With multiple finishes over the past few weeks, it leaves me with a pile of threads to be stored away. I do it by color. What a mess! I wish I were disciplined to put them away after each project.
How do you manage your threads after finishing a project?
I always have multiple projects going at the same time. I put them back. Sometimes by the old “Fly Lady” concept – I can do anything for 10-15 minutes! I even use a timer and then reward myself for completing a dreaded task!! I have a weird hybrid system that works well for me. Floss is in floss bags in its own container. Rainbow Gallery threads are organized by fiber then number… all the silk lames, velvets, etc in their own sections. Kreiniks have their own divided bin by color family, then size and type/braid vs ribbon. I also have many that came on skeins – Perles, Caron, Planet Earth, etc. that are on floss drops, organized on rings by color families and some types separated (straw silks and #3 size) These hang on a free standing bath towel rack with three moveable arms that I got on Amazon. Probably more answer than you wanted, but I am very happy with my system. I can find things easily and see if I have enough for a new project. Happy organizing!!!
Comment by nbuennemeyer
January 7, 2025 @ 12:30 pm
I do have a few threads seperate. DMC floss separate but by color. Bijoux separate all together. You’re the first I heard use a bath towel rack! Clever. Yeah, whatever works and makes you happy is a good system.
I pile mine (threads) in a pile and when the pile falls on the floor, I then sort and put them away according to type of thread….what a system, huh?????
I generally put threads away after a project is done, especially if it’s a large project.
I sort most of my threads by color except for DMC cotton floss–those are sorted by number. Kreiniks are stored separately by color as are perles 3 and 5.
I also have an Excel spreadsheet with ALL of my threads listed by brand, type, number, color name, project used for, date purchased, from what store, price paid. It’s a lot of information, but it gives me an opportunity to “play” with my threads when I first get them. It also helps me use up stash when I can. This spreadsheet is saved to the “cloud”, so I can download it to my iPhone and iPad when shopping for threads.
Sorting by color is what I do too! I try to clean up after each project, but threads always seem to get everywhere—I just had carpet cleaners over and they mentioned how much thread their machines were picking up.. Oops!
Comment by Janae Richards
January 10, 2025 @ 1:50 pm
Melitastitches4fun's Blog 
I always have multiple projects going at the same time. I put them back. Sometimes by the old “Fly Lady” concept – I can do anything for 10-15 minutes! I even use a timer and then reward myself for completing a dreaded task!! I have a weird hybrid system that works well for me. Floss is in floss bags in its own container. Rainbow Gallery threads are organized by fiber then number… all the silk lames, velvets, etc in their own sections. Kreiniks have their own divided bin by color family, then size and type/braid vs ribbon. I also have many that came on skeins – Perles, Caron, Planet Earth, etc. that are on floss drops, organized on rings by color families and some types separated (straw silks and #3 size) These hang on a free standing bath towel rack with three moveable arms that I got on Amazon. Probably more answer than you wanted, but I am very happy with my system. I can find things easily and see if I have enough for a new project. Happy organizing!!!
Comment by nbuennemeyer January 7, 2025 @ 12:30 pmI do have a few threads seperate. DMC floss separate but by color. Bijoux separate all together. You’re the first I heard use a bath towel rack! Clever. Yeah, whatever works and makes you happy is a good system.
Comment by melitastitches4fun January 7, 2025 @ 1:02 pmI pile mine (threads) in a pile and when the pile falls on the floor, I then sort and put them away according to type of thread….what a system, huh?????
Comment by Carla January 7, 2025 @ 12:36 pmThat’s great to hear! I’m not the only one who has piles. I suspect more store by thread type.
Comment by melitastitches4fun January 7, 2025 @ 12:56 pmI generally put threads away after a project is done, especially if it’s a large project.
I sort most of my threads by color except for DMC cotton floss–those are sorted by number. Kreiniks are stored separately by color as are perles 3 and 5.
I also have an Excel spreadsheet with ALL of my threads listed by brand, type, number, color name, project used for, date purchased, from what store, price paid. It’s a lot of information, but it gives me an opportunity to “play” with my threads when I first get them. It also helps me use up stash when I can. This spreadsheet is saved to the “cloud”, so I can download it to my iPhone and iPad when shopping for threads.
Comment by brendasneedlepointstudioblog January 8, 2025 @ 7:14 amThat’s amazing. So organized! Congratulations
Comment by melitastitches4fun January 8, 2025 @ 8:35 amSorting by color is what I do too! I try to clean up after each project, but threads always seem to get everywhere—I just had carpet cleaners over and they mentioned how much thread their machines were picking up.. Oops!
Comment by Janae Richards January 10, 2025 @ 1:50 pmBetter than finding needles!
Comment by melitastitches4fun January 10, 2025 @ 2:08 pm