I started straightening up from about 6 months worth of projects from around my machine area. This means that I take all the little scraps and bits... and begin sorting into Bonnie's scrap user system. Bonnie Hunter's Scrap Users System Tutorial I've been trying to do this now for about a year.... but all the pieces were in ziplock baggies in a drawer. (not very easy to get to.... for either sorting or using).... As I was cutting squares and bricks the other night, I decided I really needed another way of doing this if I was ever going to use it.
Later that night, it dawned on me, that I had a couple of those drawer sets that you get at the hardware store for sorting nuts and bolts. I've had these forever.... it was what I used for thread storage.... (we'll get to that just a little later).....
So... yesterday morning, while working on my second cup of coffee.... I decided to go empty the thread bins... so I could dust them out and start putting my pre-cut squares away......
The bins turned out to be just the right size! And they are clear on the front.... so I can sort of see what's in them....
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| Drawer set #1 |
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| Drawer Set #2 |
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| Drawer of 2 1/2" squares |
I even stacked some twosies together so I can just grab a stack and stitch when I want to make four patch units....
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| twosies... ready to stitch! |
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| Scrap drawers |
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| I have a drawer for everything.... |
I tried plastic shoe boxes several years ago... but I found it hard to get into them..... I pick up these drawer units when they are on sale..... I've figured out how to take them apart and stack them together in taller units..... (Don't even start in on how much I've invested.... my DH might be reading my blog secretly... LOL) But remember... I did say I ALWAYS buy them on SALE!
And where would I be without IKEA shelves?
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| It's sort of sorted by color..... and overflowing..... and I shouldn't have to buy fabric for a very long time! |
Now.... back to the thread story.....
If one has 293 spools of thread, is it too many? As I was unloadin the thread out of those cute drawers... the word "HOARDER" crept through my mind....
I have some spools that I can pinpoint exactly when and where I purchased them.... It was 1980, in Bend, Oregon... at the sewing machine shop where I purchased my first new sewing machine.... There were no quilt shops then.... in fact... I can't remember if Bend even had a fabric store other than the few bolts that were in the sewing machine store.... If I remember right... I had to drive to Portland to buy fabric.... Maybe there was a House of Fabrics? or the fabric section at the Ben Franklin Drug store.... I sewed all my own clothes then... so you would think I would remember.... but alas... it doesn't come to mind clearly. Any how.... these spools of Molynyke thread were from there.....
I have a serger... and so I've accumulated several sets of thread on cones for that.... I must have purchased 4 of every color..... because I have this...
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| Serger cones |
And just how much white hand quilting thread does a machine quilter need? I found this batch at a yard sale one time, and thought I needed it.... but really... 36 spools? I got an even better deal than the price listed on the spool ends.... I think I paid $5.00 for the entire lot!
Now.... just how much dark green thread should one girl have? I ask sarcastically? Maybe I just wasn't organized enough and couldn't find the green I already had? Maybe I thought I needed that specifically different shade of dark green? I can explain why I have three spools..... One for for my Viking machine.... and two were for the serger..... so that I could stitch a seam and then serge with the same color of thread..... (Did I mention that I can be obsessive? LOL)... that does not explain why I have the two serger cones as well though....
The spools in this picture have never even been started..... still factory sealed....
And just in case someone thinks I've been wasteful.... here are some spools to prove that I never throw anything away !!!!
I found this thread holder at a garage sale this last summer.... thought it might come in handy.... It's two sided... and has a carry handle on the top... It will hold 120 spools of thread
So today... I gathered up all the thread I could find in the house.... and sorted.... I put all the serger cones together... all the hand quilting thread together.... all the rayon and variegated thread together.... Then... I sorted by color groups.... red, brown, blue, gray.... etc.
Small spools went onto the thread rack... and the larger spools went into this little shelf on my wall. 
All in all... it's now organized.... and my goal is to use it up! I make enough quilts for charity purposes, that I should be able to use up some of these dips and dabs..... when piecing..... I know... some is poly... some poly-cotton... some all cotton.... but as long as it doesn't snap when I tug on it... it should work just fine! 
Have a great week everyone!
You know what you should use the almost empty spools for? You should make a scrappy rag quilt and use diffrent color thread thought out the quilt.
ReplyDeleteYou have an amazing collection of fabric! I'm going to have to look up your origination method, I could use some help in that department.
Http://www.sewingmyway.blogspot.com
Marissa... some of that fabric has been in my stash since the mid 1970's..... LOL I've accumulated it by shopping sales and clearance tables.... I RARELY buy fabric at full price. (and if I do... I only buy what I need for a particular project that day) I have plenty of fabrics to play with at home... I can usually wait until a sale or coupon come along....
ReplyDeleteWhoa! That's some stash! Can I come over to your house to play? :D
ReplyDeleteDenise, WOW! Never thought I would see a stash that put mine to shame (just barely..lol). The thread will always come in handy so why not have loads? AND NO, if it's organized as nicely as yours it can't be called hoarding. Have a great Christmas.
ReplyDeleteDeb