only bobbinate The floss that I’ll be using in a project. Extra skeins Long term storage I use the Floss-Away bags. As a finish a project I just drop the Bob and in the floss away bag with the additional skeins of that color. The floss away bags have a white box that you can write the DMC number allowing you to file them on the ring in number order. There is a tool you can get to help with wrapping the floss around the bobbin. When I store the bobbins, I put them in with the numbers on top, making it easier to find what you need when working on a project. I hope I explained everything clearly. If not, you can email me and I’ll send pics with a better explanation.
I put everything on bobbins as soon as I get the thread (but that's mainly me being overly excited haha and I think it's easier to organize and find the colors you need)! I just keep them in a box like the same you have and when I start a new project I grab my bobbins, cut some floss and put into floss drops (I just made my own with some card and punches and write the DMC number and chart symbol on but there's a bunch of cute ones you can buy). It's easier to pull the thread from the floss drops so that way you don't have those other pieces just hanging out.
Hello and welcome to floss tube! The little stickers that you purchased to stick on the plastic bobbins aren't the best. Especially when it comes to the plastic bobbins. First, I don't like the plastic bobbins because the slits that hold the end of your floss are cut too large in the floss always comes out. Also, if you use the little stickers they don't stick to the plastic and always come off. I ended up throwing my plastic bobbins away along with the stickers and purchased the DMC chipboard bobbins. I use a felt tip pen and write the numbers on the chipboard bobbins. You do you!
I’ve already had to tape down the stickers 😥 but I’m definitely going to think of something different for the long term. I’m going to try the chipboard bobbins!
I'm going to film my update tomorrow morning and hope it to be uploaded in the afternoon. I'm going to go in over my floss storage. I have a couple of different ways that I organize my threads.
I only use a permanent marker, the stickers with time sometimes comes off. I usually bobbinate when I am using the floss...what I mean is that I don't bobbinate in advance. Keep orgnizing, :D. Take care
For the small short left-over floss pieces, I save them in a bag and in spring I put them outside. Birds and squirrels use them in their nests. Put them in a tree they will feel safe to access them. Always happy to help the little creatures.
i love that!
When I work on a project I make a tray to keep everything together. All the bits of floss that I pulled a few threads out go on there. That way I know where everything is and I can easily grab the tray and have everything I need if I want to move to another room.
For hoop storage I put some coat hooks on the wall, which is working well for me. :)
Hope that was helpful! Your work looks lovely!
Hey
when I get the floss I put it on the DMC bobbins and put then in the box. And I take on the ring when I am going to use the floss. I dont use the labels you have got, put use the nr. labels the floss has. I make it smaller and put it on the bobbin with tape. I am happy about the bobbins and the way to store them. I mostly only use dmc, because it is what I can get here in Denmark, and I like DMC very much. When I am ordering floss on internet I ordrer 2 of each nr. and one of them are coming in the box and the other one is coming in a plastic tote f.eks from 0 to 100 if the floss have a nr. in that part. I startet to stitch again last spring and I stitch every day, so I have now to dmc boxes which are full.
I dont have the beautiful project bags, because I would like spend money on floss, fabric and pattern. So I have some thick projectbags which got from a danish shop, They are very good and they can be used in very long time.
I hope that you can understand what I mean.
Kirsten from Denmark
Hey Kirsten - thanks for sharing what works for you! Great idea about rescuing the floss labels and bobbin labels! I think investing in a couple of nice project bags sounds like the way to go, too!
I used the plastic bobbin boxes, I ended up with 6 of them to hold the whole dmc collection!! I Made a box to hold all my floss but I still use the plastic ones sometimes. I use a sharpie marker to write the numbers on in case the stickers fall off. I store mine by number. You’re doing great!! Keep having fun!
Just some feedback on the storage .., the DMC labels eventually fall off the plastic bobbins. There’s a Joann Fabric product for thread storage. It’s a Creative Options double sided clear plastic container that has a handle. It holds the full DMC set of threads. On Amazon, you can find plastic bobbins in bulk. Q-Snaps provide great tension for the fabric while you’re stitching.
thanks for the suggestion!
I love bobbinating! I find it relaxing. I do it as soon as I get my floss. I love seeing the colors all lined up. There is a floss winder made by DMC. You can clip it right in you bobbin box. Also a great tip to pass on to you, if pull the floss from the end that the label has the color number. It pulls out easily from that end and doesn’t tangle. If I have more than one of the same color, I store the extras in a baggie. You could store it in the long section of you storage box until you run out of room. Also if you put the stickers on before you start winding, it’s a little easier. Love seeing your growing stash of stitching and quilting.
Oh I also meant to say; I made a small project board (using the same Lori Holt tutorial you used for your quilts). I stick my working floss to it to keep it tidy.
I use a bobbin and a floss drop for each color while I'm stitching, I pull a length out, cut it, & remove a piece of floss from the hank. If I have small pieces while stitching, I put them on the floss drop. When the project is done, I remove the strands from the drops and wind them back on the bobbin.
I always use 2 strands of thread on my project and I have like a scrbooking box that fits all my thread and my project I also brought a bag at hobby lobby that's big enough to hold my project
that sounds like a great storage idea!
I have used the poly bag system for 30 years Hobby Lobby sells them the brand is Yarnology... I own every color of DMC, I have them in a decorative blanket box in order of number. When I start a new project I open my box and pull each bag of color called for. I then put them on rings (in number order) and pull out the floss, cut the length I want pull out the number of threads I'm working with and put the rest back in the bag zipping it back up... when I'm fully finished with the project, I pull the bags off the rings and put it back in its box... I have tried other systems, seams the winding bobbins takes more work than I want to do, the tags that you undue the floss fold it in half and hang on the tag seems all well and good until it gets all tangled up...
I keep floss as is and wrap extra around the top. When it gets low I bend it in half and wrap the ends. Then I buy a new one and wrap what’s left in the middle and tuck the end. If a little piece falls off I throw it away.
I'm not really a big fan of bobbins, I don't like the creases that they make in the thread. It might be my imagination, but i feel like when the floss gets creased like that, it knots & tangles more while I'm working with it. I keep them skeined the way they come for as long as possible, then i put them on bobbins when I absolutely have to, and I wrap the working floss that I'm taking individual threads from on the bobbin perpendicular to the way your supposed to put it on. It isn't very secure, but if I'm working with it regularly, it doesn't really matter to me. I then put all the threads I'm using for one project (both skeined & bobbined) in quart size plastic zipper bags.
Hi, Becky! Thanks for sharing what works for you! Keeping the floss skeined as long as possible seems to be working well for me, too!
I know this video is almost 2 months old, but I'm just now, binge-watching your channel. Just in case you're still using your floor stand, and no one else has suggested it, try adding washers to your screw handles (if they are long enough, and even if they already have a set). They should help keep the screws tighter longer. Welcome to cross stitch! Stay safe and sane.
Thanks so much, that's a great idea! I'll definitely do that!
Hailey, I’m enjoying your floss tube adventures as well as the organizational part. I too quilt and knit and have come back to xstitch because of flosstube. I use the zip top bags from the Container Store for each individual project which will hold the pattern, fabric and floss. I buy the DMC floss for each project and if it requires a lot of different colors I use the floss away bags and a ring. If there is a small amount of floss required I use the floss drops and a smaller ring. My goal is to not have too many WIPs going because of all the other crafting supplies. Hope this gives some ideas.
Hi Sherryl! Thanks so much for sharing what works for you. I’ve never seen the floss away bags before - those seem super helpful! Thanks for the tip!
I've been enjoying watching your videos I'm new to cross stitch too and have some of the same questions. Most cross stitch videos I see people are using linen or evenweave high count I just feel intimidated. So far I stitch in hand and have only used the stamped kits on 11 ct. Looking forward to seeing your progress in all of your projects.
Thanks so much for watching! I haven’t used a stamped kit before but I really want to!
Hi Hailey, My suggestions are that I would definitely put all the DMC floss on the bobbins and of course put them in the box numerically. Then I would get a few 2" binder rings from either your local office supply shop or Amazon to put the bobbins on for the project you are working on. I'm sorry if this is too obvious, but that is how I would get started. I am excited for you to explore more cross-stitch projects. Enjoy!!!
Thank you Alice! And no, it’s not too obvious! I’m a total beginner so I appreciate all of the advice!
Hobby lobby has projects bags and my daughter got me like 10 poject bags at amzon and a friend gave me a big Deming bag that's fits my pojects and my floss
Look into the Bisley cabinet at the Container Store. You can get a foam insert and acrylic bobbins that not only have large numbers, but also an actual picture of the color.
thanks for the recommendation!
I store my threads on the bobbins in boxes which are right next to my stitched spot. I can then take out easily the colour I am working on and out it straight back away. When using a colour I leave it out next me. The loose thread sits next to it on the table to the side of me to make it quicker to work. When I am done with the colour I then wrap any remaining back around the bobbin. If I am traveling I then take the colours I need out and use the ring. I have a couple of projects on the go so this allows me to use the same colour and bobbin across projects
Thanks so much for sharing what works for you!
Whenever I get new floss, I wind them on the bobbins and store them in organizer boxes like the one you have. I got my at JoAnn Fabrics. It is time consuming, but I think it pays off in the long run. For one thing it makes gathering colors for a project easier.
Thanks so much for sharing, Susan! The bobbins are working well for me so far, too!
I converted from bobbins to floss tags/drop and it's really convenient using it while your stitching. Cauz if you stitch with your bobbins you need to unwind it to get the 6 strands then you need to get 1 or 2 strands, depends on what you need, then wind it again in your bobbin then after you finish that strand/s you need to repeat again argh the torture! But in thread tags/drop you can get a strand easily! You don't need to do the so many process like in bobbins. In storing the thread tags I have I just put it in a ring by color and put it in a mini mega box (that's their brand name dunno what is the name of that type of box). So much easier and a lot faster than using a bobbin.
I put the left over floss back on the bobbin.
Great job on your second Flosstube! I have been cross stitching since the 80's-90's and have 3 of the clear storage boxes to store my thread in. Back then, people usually only worked on 1 project at a time from start to finish so I have always stored all of my thread in the box. I put them on the bobbins as soon as I purchase them and label with a sharpie. I recently bought the DMC stickers and started to use some of them but they are kinda small to see. I also store them straight up and down and in numerical order. When I get new floss, I may need to adjust the placement to fit the new color. I still have not filled up all three of my boxes but am getting close. I do have a plastic bobbin winder that you hand crank and it does make it easier to wind. This year, I have planned several starts and am going to try the WIP method. I still haven't decided if I want to pull all the thread to keep together with the project or just work from my box.
Hi, Jodi! Thanks so much for sharing what works for you! I always thought I’d be the person to work on one thing at a time but there are too many awesome patterns out there and I want to start them all!
I stumbled across your flosstube and I am really enjoying your episodes.
Thank you! 💕 I’m so happy you’re here!
Hi Hailey! Like a few of the others who have commented below, I also use Floss Away bags, or the little no-name bags like that. Each skein goes in its own little bag, and there is a little space on the bag to write in the floss color. I keep all my little bags in number order, in small plastic rectangular baskets that you can buy at Walmart, usually in their storage container area...you can store quite a few in each little basket.To work on a project, I pull out each bag I need, and put them on a metal ring to keep with my project. (You can buy smaller, or varied sizes of the rings). I pull out the needed length of floss from the skein, leaving the labels on the skein, and when I’m done stitching, I just put the leftover piece of floss back in the same little bag, so nothing goes to waste. I find the bags to be efficient because it keeps all your threads protected from dust and prevents tangling and they are easy to store. As the skein gets too small to hold the label, just leave the labels in the bag! 🙂 The rolling cart from Michael’s is great, isn’t it? I’m enjoying your videos! Keep enjoying stitching! 💃🏻
Meline
It sounds like the Floss Away bags are the way to go!
After many years I have recently converted to thread drops from bobbins
I’ve found thread drops work better for me than bobbins. It solves the question of what do with with the floss as you are working on a project. With thread drops you can just pull off a single thread at a time. It is not nearly as time consuming as using bobbins. Annie’s Keepers have a great storage solution using thread drops. You can still use the mental rings and make your own thread drops or purchase them from amazon or Etsy. I bought mesh project bags on Amazon. They are affordable and reusable. Enjoy your stitching journey 🌻
Thread drops look amazing - I’m definitely going to purchase some. Thanks for the tip!
@@HaileyStitches also for a permanent solution, I use the floss-away bags, those can also be kept on the mental ring or even put in a binder. You can also search for floss tags on Etsy which are basically the same as the thread drops. You mentioned supporting small businesses and that’s a great way for go for that.
I don't wind bobbins anymore. I organize my dmc floss by number and place them into trading card holders with the numbers on the front of each slot. When I am working on a project I pull out my skein and put it onto a thread drop, writing the coordinating number on the drop. I put a note inside the slot with the name of the project that it is being used for and then put the floss drop into my project bag. When I finish with it I can just take it off the drop and put it back in the card holder. I can also tell at a glance when I need to buy more floss. I store the card holders in binders but they can also have rings attached and lay flat in a drawer.
I made design boards of different sizes (Lori Holt has a how-to video). I use them for laying out blocks for quilts, and I use the smaller 7” square ones for floss, needle minder, scissors. They fit nicely into project bags and help keep everything together.
Small design boards are a great idea! I’ve made a couple larger ones but smaller ones are on my to do list now!
When bobbinating or unwinding skeins for thread drops open the skein into a circle and put it on your wrist, it helps to reduce the occurrence of tangling the thread as it comes off the skein.
I inherited most of my thread stash from people who used bobbins as as I go I am transferring to Annie’s Keepers and much prefer that system. Some of my thread has been on bobbins for 20 years and it kinks really badly. It’s still usable of course and is completely a matter of personal choice. Annie’s Keepers are not a cheap solution compared to bobbins, so I would watch a bunch of flosstube videos to see what other people do. I think there’s almost as many ways of doing things as there are flosstubers 😀
Thanks for sharing, Lorraine! I totally agree that organizing is so varied and changes from person to person. It’s been super helpful to hear what everyone’s preferences are!
On the working thread.. I wind it on the bobbin but along the top/bottom not around the middle section. Instead of using the stickers, I cut and tape the actual DMC number from the original floss skein paper. Stickers are notoriously known for falling off. Usually store the bobbins standing up so the number can be visible when you’re searching for it. Some people have DIY’d a hack by using a drill to wind the floss onto the bobbin.
Great tip on the stickers - I’m going to tape all of mine down! Thanks for sharing!
I'm like you and use DMC and Aida cloth. All of my DMC floss is on plastic bobbins that are labeled and all the bobbins are in the storage boxes (I have 5). The front of each box is labeled with the floss number range that the box contains. Inside each box is a slip of paper that lists the DMC numbers of the duplicate flosses (for that box range) that I have that are NOT on a bobbin. All of the duplicate DMC flosses are stored in a gallon ziplock bag. When I kit up a project, I pull the flosses and put them in a small sandwich bag that goes inside of a project bag that I have made. I don't do anything fancy at all--I don't have rings to put the floss on or needle minders. I'm older than you and I guess old habits are hard to break. I really enjoy your channel and your projects.
When working on a project, I cut off the floss I need from the bobbin. When I'm done using that color I wrap the loose thread back on the bobbin to use again. Sometimes when working on a project, I wrap and unwrap the loose thread several times because of color changes. I don't keep my threads loose.
Hey! Great video, you have so many great and sensible questions! There are so many floss storage options, you may have to try them out a bit to find what (combination) works for you!
I have master storage boxes like yours, for all my bobbins not currently used. I pull out what I need for my projects and the often have their own floss storage boxes. I store my bobbins upright, or to the right, so my dmc numbers are top left. I saw other people commenting that a sharpie, or for me just a biro as mine are cardboard bobbins, may be better than labels as they can fall off!
Re the working threads for bobbins, yes, I wind it back on the bobbin, but at a diagonal so it's easier to see. And then if I don't use all the working thread, I put that at a diagonal to the second layer, so the three layers are - then / then \. Not sure if that makes sense, but I know I what I mean! And there are indeed such things as bobbin winders which I think you attach to a table, however I tend to find it quite mindful when bobbinating. But I will say that I have never sat and bobbinated a whole project, I just bobbinate the one I need and keep all the skeins in a bag until I need one. I haven't lost any of the dmc numbers on the skein ties yet!
I have recently discovered thread cards that came with my kits and also thread drops in general, where you cut the lengths, attach with a Hawkshead knit, and then take one strand of thread off at a time, no winding or unwinding. Does save time, but takes up more space. Look into similar to Annie's Keepers for these.. I have one for a project of 90 odd colours, but I'm only using one Annie's Keepers ring at the moment, so when I move to more colours I don't know what I'm going to do! 🤦🏼♀️ 😅 I haven't thought that far ahead!!
Teresa Little Stitcher did a full coverage mini series last year or the year before and one of the videos it aaaalll about floss storage and organisation etc. I learned a lot and would recommend it, for all stitching, not just full coverage!
I look forward to seeing how you get on! Love the cart by the way! Just spent half an hour looking for one here 🤣
Jo x
Great idea about winding the working thread at a diagonal! I will definitely check out the series you recommended - Thanks for sharing what works for you!
I like your approach to purchasing items for new craft adventures. Be careful with the stickers, they tend to fall off the bobbin over time. I feel like organizing is an ongoing process because your needs are constantly changing. I keep my fabric in a storage cube. I don’t bobbinate my floss. I keep them on thread drops so they are hanging on hooks by number. When I did use bobbins, I put all the floss on the bobbin before the project. I would wind the extra back on the bobbin. I keep patterns I want to stitch in a portfolio binder and the ones I already stitched I keep in an expanding file folder. I love to organize things!
Hi, Terri! I just finished my first project so I definitely have to start thinking about pattern storage! Thanks for sharing what works for you!
I bobbinate everything and put in two sided bobbin cases. Everything that I am using I put it back on the bobbin
The double sided bobbin case is genius - I just looked it up!
On each bobbin take an extra fine point marker to put the number on as sometimes the little sticky labels come off
Since you are putting your floss on bobbins, put all your floss bobbins in semi-clear bobbin containers in numerical order. I pull out the bobbins that I will be using on a project and put these bobbins in a cute decorative metal box with attached lid. I make sure the color numbers on the bobbin are at the top, 1 bobbin behind the other, again, in numerical oder so I can pick the color I need easily. If I have any floss left over, ie., a short strand of floss, I just wrap it back on the bobbin so I know the color number of that short strand. I may have 2 or 3 projects going at the same time so I have that many tins of bobbinated floss. I do not have 50 projects kitted up at 1 time. I hope this helps you. You can find very cute, different sized decorative tins in a lot of places. Have fun!
Hi, Jodie! Thanks so much for sharing what works for you! I’m definitely going to look into purchasing some tins - that’s a great idea for how to store the floss!
I use zip lock bags, thread drops, and crayon boxes for all my cross stitch.
Hi I use floss bags but I just get a no name brand that has a writing strip on it put my own hols in and I cut the floss to the length I like and you put no on and symbols there lighter Easter when I kit up I put on the big ring then when finished you still have the bag and it stays clean and tangle free and you don’t need a winder I hate the way bobbins crinkle the floss hope this helps xcaz 💕💐
Thanks so much! Your method makes a ton of sense. I appreciate you reaching out and sharing!
@@HaileyStitches 💕💐
Definitely prefer floss drops to bobbing. There is a floss winder you can purchase. I'm just not a fan of the kinks that happen to the floss after its been wound and stored on a bobbin for awhile. With floss drops you just cut your floss in equal useable lengths knot them in a half hitch through the hole and then I can just pull off one length of floss at a time to stitch with. The rest stays on the drop on a ring. Way easier than bobbins.
Welcome to the World of cross stitch. What I have found that works best for me is I only bobbinate The floss that I’ll be using in a project. Extra skeins Long term storage I use the Floss-Away bags. As a finish a project I just drop the Bob and in the floss away bag with the additional skeins of that color. The floss away bags have a white box that you can write the DMC number allowing you to file them on the ring in number order.
There is a tool you can get to help with wrapping the floss around the bobbin. When I store the bobbins, I put them in with the numbers on top, making it easier to find what you need when working on a project. I hope I explained everything clearly. If not, you can email me and I’ll send pics with a better explanation.
Thanks for sharing what works for you, Susan! The floss away bags seem to be super popular!
I write with a sharpie marker on mine because my labels fell off
I just got some and plan to wipe the area with rubbing alcohol to remove factory machine oils. Might work but then again might not!!
I put everything on bobbins as soon as I get the thread (but that's mainly me being overly excited haha and I think it's easier to organize and find the colors you need)! I just keep them in a box like the same you have and when I start a new project I grab my bobbins, cut some floss and put into floss drops (I just made my own with some card and punches and write the DMC number and chart symbol on but there's a bunch of cute ones you can buy). It's easier to pull the thread from the floss drops so that way you don't have those other pieces just hanging out.
Your doing great
I use zip lock bags.
They definitely work well!
Snack bags one for each number
yes, a great alternative!
Hello and welcome to floss tube! The little stickers that you purchased to stick on the plastic bobbins aren't the best. Especially when it comes to the plastic bobbins. First, I don't like the plastic bobbins because the slits that hold the end of your floss are cut too large in the floss always comes out. Also, if you use the little stickers they don't stick to the plastic and always come off. I ended up throwing my plastic bobbins away along with the stickers and purchased the DMC chipboard bobbins. I use a felt tip pen and write the numbers on the chipboard bobbins. You do you!
I’ve already had to tape down the stickers 😥 but I’m definitely going to think of something different for the long term. I’m going to try the chipboard bobbins!
I'm going to film my update tomorrow morning and hope it to be uploaded in the afternoon. I'm going to go in over my floss storage. I have a couple of different ways that I organize my threads.
I have 15 floss boxes
I only use a permanent marker, the stickers with time sometimes comes off. I usually bobbinate when I am using the floss...what I mean is that I don't bobbinate in advance. Keep orgnizing, :D. Take care
I’m learning a new word today - bobbinate! Love it! Thanks for letting me know what works for you!