Another reader has shared her floss storage system with us! She says:
“I order the pattern booklet with three sets of labels.
“I attach a set of labels to floss bags on a ring. (I refer to this as “The Hold”.)
“Next, I take a razor blade and place it sharp side up in the crack of my dining room table formed by the leaf. I place a piece of tape 16” from the razor blade. I then take each color of floss and cut 16” lengths until done, and place them in the corresponding floss bags. (“The Hold”)
“I purchased a 1” deep plastic container with a hinged cover. I placed 1” thick, dense foam in both sides of the container. I then attached the second set of labels in rows onto the foam sides. I purchased enough needles to fill each spot. I load each needle with the appropriate color of floss. (I refer to this as “The Deck”.)
“I then made several 3” by 6” cards, running holes down both sides with a hole punch, and attaching the third set of labels next to each hole. Placing one hole in the left corner of each card, and putting the cards onto a ring through these holes. I loop three floss lengths per symbol through the holes.(I refer to this as “The Cache”.)
“Now when I am ready to stitch, I take the needle from The Deck corresponding to the symbol. When I run out of floss in the needle, I take from The Cache. When the Cache become depleted, I pull from The Hold.”
What do you think?
Wow. My mother told me about this site, and I'm so glad she did. Even the Lavender and Lace patterns I'd finally "graduated" to don't have this level of detail and beauty. Wow.
From cindy
12 years, 5 months agoI use this same system also! Works great. I use styrofoam blocks to put my needles in and plastic boxes for the floss bobbins instead of the floss bags. With my new project I am going to try the three ring binder with the plastic pages and velcro. I can’t wait to start my Dinner with Threshers picture, just waiting for the fabric to arrive in the mail.
From Ann
12 years, 5 months agoHave never heard of this system. It makes total sense to me to do all this labor up front especially on such big projects with blended threads. Do you have problems with the floss labels sticking to the dense foam in The Hole part of this process?
From Jennifer
12 years, 5 months agoLove this idea. Takes time , but I think in the overall scheme of things it actually will make the stitching faster. I will try this!!!!!
From Jean
12 years, 5 months agoI tried the floss bags on a ring but the bags keep breaking open on the edges. Do you have this problem or do you think I got a set of bad bags?
From Joan Reilly-Bertsch
12 years, 5 months agoHi. I love love love your whole floss system using the dense foam! To make sure my floss labels stay put on plastic floss bobbins and plastic bags, I keep a glue stick handy and always add some extra glue. I haven’t bought the SQ labels, so I don’t know if they would need added glue over time. With all my other brands of floss labels, it helps the floss numbers stay stuck through many years of stitching and avoids a lot of aggrevation! Could the glue stick help you with the labels on the foam??? Joan in NJ
From Christine
12 years, 5 months agoI love this idea and think I will have to look into purchasing the labels I need for my SQ chart! One of the reasons I stalled out on my piece was lack of a good organizing system for my floss. Love, love, love this idea and will have to try it. Thanks!!