How to Organize Sewing Threads and Save Time and Money

Organizing your sewing threads can save you time and money. Find out how in this post.

Do you have a messy stash of sewing threads that makes it hard to find the right color for your project? Do you waste time and money buying duplicate or unnecessary shades of thread? Do you struggle to match your thread to your fabric and end up with visible or mismatched seams?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this post is for you. I will show you how to organize your sewing threads in a neat and accessible way that will save you space, time, and money. You will also learn how to choose the right shade of thread for your fabric and achieve professional-looking results.

By following these simple steps, you will be able to:

• Label your thread spools with the color number and avoid buying wrong or duplicate colors.
• Sort your threads by color, type, and weight and find the thread you need quickly and easily.
• Choose a storage system that works for you and protects your threads from dust and damage.
• Use tricks to make sewing easier and more fun.

Ready to get started? Let’s go!

Use gray threads for (almost) everything

This is my favorite trick, because it saves me a lot of time and hassle. The point is that you only need to match the gray thread by the level of brightness, and it will blend in very nicely with most colors. This trick will not work on intense red, but on browns or muted pinks it will work very well! Thanks to this trick, you can significantly reduce your sewing resources and simply not buy too many shades without any sense.

Know your colors and the color palette you sew from

If you are bothered by the slight visibility of the gray thread and you only sew clothes for yourself, you can simply define the color palette you sew from. And collect mainly those shades. Why do you need a rainbow of colors when you will only use some of them. Recently, during the move, I found one of my first thread palettes and you know what, some of them were untouched! It’s a pity only for the money spent on nothing, but oh well.

Always choose the color of the unwound thread on the material

It is always best to choose the color by unwinding the thread on the material. I learned this in the haberdashery when I could not find the right color of thread for the material I was going to sew a coat from, I checked more than 50 colors in every possible position in the store and outside of it, finely a nice salesman seeing how I was struggling showed me how to do it. It’s pure optics – the thread wound on the spool has its own color, because it only reflects white light, but the unwound on the material also reflects light from the material. It may turn out that both shades, between which you are wondering, will be suitable.

Use wound spools for trial sewing and basting

This trick helps me get rid of the stock of wound spools on an ongoing basis. Especially when I have wound some unusual color and I know that I will not use it for sewing anymore, I use this spool for basting and trial stitches, where the color of the thread does not matter. Basting is easier to distinguish when sewing with a contrasting color, so this solution gives only advantages!

Label Your Thread Spools with the Color Number

The first step to organize your sewing threads is to label your thread spools with the color number. This will help you identify the exact shade of thread you have and avoid buying duplicates or wrong colors.

Most thread spools have the color number printed on a sticker label, but these labels can easily fall off or fade over time. To prevent this, you can use a permanent marker and write the color number directly on the spool. You can also use a small piece of tape or a sticker and write the number on it.

Some brands of thread, such as Mettler and Sew-Ology, already have the color number printed on the spool, which is very convenient. However, if you have other brands of thread, you can use this method to label them yourself.

Sort Your Threads by Color, Type, and Weight

The next step to organize your sewing threads is to sort them by color, type, and weight. This will help you find the thread you need quickly and easily, and also create a pleasing visual display.

You can use different criteria to sort your threads, depending on your preference and sewing needs. Here are some suggestions:

• Sort by color: You can arrange your threads in a your rainbow order, for example from red to violet, or group them by similar hues, such as warm or cool colors. You can also create a color palette based on the colors you use most often in this season for example or the colors that suit your style and wardrobe.
• Sort by type: You can separate your threads by the type of fiber they are made of, such as cotton, polyester, silk, or rayon. You can also separate them by the type of sewing they are used for, such as machine sewing, hand sewing, embroidery, quilting, or serging.
• Sort by weight: You can separate your threads by the thickness or fineness of the thread, which is measured in weight or tex. The higher the weight or tex, the thicker the thread. You can use different weights of thread for different fabrics and sewing techniques, such as lightweight thread for delicate fabrics, medium weight thread for general sewing, or heavy weight thread for sturdy fabrics.

Choose a Storage System that Works for You

The final step to organize your sewing threads is to choose a storage system that works for you. There are many options to store your threads, from DIY solutions to ready-made organizers. The best storage system for you depends on your budget, space, and personal taste. Here are some ideas to inspire you:

• Hanging rack: A hanging rack is a great way to display your threads on the wall and make them easy to access. You can buy a wooden or metal rack designed for thread storage, or you can make your own using embroidery hoops and dowels.
• Thread-specific box: A thread-specific box is a plastic or cardboard container that has compartments or spindles for each spool of thread. These boxes are convenient and portable, and they protect your threads from dust and moisture. You can buy them online or in craft stores, or you can make your own using an old shoe box and cardboard dividers.
• Zipper baggies and clear bin: A zipper baggie and clear bin system is a simple and inexpensive way to store your threads. You can use small zipper baggies to keep your spools and bobbins together, and then store them in a clear plastic bin. This way, you can see what colors you have and grab them easily.
• Mason jars: Mason jars are a classic and charming way to store your threads. You can use different sizes of jars for different types or weights of thread, and you can label them with the color number or name. You can also decorate the jars with ribbons, stickers, or paint to make them more attractive.
• Ice cube trays: Ice cube trays are a clever and cheap way to store your bobbins. You can use one tray for each color family, and you can stack them on top of each other to save space. You can also use a marker to write the color number on each slot.

Easy DIY Project How to Keep Thread and Bobbin Together

Do you want to save some space and money by making your own thread and bobbin holder? If so, this DIY project is for you!

All you need are some soft wire and pliers. You can use any kind of wire that is flexible and easy to bend, such as floral wire, craft wire, or even a coat hanger. You can also use any kind of pliers that can cut and shape the wire, such as needle-nose pliers, wire cutters, or jewelry pliers.

Here are the steps to make your own thread and bobbin holder:

1. Measure how long your thread spool is. You can use a ruler, a tape measure, or just eyeball it.
2. Cut a piece of wire that is the same length as your thread spool plus about 7 cm (2.8 inches). You can use your pliers to cut the wire or scissors if the wire is thin enough.
3. Round the sharp end of one side of the wire with your pliers. This will prevent the wire from poking or scratching you or your fabric.
4. Slide the bobbin and the thread spool onto the wire. Make sure the bobbin matches the thread color and size. You can also use different sizes of bobbins and spools if you want.
5. Bend the other end of the wire around the bobbin and the spool to close the loop. You can use your pliers to twist and shape the wire as you like. You can also make a hook or a loop at the end of the wire if you want to hang your holder on a wall or a rack.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 for as many thread and bobbin holders as you need.

That’s it! You have made your own thread and bobbin holder with just some wire and pliers. You can now store your thread and bobbin neatly and conveniently. You can also easily see the colors and sizes of your thread and bobbin without opening any boxes or drawers.

And so order was born out of chaos … in threads, and through that also in life because I no longer spend so much time trying to control this chaos. Sounds familiar? Or maybe you can handle the threads and have some of your own methods? I would love to use them, because I am a lover of improving such details in (not only sewing) everyday life!

I hope you enjoyed this post and found it helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Happy sewing!

In this post you learned how to organize your sewing threads .

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