Putting threads onto bobbins

[Pinguxxx]

I've just made my first purchase of stash Very excited

After reading T&T it seems most of you transfer your threads onto bobbins so I though a trip to my local craft centre might be in order today to have a mooch at some storage boxes. I've seem one on line that holds 50 bobbins but as I've just bought 40 colours do you think I will outgrow this size too quickly or will a spare 10 see me good for a while?

Second question .... Plastic or card bobbins?

Third question .... When you transfer thread to bobbin I'm guessing you split the six strands and wind them on separately???? god that sounds really thick!!!

[Midge]

I wind the whole skein neatly onto a plastic bobbin (that I label with an indelible pen) with out splitting it because sometimes you use 1 strand or even 3.
The box won't last you long I bet it will be more than full after your next shopping trip.
Have fun with all your stash.

[~threadbear~]

I agree! Now you've started, you'll outgrow that box before you know it!
Don't worry though, it'll come in handy as a project box or something, for an individual project.

I also wind the whole skein on the bobbin, but I use cardboard, I don't like the plastic as I don't feel it holds the ends of the skein tightly enough for me.
I write on mine in pen.

[Pinguxxx]

I thought I might ..... Will have a look at bigger sizes. Where do/did you buy your bobbin boxes from? Local stores or online?

Good job I've a big high bed with nothing underneath it

[Pinguxxx]

Hard to see the size etc online, what sort of size would be the bet to get that I'll not outgrow too quickly?

[~threadbear~]

I have this size (large) Bobbin box that comes with 100 free cardboard bobbins.
Look around online though, don't just buy it, I've got them off ebay and from online places as well. I shop around for the best price first.

[freelady]

I do the same as Midge, and would like to warn you that your stash will grow faster/bigger that you can imagine now.

[kell]

I use plastic bobbins and wind straight onto the bobbin from the skein - no splitting necessary. I did start with card bobbins, but I prefer the durability of plastic bobbins for my collections of DMC and Anchor (I use card bobbins for the flosses I won't necessarily get again, such as freebies on magazines and bargain packs, so as not to unnecessarily mark up a plastic bobbin). I use a Sharpie marker to write the floss number and either D for DMC or A for Achor. On the card bobbins I just use pencil - V for Venus, Misc for freebies etc.

[Stitch]

I use plastic bobbins and wind the whole skein on. I actually don't know of anyone who splits the strands first. Once I cut off a length of thread to work with, I just wind that length on top of the rest of the skein, usually in the opposite direction to make it easier to differentiate.

I had all my bobbins in two separate bobbin boxes, and this worked, but it was a bit of a hassle. Because my setup is on a pretty small table, whenever I wanted to get a color out of the other box, I had to rearrange the two boxes to do so and this got very cumbersome. So in an attempt to find a better solution, I came across this. I bought mine at Hobby Lobby for a few dollars cheaper, but it's wonderful. It easily fits all of my current colors, though eventually I will probably have to buy a second one. So now all my colors are in one container and easy to reach.

[corby_stitcher]

I have this size (large) Bobbin box that comes with 100 free cardboard bobbins.

Thanks for that link threadbear
Ive got close on 300 different colour threads and have been looking around for some storage boxs and now ill order some of those.

[coffee_freak]

i would get a spare box as thread stash does grow quickly.
I wind mine on paper bobbins and write the number on the top in ink. the only ones I use plastic bobbins for are white, black, and ecru..as those don't need numbered and I run out of those and rewind new skiens often..saves paper lol..

[Trylla]

I use plastic bobbins and wind straight onto the bobbin from the skein - no splitting necessary. I did start with card bobbins, but I prefer the durability of plastic bobbins for my collections of DMC and Anchor (I use card bobbins for the flosses I won't necessarily get again, such as freebies on magazines and bargain packs, so as not to unnecessarily mark up a plastic bobbin). I use a Sharpie marker to write the floss number and either D for DMC or A for Achor. On the card bobbins I just use pencil - V for Venus, Misc for freebies etc.

Apparently Kell and I think exactly the same way. I much prefer the plastic bobbins, and only use the cardboard ones on specific projects, for example when I have blended colours etc so I can write the symbol and the thread combination on it.

I keep doubles of threads in a plastic baggie in my larger stash storage box in order to keep them neat and dust free.

I currently have 5 large bobbin boxes and 2 smaller project bobbin boxes for all my threads. 3 of the large ones hold all (or most) of the threads for individual HAED projects, then I have 2 others for my regular (not being used currently) thread collection. I also keep my specialty threads in one of the small boxes, but that might get outgrown soon.

[Lilywhite]

I've just invested in two storage boxes. I bought some plastic bobbins to go with it but didn't realise they came with cardboard ones inside so now I have a choice. I think I'll stick with the plastic ones though as they seem much more durable.

[Rose]

I use the plastic bobbins because they are more durable. I us the paper tag that comes on the thread to mark my bobbins. I cut the number and tape it to the bobbin so the tape is under the thread and then wind it.
Like this

I found that no box in the craft stores was big enough to hold all of my threads so one day I was at the hardware store with hubby and I saw this tool box.




It holds my bobbins perfect and in the top it holds my waste canvas and spare needles. It is perfect for me.

[franacropan]

I store my bobbin boxes on the end of a bookshelf, on end like a book. I find 4 holds my master set and then I have various ones that are in use for the projects in my rotation. Because bobbins are extracted from the master set and so at least 200 could be with projects at any one time (HAEDS nearly always require nearly 100) I could not say whether 4 boxes are enough for a full set of DMC but I think 4 or 5 would be about right, especially as you always have a few duplicates. I use an individual box per project and I tend to use the cardboard bobbins because, with not being as thick as the plastic ones, I can get more bobbins in a box. Sounds crazy I know but that slight thickness makes a difference.

[suepollock]

Good morning! As many of the stitchers have already stated, I use the plastic bobbins and wind the entire skein on the bobbin. I purchased the DMC floss labels and use those, and then I file each bobbin numerically.

I went to Gander Mountain (an outdoor hunting/fishing store) and purchased the larger size plastic boxes that many fishermen use for tackle. The bobbins fit perfectly and hold quite a large number. I finally managed to obtain each DMC color so I have them in the boxes with the boxes labeled as to the number series in each box.

Due to the economy, I do not kit each project so I simply have the floss boxes within easy reach and pull the color as I need it. This is also nice because I know that when I begin to run low, I will order a replacement skein.

This is probably more info than you needed or even asked for, but I just wanted to share with you what works for me. I've purchased more floss storage systems than I care to remember and this has worked the best and the longest of any of them.

[Angel]

I have four boxs for my DMC, 1 for my speciality and 2 for my anchor...my join date to this forum is about the time I started stitching (I started literally that week). Which says how fast I go through these boxs. I think you'll be buying another box before long, but it depends on how long you go between buying stash. I can go for months then buy 40 threads at a time.

I prefer Plastic bobbins, but I do have a lot of card ones too. As I have very little disposable income I tend to use card ones "just for now" so all my threads are wound and neat, as they come with the boxs or friends give them to me because they're just too weak and the thread will probably outlast the bobbin, then I buy the plastic ones as I can afford to because they're just better.

Deffinately use somethinglike a CD writer pen on the plastic ones though. DMC do have stickers with all their thread numbers...but these fall off all too easily and have since left me with several bobbins that I just don't know what colour they are

[~threadbear~]

I have this size (large) Bobbin box that comes with 100 free cardboard bobbins.

Thanks for that link threadbear
Ive got close on 300 different colour threads and have been looking around for some storage boxs and now ill order some of those.

You're welcome.

[Angel]

That's the one I have too....but my LNS has stopped stocking them now in favour of a different one with no bobbins

[~threadbear~]

No bobbins?

That's awful