Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Managing a Thread Stash

Some solutions are so obviously simple, I wonder if I'm the only person on earth who hasn't figured it out.  My problem of neatly storing my growing stash of Wawak thread is a perfect example.

I have accumulated a lot of thread.  I use up to six spools of matching thread on each garment:  five for the serger and one for the conventional sewing machine.  The conventional spools of thread I buy from JoAnn have a slot to control the thread tails. No problem there.  But the spools I buy from Wawak are different.  They have no slot.  My compartmentalized thread storage drawers were turning into a mass of tangled thread.  The simple solution was  Hugo's Amazing Tape.  It's a vinyl tape that sticks to itself without adhesive.  I cut a length of tape about five inches long and wrap it tightly around the  spools.  No adhesive residue on the thread and no more loose ends making a tangled mess!  And it's reusable!  I wasn't able to find it locally in any brick and mortar store,  but it's available online at Nancysnotions.com, Amazon.com and CreateForLess.com.  It comes in 1/2", 1" and 2" widths.

Now, about those hundreds of thread spools – I always shop my thread stash before buying more thread.  Usually, I have the color I need so it's not necessary to buy more thread.  But … take a look at the picture above. There is still room for one more cube and hundreds of spools!


Don't hate me because I'm organized!

10 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  2. Very cool idea. Thanks for showing this. I appreciate your organization.

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  3. That is a seriously good tip, thanks!

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  4. Wow, that's a great tip. I'll be checking to find something like this locally. I know of a white vinyl tape sold in DIY stores used by gas-fitters. It wouldn't be as good as see through, but would help too. At least worth a try for me. Thank you for the tip.

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  5. That is a great idea but I guess since I use the toy car cases and only one spool of thread per slot, I don't have this issue. May I ask why you don't use serger thread for your serger? Why do you use regular thread? Thanks!

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    1. I use regular thread because it comes in more colors. And, in spite of the previously tangling thread tails, the Wawak spools are easier for me to store than the serger cones.

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  6. I have the same issue. Thanks for a great solution! Now, how do you keep your bobbins from making a thread mess?

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    1. My bobbin boxes have a foam insert and the bobbins don't move and unravel in these boxes.

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  7. Great organization tip. To save money and space, could you use neutral colors for thread 2,3, and 4 when serging?

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  8. Yay! More good ideas. You have saved me from wasting so much time since I adopted your method for keeping an index of patterns, so I always look forward to your great ideas, Elaray. Thanks for sharing them.

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