Embroidery Thread Book - Tutorial

How do you store your embroidery thread? For years, mine has been jumbled all together in a plastic bag. When I was a kid my mom had this red book type holder that had zip top bags to hold the different thread. I've had it in my mind forever to make one for myself. Finally I did it and it only took about an hour to make and didn't cost me anything, since I had everything on hand. Why do I put these things off for so long?

Here's how mine turned out:

Want to make your own embroidery floss book?

You will need:
2 pieces fabric 8 1/2" X 18 1/2"
1 pieces fabric 2" X 6 1/2"
1 piece thin batting 8 1/2" X 18 1/2"{I used warm and natural type batting}
button
12 ziptop bags

Let's start with our button loop. Take one of your small pieces of fabric. Fold each end lengthwise into the middle.

Then fold again and sew down both long sides.

Do you recognize this fabric? Its leftover from the carseat cover I made for my sis-in-law. 

Now lay out your pieces and pin together. Place one larger piece of fabric face up, then pin the button loop to it like shown. Next lay down your other fabric face down {so right sides are together} Then place batting on top. Pin to secure and then sew around the whole thing leaving a section open to turn it right side out. Then top-stitch around the entire rectangle.

 Your last small piece of fabric is going to be sewn on top of your zipper bags. I folded each of the ends down and sewed them. Now it's ready once your bags are in place.

Next we add our zip top bags. This was probably hardest part of all. The bags want to slip and slide as you place them on. You will want to place your bags with the zip part at the ends of your rectangle. I alternated sides. So I would place one with the zipper facing bottom, then the next with the zipper facing top. The bottoms of the bags overlapped each other in the middle of the rectangle, so when I sewed it all together each bag had two sets of stitches and will hopefully hold better.

I found that the best way to do this was to use pins. I would lay down two bags, one facing each way, and pin them. Then I'd add two more and pin them. Then I'd remove the pins from the first set and use it for the third set of bags and so on. Does that make sense?

Once you get all the bags in place, set your fabric on top and sew down the length of each side of the rectangle. You can see I did not get mine centered. But it works.

Add your button. I originally wanted to do a velcro strap, but I only had black velcro. I didn't think it would match. But thinking about it now, I don't think it really would have mattered because you wouldn't see the velro anyway.

Next add your thread. I sorted mine by number and placed all the 600's in one bag and the 700's in another bag and so on. I wrote all the numbers on an index card so I can see at a glance what I have. I also had two extra bags. One I keep a small pair of scissors, extra needles and such. The other bag is for current projects. I can gather the thread I need for whatever I'm working on and place it in it's own bag.

So how do you sort your embroidery floss? Or is it just in a big mess like mine was?

More Sewing Projects:

Free Pattern: DIY Hanging Shoe Organizer