How to organize embroidery thread

As I was going through my drafts folder, I realize I have quite a few unposted posts from guest spots (I didn’t want to say “post” again so I said spots) I’ve done over the past six months. Since the craft well has run dry over here, I figured now is a great time to share them. The content of this post might look familiar as I have already posted about it on my blog here. But guess what? I used the same idea for a contributing post on 30 days and now I am using it AGAIN here. Craft well = dry. Told you. To my credit, the pictures you are about to see are much better than the first time I posted this, and that makes sharing this post 3 times ok. I just made that rule. You can post whatever you want as many times as you want as long as your pictures get better.

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I have quickly accumulated a collection of thread and I had to figure out a way to store it all in an organized, space efficient way.

At most craft stores, you can buy plastic organizer boxes and small cardboard or plastic cards to wrap your thread around, but winding all that thread by hand is quite a job. My solution? An electric drill. Confused? Read on…

I found this bobbin winder by DMC at Micheal’s (you can also find it on Amazon) with the intention of using this to wind all my thread. It clips to the side of the organizer box and you are meant to hand crank the thread onto the cards. After doing that a few times, I realized it was still going to take me too long to finish.

I had to think of something that would do the cranking for me. Enter the power drill.

I dismantled my bobbin winder and figured out that the card holder piece fit into the drill where a drill bit normally goes. Just tighten the plastic piece in there and you are almost ready to go.

Before you start winding your floss onto the card, you will want to write the color number onto the card and loosely unwind your thread. If you try to wind it without loosening it up, the drill pulls the thread so fast that you will end up with a big huge knot of floss. The kind of knot that ends up in the trash because it is just that bad. Trust me.

Insert your card and secure it with the peg, and wrap your thread a few times to get it started. Now you are ready to fire up the drill. As the thread winds, guide it with your free hand so that it doesn’t pool in one area. In about 10 seconds, your floss is wound and ready to be stored.

Winding and organizing all your floss can still be a big job, but the drill winding method has saved me so much time. I hope this helps you in your embroidery organizing endeavors!