Thread and Pattern Storage
As with most quilters out there, I too have my issues with storage space and organization.
I’ve been in this creative space for over a year and I’m still working on certain aspects of storing things and finding my way around with what works best for me. This is a Billy bookcase from IKEA and it was the perfect piece for the gabled ceiling, this one used to house all of my AccuQuilts dies then I got a brilliant idea…
When we prepared for our big move all of my thread spools went into small ziplock bags, the ones used for beads and jewelry. Those plastic bags were large enough to hold the spools and a few bobbins. Then after a year of living in an apartment our house was ready and I was once again putting my thread back into those little plastic bags - and that’s where they’ve stayed packed away in the drawers of my short wide IKEA Alex drawers, until now.
I also do machine embroidery and having that thread in the tall Alex drawers works for me, it keeps that thread separate from my 50 wt cotton quilting thread and my polyester sewing thread. The reason I’m bringing up my embroidery thread is that I love Kimberbell has their kits packaged, they’re in these nifty stackable caddy’s. I thought wow, this is the solution to my problem! Now my mission to find them at a price that won’t have me doing a piggy bank shake down. I found my containers at Missouri Star Quilt Company. The containers come with 3 storage compartments and 1 lid, I purchased a total of 6 containers and I stacked them 5 storage compartments high. One of the great things about Missouri Star Quilt Company is that they have sales and a stellar rewards program. I organize my thread by color and it’s working well for me.
In my last 2 sewing rooms I had my thread on wooden racks on the walls near my sewing machine. Any walls located near my sewing machine are utilized in a way to maximize storage. Every room has its challenges and this one had lots of angled walls. I knew that I didn’t want to have my tools or thread hung/displayed on the walls, I wanted a place for everything and everything in its place. The nice thing about this storage system is that I can keep my bobbins in with the thread spools. It’s portable and I can take it with me to classes or when we go on vacation.
Pattern storage - I purchased these from Target, they’re from their Brightroom collection of clear acrylic storage containers. These are stackable and work well in every place I’ve used them - from my home office to the bathroom and kitchen. I wanted clear containers so I can see exactly what’s inside. These are affordable, durable and can be washed. I have several different sizes of these containers and I use them in various places in my home.
