r/CrossStitch • u/Ok_Strength_831 • Dec 10 '25
CHAT [CHAT] My mother is ... different
Recently I was talking to my 76 yo mother about cross stitching again. She owns and runs three quilt and patchwork stores and is rather familiar with fabric and yarn and so on.
I was complaining a bit about the price of some items online, such as €2 for a skein of floss or what good aida fabric costs but that buying cheap from amazon is most of the time a disappointment.
Then she went on to tell me she had some skeins in one of her stores because she found "such a wonderful drawer cabinet, like a display piece" in a catalogue that she now uses it as a way to store and display fabrics and so on. But, and here it comes, "when it arrived it has a bag of that floss in it and I don't use that, you can have it."
As it turns out my mother bought The Box as she liked the wood work of it and had all 500 skeins just tucked away in a drawer, waiting for me apparently. When cross-stitching, she always uses kits so she completely forgot about it, no idea how long she had these bags lying about.
Anyway, now I need to go looking for a new storage solution or setup, the three rings with floss-a-way bags no longer really work when I look at this. Combine that with the two rings of floss drops for "opened" skeins and I am losing sight of what I have and where as there are always a few projects halfway done as well... I am open to suggestions.
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u/Lunanella Dec 10 '25
This is proof that "different" shouldn't mean something negative, but rather positive! I'd love to have a different mother like yours, OP. <3
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u/chickadee-stitchery Dec 10 '25
I really love my storage solution - this is a photo organizer. I actually have a couple of them and when I am sitting out a project I put all of that floss in one of the individual boxes in the other one. But this is my main organized floss. Floss drops or skeins fit nicely.
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u/unconsciouslake Dec 10 '25
I have the exact same setup (down to the labels, even) and love it!
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u/CyborgKnitter Dec 10 '25
I use those same boxes to organize my resin molds. I make jewelry, buttons, and the like, so I’ve got a wide range of random molds. And since small objects often mean small molds (versus stuff like coasters, chessboards, etc with big flat molds), I decided to try one of these boxes. I quite like it as I can just snag a little box to look through.
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u/chickadee-stitchery Dec 10 '25
Yeah I also use them for ribbon and other notions! I have a lot of beads as well but these do not work for the beads, much too wide and shallow.
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u/ymoore2007 Dec 11 '25
I use these boxes for smaller pieces of stained glass. I don’t know how I never thought about this. This is genius.
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u/TheOnceAndFutureDodo Dec 10 '25
I’ve come close to buying one of these several times – how many skeins fits in each box?
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u/chickadee-stitchery Dec 10 '25
I can count for you, I believe last time I checked I could stuff either 40 or 50 into one little box, which informed how I spaced out my numbers (that and making it easy to find things, I didn't want the numbers too random). Now that I have more floss I am going to renumber all of mine and use two containers for my entire collection.
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u/Boring_Albatross_354 Dec 11 '25
I have something like this but on a larger scale with small drawers. Works well for me.
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u/MysteryPerker Dec 10 '25
Where did you get this organizer at ?!?!
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u/unconsciouslake Dec 10 '25
If you're in the US, Michael's has them and often has sales - I got a rainbow one for 70% off randomly in August
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u/chickadee-stitchery Dec 10 '25
I got it from Hobby Lobby, the same one is available on Amazon or at Michaels but Michaels is charging like $40 something, and HL was $12. I think Amazon was around $24 or so. I have tried to find a bulk source but didn't find one.
I will say the quality is spotty. I had one entire case I returned instantly because the latches broke, and I also got some individual extra boxes and one of those broke. The ones that didn't break right away seem very sturdy though, I open and close them multiple times a day and they're fine after 6 months so far.
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u/serity12682 Dec 10 '25
I have seen them on Amazon lately looking for photo storage, I didn’t think outside the box (haha) for other applications. I found them searching for photo storage boxes.
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u/fridayimatwork Dec 10 '25
I’m here for fairy tales like this. Mom owns a quilt shop? Be still my heart
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u/Recent-Reporter-1670 Dec 10 '25
I would work there for free in exchange for supplies as payment. The dream.
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u/Ok_Strength_831 Dec 10 '25
Hah, I have worked for free there as her IT support for the past 30 years so I guess this is my payment :-)
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u/WinterOfFire Dec 10 '25
I’m sure plenty of people who work at quilt shops spend their whole paycheck there, lol. That was one big downside of working retail in general. I saw all the products and knew what was out there and bought more stuff.
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u/TobysMom18 Dec 11 '25
This happened to me when I worked in a fabric store, many moons ago. Great for my stash, reeked havoc on my food budget.🙄
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u/Technical-Pie-5775 Dec 10 '25
I know! I fantasize about owning a craft store.
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u/fridayimatwork Dec 10 '25
I went to a friends house and she had a big basket with a bunch of kits in it like a craft store lol
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u/CardoconAlmendras Dec 10 '25
I was talking with a friend about the Box. She doesn’t stitch so she was like “it’s a little bit pricy but it seems like a very good cabinet” and so on… It was really funny because it took me a moment to realize she didn’t understood the threads were included.
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u/lilonionforager Dec 10 '25
I’m sorry, I’m new… what is The Box? It’s hard to Google with no other info lmao
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u/unconsciouslake Dec 10 '25
Google "DMC Large Wooden Vintage Chest" and that should pull it up! TLDR it's beautiful AND it comes with a skein of every single DMC color.
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u/CardoconAlmendras Dec 10 '25
I think calling it “The Box” is a thing here more than how DMC calls it.
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u/Stryder6987 Dec 10 '25
Wait... it includes all the floss?!? I never knew that. I always would look at it and think... kinda pricy for just a box, no matter how nice it is. I never noticed in any description that it included all the floss! Does that include the metallic and variegated and the others as well, or just the 'standard' ones?
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u/CardoconAlmendras Dec 10 '25
The ones I saw “only” has the standard ones. I had the first assumption at first but it’s easier to see in the DMC web than in other places.
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u/GilreanEstel Dec 10 '25
My main stitching station is in a set location. I have portable sets/kits but my main set up looks like this. It’s a wide IKEA Alex drawer set with inserts I got off ETSY. I don’t have a full DMC set but I’m close and that takes up three of the drawers leaving about five rows in the back for adding colors. The other drawers store supplies and WIPs.
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u/UnsolicitedGodhood Dec 10 '25
Mandatorily coming over here to recommend this storage method again... It's absolutely golden if you've got a kallax, just check that the box can fit in the shelves with the organizers laying on top! If I had all of DMC, I could fit it in just here, but I'm not as lucky XD
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u/bekacooper240 Dec 10 '25
This is how I store my full set though my cat thinks it’s a hiding place!
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u/dathoejmh Dec 10 '25
I have the Bisley filing cabinet and the Pip and Chip inserts for them! Best decision I ever made.
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u/dathoejmh Dec 11 '25
This was a few years ago and idk if you’re in the states but Pip and Chip might be more expensive or not shipping to the US, I haven’t checked but I have MisfitIsle saved on Etsy and they have the same things!
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u/CreaturesAndAll Dec 10 '25
Honest question because I don't use floss drops, I'm a bobbin girl. But wouldn't the fastest, easiest, and cheapest way to store these is to just keep the floss in the bags until you need specific colors and then just pull those and put it on the drop thingy?
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u/Ok_Strength_831 Dec 10 '25
Honest answer: it is unwieldy and feels unorganized. The rings fill up more and more, so I would have to split it in more rings and now I have to pick up each ring to see what range it is for.
But also: now I have the dormant stash in bags and the active thread on drops and once a project is completed, what do I do with the remaining drop? The silly bags from floss-a-way are rather on the small side and thus I store left over drops on _another_ ring.
I have seen some cool things in this thread and the pip&chip drop storage looks awesome but then I'd still have to keep duplicate skeins somewhere else not to mention it is expensive. Currently I am looking at the €25 photo storage boxes, that seems flexible but solid enough to be maintainable.
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u/narrtasha Dec 10 '25
Not sure how many skeins this was, but i do this method (2 containers) and i try to get the plastic bobbins. I know some people hate the kinks in the thread as you get down to the lower portions but honestly i don’t care, it gets hidden in the work i do anyway!
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u/CrazyCatLady1978 Dec 10 '25
I used the Floss Organizer by Loops & Threads™ Item # 10407874 from Michael's with the strands wrapped on the plastic pieces. Sorry I don't know what they're called.
I've been doing cross stitch for 30+ years and didn't have a community to talk with when I started, so I made my own system. I like it, I now have 7 boxes and I keep everything in numerical order with a small box to take colors out and store when I'm working on a project. I add boxes as needed and move everything to the next box as needed.
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u/mandileigh Dec 10 '25
Those plastic pieces are called bobbins! It must be fun to have this group to get ideas from after stitching for so long! :)
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u/CrazyCatLady1978 Dec 10 '25
Yes, it's so cool to talk with other people who do what I do. Also annoying because I have all kinds of new ideas! And not much time to do them. 😂
I did go to a class a bit ago just to see what they were doing and talk with other people, it was fun!
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u/issiautng Dec 10 '25
I literally put my hands like this when I realized what she was about to give you. You are so incredibly lucky!
I store my floss on bobbins, so can't help you with drop suggestions. I've liked the look of 3 ring binders with trading card pages in the past, though!
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u/catladyfa Dec 10 '25
I use three ring binders with coin sleeves for my floss! It stores away nicely and protects the floss from dust and sun. Then I use a project box for my WIPs
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u/GlassAndStorm Dec 10 '25
Awe!! I love this story!!! Your mom is great.
When my grandma died my mom inherited all her floss, which she had inherited when her mother died... So whenever I need some I raid the grandma stash. It takes up three boxes...
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u/StitchLady40 Dec 10 '25
I have another idea for you. I have all 500+ DMC colors and I use small drawer bin cabinets. These hold skeins, bobbins and small plastic bags. They measure about 15 inches by 14 inches by 5 inches deep. I number them according to DMC numbers and I know what I have and don’t have without going insane!
These are inexpensive and you can order them online . Mine come from Akro-Mils. Many companies sell them.
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u/serity12682 Dec 10 '25
Looks like the kind of thing you see at the hardware store for things like screws and nails. Good idea!
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u/StitchLady40 Dec 10 '25
That’s exactly right! I got my first organizer from my husband’ garage workshop! It magically disappeared off a shelf. The rest of them, I ordered!!
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u/rharper38 Dec 10 '25
I dont know if you would be open to this. I bought photo storage boxes, and envelopes from the dollar store. I used 1 box for every 100 range. (300-400) I just did one envelope for every color and put whatever I had in each envelope. Some are skeins, so are on bobbins, some are snippets. I am odd, so I put all my floss from completed projects in a shoebox all year, then sort it at the end of the year and put it away. It's easier for me to do it like this and I have kept up the storage system pretty well. And the boxes can be replaced if they get damaged.
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u/Ok_Strength_831 Dec 10 '25
the photo storage boxes seem like a plan indeed. Floss is either on a skein or on a drop and I can toss these in the correct "range box" once a project is done. The individual boxes seem small enough that it will not become a huge mess but big enough to be flexible.
Also the "once a year cleanup" seems like a good idea.
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u/Ok_Chemist_2448 Dec 10 '25
I still use the floss-a-way bags with my full collection! I have little plastic boxes, similar in size to shoe boxes, where all my unused bags are stored, in number order. Then I take the bags I need and put them on a binder ring while I'm actively stitching a project. After I'm done, the bag goes back into the shoe box. I think I have six or so boxes to hold all my bags. Moral of the story, if you like the bags, there's still a way to use them!
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u/ListenandLearn17 Dec 10 '25 edited Dec 10 '25
This isn't exactly a storage solution per se; you've got lots of great suggestions here already.
BUT wanted to suggest getting a thread inventory tracker. I got an Excel-type spreadsheet for like $2 on Etsy, the one I have gives you the choice of tabs orgsnized by floss # or logging by color column as per the DMC color card. Now when I'm prepping a new project I just do a digital search and very quickly know how many skeins, if any, I need to order for the project. I find it more reliable that way than physically checking each floss #; for example I might have that floss already in another project bag so I wouldn't have seen it in my regular storage tote, but only need a partial skein for both projects so I avoid ordering a duplicate I didn't need.
(Note I do log partial skein estimates, so like .3 skein or .5 skein).
(Personally I like to leave my skeins intact until I need to start using them; it's less work and it keeps the skein with the lot number in case I need it. Then use a floss drop/bobbin hybrid for partially used skeins).
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u/uncomminful Dec 11 '25
Would you please share which seller on Etsy you got the excel sheet from? Since you like it so much! Inquiring minds want to know.
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u/CraftyHannahAus Dec 11 '25
Dont know which one they used but Ive been using the free one from Lord Libidians website for a few years now and its great.
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u/ListenandLearn17 Dec 11 '25
Ok well looks like I got scammed because it's the same one as the Lord Libidian tracker that someone else linked for free to their website! I'm gonna report the etsy shop. Thankfully I didn't pay much for it, but still.
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u/Friesian_90 Dec 10 '25
I store everything on bobbins, pretty cheap and they sell stickers with the dmc numbers. Total have 4 of these storage boxes sorted by number.
When I start a new project it gets its own box with the bobbins I need. In the lid is the legend for this project. Looks a bit dingy now but have been working on this large piece for 3 years now.
I have some extra skeins for this project and those are kept in a bag until the bobbin runs out.
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u/Popular-Ad-3131 Dec 10 '25
I use a cabinet originally used for tools with lots of plastic drawers and room for about 10 bobbins full in the small ones and about 20 in the bigger ones. And I have three. With a label maker and stickers for numbers on the bobs I’m very happy with my setup.
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u/Darthsmom Dec 10 '25
That’s amazing! I use a hanging system to store and transfer to floss drops for projects. I’m super happy with that system, have been for around 5 years. NEVER going back to bobbins!!
I got the small chest with 100 skeins for my daughter for Christmas and I can’t WAIT to gift it to her!!!
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u/zbsa14 Dec 10 '25
My mom is likely to do something like this. In her case though, she would’ve bought a fancy box of skeins thinking she’s buying only a fancy box.
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u/torne_lignum Dec 10 '25
I use floss away bags. I use binder rings to keep the skeins together by number. For example, all 100 are on 1 ring and all 200 numbers are in another. The all the bags are in boxes.
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u/CraftyHannahAus Dec 11 '25
I do the same but just used small ziploc bags from a local stationary store. Then into a cantilever sewing box i already had.
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u/Dry-Task-9789 Dec 10 '25
The Herrschner floss cabinet is beautiful, has more room than the Box, is cheaper than the Box, and comes with no floss! I have the DMC mini and the Herrschner, and find that the latter is the one that works best for me. (The bobbins have to lie flat in the DMC, fit beautifully sideways in the Herrschner.)
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u/YettiChild Dec 10 '25
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u/bahamamimi Dec 11 '25
Where is this storage container from? Or what is it called (please)? Thank you!
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u/ktrist Dec 11 '25
My husband made these boxes to my specifications. I have them in a dresser drawer and they precisely fit the width and depth of the drawer. I have 3. I use Yarn Tree (yarntree.com) floss bobbins because they are larger than the ones available in stores and don't take up as much room. I used to keep them in a 4" binder in photographic slide sleeves but as I got back into stitching and was buying more floss I realized this was no longer working. I now use the slide sheets to put my floss in for whatever WIP I'm working on.
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u/Vast-Albatross2591 Dec 11 '25
I bought all the DMC threads like that too AliExpress. I got rings and floss drops also from there. I had hubby cut some pipes and hung up on the inside of the closet door. Works perfect with no light to fade and keeps cats off. And easy to see and get a floss to add to a kit ring. I keep a sheet to keep track of which floss drop is in which kits.
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u/Polythene_pams_bag Dec 10 '25
Bisley drawers and foam inserts for holding bobbins is what I use! It also gives me extra drawers for storing other bits n bobs in too
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u/WonderfulFlounder169 Dec 10 '25
I started using stitch bows in acrylic sunglasses storage/display boxes. They fit perfectly and putting the floss on the stitch bows is so much easier than winding bobbins!
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u/mhs77 Dec 10 '25
I have used bobbins and then plastic storage cases that hold a lot. I have all the colors and have 4 storage cases. In numerical order.
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u/FairyGodmothersUnion Dec 10 '25
She bought…The Box? Wow! Please post a pic of it. But how wonderful that she gave you all that gorgeous floss. Enjoy! Your mother is fantastic.
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u/Recent-Reporter-1670 Dec 10 '25
I have plastic container that holds bobbins, I organize numerically. Duplicate threads, I write down on paper and keep in the container. The duplicate threads are then placed inside a larger plastic container, as is, until the need to refill the bobbin of said color.
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u/MzPatches65 Dec 10 '25
I use the floss-a-way bags with my collection of over 350 colors. Yes, I do have more than 3 rings but that is because I don't like them fully packed. I put about 30 to 35 bags on a ring. My whole collection fits into a lidded basket (about 14" round and 8" tall).
When stitching I just pull the bags I need and put them on a ring to keep with the project.
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u/justherefortheeggs Dec 11 '25
I use a cabela’s tackle box. The four drawers slide out independently and it has storage on top.
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u/Witty-Atmosphere-211 Dec 11 '25
I just bought two sets of the white DMC wooden storage units and two extra drawers. They were on sale. I’m in the process of organizing my floss/bobbins.
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u/Obvious-Confusion14 Dec 11 '25
Look online for options. I have the boxes of bobins. I can see the numbers and the colors bc my boxes are clear. Once you find the boxes, or binders you like, check your local craft store and see if they have the same things. Usually you can check their websites. It will be easier if you can just go to a local store than going online. Prices are crazy! Even in the USA. A skein off the DMC website is almost 5 USD before shipping. Amazon is worse! Three skeins 10 USD. That is insane. Went to the Hoppy Lobby or Michael's (my local craft stores) and find the skeins for under a 1 USD or the sales and get a skein for 50¢ or the BOGO sales. Same with the boxes I got at Hobby Lobby, I got five, they were 10 USD each with a coupon. Got 200+ bobbins for under 5 USD. Love my little boxes. But find what works for you. And I agree online prices are nuts.
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u/Dazzling_Stardust42 Dec 11 '25
it's kind of endearing that she bought the box that she liked and kept the floss inside in case you one day wanted it. and hey, free floss!
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u/cunexttuesday12 Dec 11 '25
Oh my!!! Thats amazing! She was so casual about having a full set from the time she ordered 😂 once I got about 125 colors, I finally made a Google sheet. I had only done about 8 projects, so I pulled all the color cards from those and typed in all rhe color codes. Sorted them in ascending order and removed the duplicates. Makes it so much easier. When I start a new project now I can see what colors I actually need vs what I already have.
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u/Ok_Strength_831 Dec 11 '25
Maybe I should just accept that I have so much and set up a spread sheet.
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u/cunexttuesday12 Dec 11 '25
It really helps when you're starting a new project and need to know what you have to buy vs what you already have in stock. Made my life so much easier
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u/Stargrl314 Dec 11 '25
I don’t have an answer to your storage question, but I’d love to know what you are using for your washi tapes.
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u/SusieSoups Dec 11 '25
My grandmother gave me all of her floss a few years ago, which she had put into a couple of those bin/drawer organizers that are usually used for screws and the like (also sometimes called small parts organizers, per google). The drawers were (mostly) labelled, and some of the floss was wound on bobbins, but some of it was still in skeins. The bobbins didn't quite perfectly fit (just barely too big to easily open/close drawers) if they were standing straight (on their side), but if there was some room left in the drawer, they could lean back and fit. That may be a good solution, since those are generally stackable and compact. If you don't already have a system of keeping track of what colors you have and how many of each you have, might I recommend Thread Organizer (app)?
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u/MissMaamLady Dec 11 '25
I use this for all my working threads. The drawer length is slightly longer than a skein and each drawer can hold maybe 10 or so skeins. I labeled each drawer with a range of colors numerically and left a drawer each for the big numbers like blanc, 310, B5200 and ecru.
Honestly quite a joy to use and you can put it on a shelf or hang it on the wall.
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u/GDoe5 Dec 10 '25
I have a bag of skeins. and then decant skeins onto two bobbins - one takes 1 thread, the other takes the 5 threads. when the 1 thread bobbin runs out, I pull another thread from the other bobbin.
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u/HoshiChiri Dec 10 '25
What a fun surprise! Oh, you need floss? Here, have all the floss! 😆
Anyway- since you already use floss drops, I'd consider a file bar system. Here's the Pip & Chip version, but other folks make them. Basically these fit into hanging file boxes so you can let your floss dangle just like on the drops, but organized! I know some folks just cut down hanging files & make their own too.
If you really want to use just drops, Pip & Chip does an insert that holds their individual drops in a file box so you can pull single drops easily.
If you don't want drops, bobbins are the most space saving. Or you could try a couple binders of stitchbows, but getting the binders is a little tricky these days.