My favorite thread storage solution

       

My thread storage cases, which I have implemented thanks to the brilliant example of my friend and fellow Off the Wall guild member, Shirley.  She brought hers to a meeting to show us, and I fell in love instantly. 

These boxes are perfect for me.  I love them.  They make it easy to store, organize, find, carry and select threads for a project.  They are so compact; I have hundreds of spools yet they take up very little space!  The very best thing about these is that you can see so many spools at once.  As you can see, I organize my threads by color, with a  separate box for the multicolored threads I so love.  Because my spools are organized this way, the storage boxes have become a design tool, too.  The portability is a blessing too.  I had to look pretty hard to find them, but now they are sold by Superior Threads (thank you, Bob!)  http://www.superiorthreads.com/shop/product/48-slot/.  I tend to use lots of different threads in each quilt, so I plan to buy another case soon to corral and organize the threads for a project in process. This is especially helpful with a kitten in the house!

Occasionally there is a spool that doesn't fit, but that is not a problem.  I can either trim off the large flange at the base of the spool or rewind some or all of the thread onto a spare spool or bobbin.  For example, I once got a great deal on a huge cone of beautiful copper metallic thread.  I'm sure it is a lifetime supply!  So I store the big cone elsewhere in deep storage, and keep a couple of bobbins in my thread case.  If I have more like this, I think I'll put notes in the thread case compartments to remind me that there is backup.  One more little tip I just love.  I purchased some thin clear vinyl by the yard (1/4th is plenty and less than $1) and cut into strips to wrap around unruly spools, delicate threads, or those without a slot or groove for the thread end.  This keeps things much neater and avoids wasted thread and time from tangles.