Flosstube #3 Floss Storage Crisis 

Hi Cindy. I really enjoy your videos. I’m looking forward to many more. The only thing is be careful with the charts that you show. Just try to stay with the pictures. Unfortunately people will try to screen shot the chart and use it and the designers are getting ripped off. I will see you again. Thanks Cheryl

Pip & Chip floss chips! That are very high quality…I just love them. A bit pricey but a wonderful investment for my floss!! Fabulous customer service as well.

Hi from France 🙂 I cross stitch too... but probably less than you or American. I see a lot of video of american stitchers, and it helps me very much. Yours design are nice, your storage are very practical. I am happy to see you. I don't know the price of linen in America is it but in France it's horribly expensive. 50 euros to 70 euros per meter. I can't have it. I must find one in a garage sale. Happy stitching 🥰

Hi Cindy, I use Annie’s Keepers, I buy the hangers that fit in a storage case from Staples. The keepers come with labels to number your thread, to Kit up a project I just pull the keepers I need. and put them on a ring. I also like to pull one thread at a time, if I need 2 threads I just double the thread, this also saves your floss. I hope this helps, I enjoy your videos. The bag you make with French Seams will you please make a bag showing how to use directional fabric. Thanks!!

Enjoy you so much. Love seeing your proj and hearing of your travels

Enjoyed your video!

I store my DMC floss on bobbins in those plastic boxes you don’t care for. I did it back in the ‘80’s and when I came back to cross stitching and started stitching again I got those same plastic bobbins and boxes. I store my fancy floss by dyer on metal rings and I do it by color. I put those in small plastic containers. As for fabric it is folded. I organize by count and then by color. I iron the fabric before I start stitching. I love your she shed. My mom and dad had a tiny Shasta trailer back in the day. It didn’t have the wings though. They took it everywhere. I enjoy your videos. I’m catching up on them.

You did good!!! Safe travels! Enjoy your time!! 😊

Great video! So glad I found you.

Just found your flosstube!! I have now watched all three episodes and look forward to #4...Love your stitching...

I have my floss in floss away bags # the dmc . On big rings in numerical order. I have a big longaberger basket that I put them in. The other floss are in floss away bags also. In a big plastic bin.

I have really been enjoying your floss tubes and have watched all three now. Just found you yesterday and will be looking forward to the next one. I have already gotten some great ideas and have learned quite a bit here, after having been away from cross stitching for many years.

Another great video. Have a great trip.

Hello. Really enjoying your channel. I love your vintage trailer and enjoy hearing about your adventures.

Nice video. I'm glad you got into the retreat your trip sounds like a fun time.

I love hand embroidery and wool applique. I hope someone does a channel with hand embroidery or wool. Lisa is my favorite. Enjoyed your channel. I store my thread in various ways. Hope to get new ideas.

I use floss bags to store my DMC flosses. Each bag has 2 hole punches. Each hole is put on a large ring so that each bag is attached to two rings. I have so many bags, that I have divided the bags by numbers, etc white-399, 400-699, etc. then all my ring groups are stored in a vintage metal bread box. I do the same with my overdye flosses but have them in another breadbox

I have a pegboard on a wall. I have organized my DMC,according to the order on the DMC floss chart row numbers,on peg hooks. If I want a specific color, I check the number on the chart and locate it on the wall. Works great. I was organizing according to color but could never find the color I was looking for and kept reordering to excess. I don’t use bobbins. I take the floss off the skein and measure 36” lengths and loop on cardboard floss tags hole punched at the top and bottom and label with the color and the row. I then put the cards on binder rings and hang behind the appropriate row card. Hope that makes sense

I just found your floss tube video and enjoyed it very much. I went back and watched your other two videos. I store my floss on bobbins and put them in plastic storage cases like you have. I have number stickers for plastic bobbins or just write the number on the cardboard bobbins. I have been stitching for 41 years and have 4 cases of DMC floss. My fancy floss is stored on rings in alphabetical order. It works for me. I look forward to your next video. Your stitching she shed is adorable. A perfect place for " me time ". Have a good week and hope to see you soon.

Belated welcome to FlossTube! Ive been enjoying your channel - and if I confess: Salivating over your shed! I think you are brave to have a beverage so close to all your floss! I leaned the hard way a few months ago that I do not have the skill to keep both on the same table. I have been using and absolutely loving Annie's Keepers floss storage system. Best craft related investment that I have made in 30 years. My floss (DMC, silks, and others) are beautifully organized, labeled and stored in four-file drawers in the corner of my craft room. I donated all my plastic bobbin containers and most of my floss rings last year since discovering Annie's Keepers and have not turned back. Best wishes!

Love your video. I look forward to watching more. Hope you enjoyed your time in the U.P. I live up between Houghton and Copper Harbor in a little village called Calumet.

Another fun Flosstube. I store my DMC in the plastic little bins like you, but in numerical order. Then when a pattern calls for a certain colour, I know exactly where it is, and how much I have left. My extra stash is also numerical. I have the new DMC floss chart, like your old one, and I have referenced it often. I am going to the UP in Michigan this year! I’m going to The Vintage Stitcher’s retreat in May. I live in Ontario, just north of Toronto. I also hike. My friend and I are doing the Bruce Trail. It runs along the Niagara escarpment from Niagara to Tobermory, where Lake Huron meets Georgian Bay. We love it. It’s over 900 kilometres.

So enjoy your videos! I also store my DMC in floss-away bags. That way I can tuck all my bits and pieces of floss as well. Those bags go into a plastic box with a clip-on lid in numerical order. My over-dyed floss I store as they are on the small cards, alphabetically on a metal ring. I have a ring of Weeks, then a ring of Gentle Arts Samper/Classic Colorworks/etc. It works well for me.

I recently took a plane ride to Montana to see my son and family. I threaded all the needles for the fill~ins, like the snowman's body!! I have started cross stitching again after many years of not stitching! My DMC floss is in white envelopes, stored in pretty photo boxes! I keep adding new colors! I really like the variegated threads! I didn't think I had stitched a sampler but found one finished but not FF! It was of a Teddy Bear, 1994! So, I framed it and it's in my sewing room! Enjoyed your video in your 'She shed'! Safe travels.

Hi, Glad I found your floss tube enjoyed all 3. I also quilt, mostly on the weekends (work gets in the way) hoping to retire soon, I cross stitch in the evenings this keeps me sane and stress free. I keep my floss in floss away bags numbered with an index card for stability I have a spread sheet with each color and numbers I cut and paste on each index card. I store them in clear plastic shoe boxes. On the front of each shoe box, I have the number sequence like 200-299 for DMC, for Fancy floss I have on the front A-F, etc. This has worked well for me.

Hi. My sister uses envelopes. She just writes the numbers on the outside and has all the envelopes in a shallow plastic bin. I enjoy your videos, loved the shop you visited.

I store my DMC on bobbins in plastic boxes. I have for 43 years and it works for me. My anchor and sulky spools are also in plastic bins from JoAnns. I travel a lot and find that easiest to grab and go. I did put the numbers on my bobbins from the start and that makes a huge difference. Really enjoyed your floss tube and loved Wilson's cameo.

Enjoyed your video. Floss storage is a never ending issue. The more you have the more space and containers you need. For me, I put DMC on cardboard bobbins and use a fine sharpie to write the number so it is visible at a quick glance. All in numerical order. For the weeks, GA, and CC I use large rings in alphabetical order. Each maker has a mid size plastic bin with a clasp lid. Mine are stackable and I keep them on a closet shelf. I rarely use silk (because of the cost) but I do have a few and keep them in a small plastic container. Each of my stitching friends store the floss a different way! You'll find something that works for you. Enjoy your trip.

Hello, Cindy! For 40 years I stored my DMC floss on cardboard bobbins, labeled by color number. Recently, I grew so tired of my floss kinking and knotting, so I moved all of it into Floss-A-Way bags. Ahhhh! The floss relaxes, and it's much more luxurious to stitch with. I do use a bit of Thread Magic on my floss to help it further behave. My bags are filed by number in plastic storage boxes, which I keep on a cute little cart from Michaels. I can roll it around or store it away. Happy stitching!

When I watched your first video I thought how can all of these first-time floss tubers seemed so professional and when you said you were a teacher I thought to myself there you go that's it you are a natural. I don't know if you ever could have watched Georgia bonesteel on PBS with lap quilting but you could be a dead ringer for her especially your voice and that is a compliment!

Hi Cindy, I am enjoying your flosstube! I still store my floss on bobbins. I have almost a complete set and this seems to take up the least amount of space and is most economical, I also use the same storage box you have shown. For the “fancy flosses” I keep them on their cards and slide them on a ring in alphabetical order and store in a plastic zip bag. I don’t many of these. I do fold my stitching fabric and sort it by size in larger zip bags marked on the outside with the size and type of fabric. These are stored in a plastic cube vertically. Hope this helps.

I do different storage for different flosses. I have a RU-vid describing the floss organizer I use on my wall. It’s basically pegs I purchased and hung. For the overdyes I use a file system drawer and that’s done alphabetically. Vonna pheiffer is where that idea came from. The silks are on a pegboard by color. If I go away I use floss tags 🏷️ on a ring for each project for the floss. Most of my projects I put on a q snap or hoop. I also use a Vera Bradley bag that has lots of pockets for extra needles snips markers etc. it’s all in a tote bag that I made with a handle. As for fabrics I need to store on a roll but lately I’ve used an ikea file system since I don’t have a whole lot. It is folded though. Love seeing your adventures. We like getting away to the lake most weekends. I enjoy watching your adventures.

Thanks for another video. Floss storage is something that I have been thinking about recently. I saw a couple of videos of people using a square file box and the floss hangs from the pendaflex hanger. Another option I am considering is a multi drawer container such as one that you would use for nails and screws but with a deeper drawer length. Enjoy your trip!

Hello! I’ve watched your videos and really enjoyed them. I store my DMC 5:35 floss in a plastic bin made for file folders. I cut the hanging folder about 3 inches deep. Punched holds and attached one inch ring. I put the floss on white floss drops I made with color number written on both sides. I filed them by number. I have fancy floss on a separate folder. It works great for me

I store all of my floss in FAW bags. I can put the extra floss right in the bags. I store DMC numerically, hand dyed by manufacturer and alphabetically. That has worked for me for 45 years. In each project bag, I have the floss on rings. I carry a separate small pouch for ruler, extra needles, threader, a few pins, pen, small notebook, and scissors. I enjoy your videos.

Hello from the northwest corner of Indiana. Enjoyed your videos especially the walk through on the shop. I to have been stitching 40 plus years. I have for the most part kept my floss in the floss away bags. I keep a piece of card stock in them and then store in the pretty boxes from hobby lobby, Michaels. Then I just pull the called for colors when I kit up a project . Blessings

I wind on bobbins but I get the double sided cases at hobby lobby, I put them all in order (don't have a complete dmc) but I found it's so easy to find my floss for each project. Some like to use like nail and screw storage drawers too.

I love your videos. The camper is adorable. I used to use floss away bags numerically but they became difficul to manage--slippery and sliding. I now use bobbins and plastic boxes yours, The bobbins are clearly labeled with number and stored numerically. This has worked out very well for me. I can easily find exactly what I need.

Hi Cindy! I love your she shed camper and your 1st 3 videos! I've been stitching since the 80's and I always used to bobbinate my threads. I got tired of doing that because it takes so much time. I have a lot of threads and those storage boxes got so crowded. Now, I usually try to 'kit up' patterns I buy so I have everything I need. For my flosses, I use the Flossaway Bags, write the number/colors, and put them on a ring in order. You can get a 3 inch ring with the flossaway bags at 123Stitch. If it's a small pattern you can get smaller rings at Michaels. So most of my patterns are kitted with the fabric and ring of threads for that pattern. I also find the Flossaway Bags keep your threads from getting 'fluffy' because they aren't rubbing against other threads. I keep my fabrics in a very deep pretty box I got from Michaels, and I keep my patterns in Trizo fabric covered boxes with hanging folders. They are labeled on the outside by seasons and/or holidays. I got them on Amazon. Good Luck! Sorry this is so long!

I have just started using some of the specialty threads, but have 5 of the storage containers for my DMC bobbins, which I store by number. I also have a spreadsheet (purchased on Etsy) where I keep track of the colors I have. I have a separate worksheet for my floss that is still in original packaging. I have now added another worksheet where I am keeping track of the specialty threads. I should say, I am a retired CPA. Everything is tracked on spreadsheets! 🤣 Now I’m working on creating a spreadsheet with my projects, based on status.

I put my fancy floss in floss away bags then I put them on big rings seperated by brand. They are in alphabetical order. It is very easy to splay them out to see all the colors and easy to find a particular color. I have had my DMC on bobbinators for years and it works for me. I write the number at the very top of the bobbin on the left so it's easy to see. A key to this system is not winding the floss too tight. I have 4 plastic containers.

I store my DMC floss in bags too. I had Floss-Away bags for some years, but when I acquired more floss (gifts from 2 different friends who died in recent years), I didn't buy more; instead, I just bought a box of "store brand" snack bags. I write the colour numbers on them with a Sharpie marker, punch a hole in one corner and put them on a ring. I have rings for the 100-200 numbers, 300 through 500, 600-800 etc. These are hung on hooks on a peg-board in my sewing room. I keep unwound silk flosses together, each colour in a bag as with the DMC, on a single ring on the peg-board. As for hand-dyed cotton flosses (I have far fewer of these) -- I have them on rings according to brand. Hope that helps with your sorting! P.S. I used to use the bobbins as you have, in a box like that. Gave them to my daughter eons ago to make friendship bracelets. Now the little box holds all my packets of Mill Hill beads, in numerical order.

we love the UP too!!! You might check out pyrex stitches on youtube. Her video 23 is about floss storage. My floss is a MESS. lol. I'm so jealous you get to go see Teresa! I keep my fabric in one of those scrapbook plastic boxes that are probably 13x13. I should probably hang it but I really don't keep much fabric around. I just get it as I need it. Have fun skiing!

Hi Cindy, I am a newbie stitcher, I have found I like storing my floss on bobbins in the boxes like you have, I did remember to number them! I am still figuring out whether to store them numerically or by colour, I guess it is trial and error! Really enjoying your videos. ❤

I've been cross stitching since the early 1980's. I use DMC almost exclusively. I have found the bobbin and plastic case organizers work the best. I write the number on the upper right corner and keep the floss in numerical order. I currently have 5 plastic boxes! As for travel I keep the floss in a small Husky plastic parts box and the rest in a project bag or zip lock bag. I also just started using the frixion pen to help keep track.

Floss storage is such a dilemma, whatever works best for you. Like many I started with cardboard bobbins cut from cereal boxes, then purchased bobbins, a floss minder pallette for projects, church tithing envelopes (we send checks) with numbers markered on, and those DMC Stitch bows inserted in plastic sleeves. I still have my original stash on bobbins, but dislike the kinks. I am now going to inserts in 3 ring binders to see if I prefer that. Good luck. ❤️ Love the she-shed.

I store flosses in floss-away bags vertically standing in plastic bins. I have shelf liner in the bottom of the bins so the bags don't slip down/fall over. Please do not show/display cross stitch charts as people are able to use the images to stitch from rather than buying the pattern. The front image/photo is fine to show, but not the charts. The she shed is delightful!

I use the bobbins. I punch an xtra hole at the bottom of the bobbin and put the thread through that. I writ the number on upper left with sharpie. I recently found a triple decker plastic container with dividers, I have the bobbins divided into sections and in those sections they are in numerical order. I love the new container.

40 years ago when I started stitching, I was taught to use envelopes to store floss. I put the floss number and color name on the corner of each envelope. Just slide floss in the envelope, even small pieces. Later I switched to the plastic floss bags. I keep them on rings. I keep a master chart of my doc floss. ( free printout). With floss in either bags or envelopes, I sometimes have to search. I really think the envelopes work best. They have held up for years.

I store my floss on bobbins except for my master set and it hangs on floss tags on rings on a scarf hanger in the closet. My fabrics are folded and sorted by count in window shoe boxes from Amazon. I also can't cross stitch in the car, but I do a LOT of crochet in the car.

I have enjoyed your videos very much. And that she shed is so cute. I too have had problems with storing floss. I simply cut the floss in smaller lengths and wrap the floss around a metal ring, and then divided the floss in thirds and braid it. I then took the numbered paper tube and slid it on to the braid. Problem is ithe paper band does not want to stay in position once you have begun to use the thread. So I need a better plan.

I use floss bags and put them on large rings in order.

I haven’t been stitching for very long but I’ve found a system that works for me - I have an IKEA rolling cart - 3 shelves - I keep my floss in 5x7 photo storage boxes with the numbers of the DMC on them. The boxes I got from Amazon not expensive. So 1 shelf for DMC , 1 shelf for over dyes - by color- 1 shelf for silks. I also keep my needle minders stuck to the metal shelves. This way I can wheel the cart to my stitching area and kit up what I need then back it goes to the craft room. My fabric keep mostly in a small 4 drawer dresser from Home Goods that’s next to my stitch spot. My really high count fancy linen I keep in archival linen covered boxes from The Container Store. In my top drawer of my dresser I have bins - 1 for scissors 1 for floss drops 1 for needles 1 for lip stuff ,hand lotion and nail files. This just works for me .

Please don’t apologize! I appreciate how thorough you are. I should have been as organized as you are. Thanks for watching and I hope you’ll continue to do so. ❤

Friction pens can ghost, marks can come back in extreme cold - quilters learned this the hard way. Maybe use blue air/wash away marker instead Previously I have counted and marked with running threads horizontally and vertically.

I use the floss away bags but going to watch because I would like to find something better for floss

Love your videos Cindy! Do you still live in IN? You talk about going to the UP. I live in northern Michigan about an hour south of the bridge. We enjoy going to the UP also. And for those viewers who don’t know the UP is a destination, not a direction! 😊

I'm not good at organizing any of my fabric or floss. I think rolling is the best way to store fabric. I was gifted tons of floss in storage bags by color years ago and they are still that way. Lots of vintage floss and very little DMC. I just pull colors I like for projects, lots of stitching from stash. Please keep the videos coming.

I use a pencil box that I got form the Dollar tree. It holds floss, scissors etc.

I store my floss on floss drops and book rings on peg board and shower/towel rods on the back of my closet door and wall. For travel I just put the needed floss on a ring with a tag and put in a notions bag. For fabric I use comic boards and a quilters storage method. Wrap the fabric on the board, label the board w/ fabric info and store upright on book case or a file cabinet by count.

Hi Cindy, I enjoyed your first few videos. I love your ‘she shed’! Just a thought- try to not show charts on the video. There are unscrupulous folks among us who might freeze the frame and screen shot the pattern. Looking forward to future videos!

I store my DMC on the plastic bobbins, i write the # on the top with a very fine point permanent marker, and store by group of #’s in the plastic bobbin storage boxes My WDW, GA, and CCW I store in the plastic bags on the larger metal rings and all of those go into a plastic storage tub-however- my hand dyed thread collection keeps growing 😊so I’ll have to buy 3 shoes box size and separate them that way

I use floss away bags. Then I stand them in a plastic drawer in numerical order.

I started w/bags. Moved to bobbins. Now switching to floss drops. Fabric is rolled or folded.

Match those DMC flosses without numbers to your DMC chart you have of the threads, then you can put the numbers on them!! I really like the bobbins and line mine up numerically in the plastic cases. I have 4 of them now all DMC because they have come out with some new colors that are asked for on patterns. My overdyed flosses are very limited.

I apologize if someone already shared this tip in the comments before mine. I bought earring storage bags that hold many pairs in small pockets and hang in your closet. The pockets are the perfect size for floss bobbins!

I don't know if it's the best way to store your floss but I bought several plastic toy car carries for mine.Toy cars like Match box. DMC has come out with more colors so I need to see if I can find another storage box. I still haven't figured out about what to do with my more expensive floss. Have any ideas on that? Right now i Have them in the small plastic bags on a ring. Love your Sassy!!!

Forgot to tell you I made a fabric roll from Vanna the twisted stitcher. I keeps my fabric nice and flat and easy to grab and go.

Such a Joy! Enjoy your time at Primitive Gatherings! Let us know how it went along with your hiking trip. Be Well

There is no best way. You just have to try different ones until you find something you like. Don't go whole hog at first until you know you will like it. Ask me how I know.

I'll send you a photo on IG of how I label my floss. I wish that retreat was closer to me. We could camp together! It's over 12 hours from my house. :(

I hang mine from floss drops on a round ring that hangs from a tension road. If u watch Stacy 911 Stitcher, she has hers hanging on the back of her door on a rod. I got my idea from her. I have a spare closet so mine hang in the closet. I do not have a flosstube.

I don’t know if you’re aware and maybe someone has already told you but, you really shouldn’t show the pattern to your project. People can pause the screen and take a picture and get a free pattern. It’s not really fair to the designers either. Sorry, but I thought you would really want to know. Love what your doing and it’s lots of fun.

You must not show the charts. This is income for the designers. There are people who screen shot and steal charts.