The first thing I want you to know is that I’m a bit embarrassed by the mess my floss was in. I’ve mentioned it before but it’s been hard to get all the floss needed for a project so I’d order the chart and the floss, part of the floss would come in, part would come in . . a skein here and a skein there; or I’d get part of it from one shop and part of it from another. Even though I started out so organized with the floss, somewhere within the past four months or so, I’ve totally made a mess of the floss organization. I had a plastic tote that was full of floss – DMC, overdyes .. most everything except Vikki Clayton bobbins. So far, I’ve kept them organized.
I came up with a plan for those boxes I mentioned in this post. The boxes arrived yesterday and as soon as I got the kitchen clean . . really clean because the dishwasher repairman comes back today with the parts . . I started working on the floss. I worked on it for about 7 hours last night and while there’s still more work to do . . the framework of the organization is done.
I took the two tubs of floss and pulled out all the DMC and sorted it according to the color number. Here’s how it ended up:
Then I took all the Weeks, Classic Colorworks and Gentle Arts, individually by brand, put the loose ones in alphabetical order and put them all on rings according to brand. I’ll take those down and put them on the closet shelf with the rest of the overdyes. Eventually, I may combine all the Weeks with the other Weeks; all the Classic Colorworks with the other Classic Colorworks but for now, when I need a color, if it isn’t on one ring, it will be on the other.
I’ll take that all down later today and put it up on the shelf with hooks.
Then I took the silks and other than DMC floss and divided it up into containers.
In the left stack, you can see Dinky Dyes, NPI, Belle Soie, Soie d’alger, and Valdani. In the right stack, there’s Gentle Arts, Classic Colorworks, Weeks, Kreinik, Cosmo & Anchor and DMC.
The Gentle Arts, Classic Colorworks, Weeks and DMC containers are for when I finish a project and have the floss out, I’ll put that leftover floss into the appropriate container and every now and then, put it all back with the rest of it’s brand. Also, I’m sure it’s going to take a while before I stop finding floss here and there. For now, I’m putting all the floss I find in these tubs and then once the tubs get a substantial amount in them, I’ll file the floss away where it goes.
I feel like this is the most floss I’ll ever have. I have too much. I’m not buying more unless I am 100% sure there’s not something else here that will work equally as well.
Remember that I mentioned I was going to run out of Onyx? Not going to happen. Look what I found.
Those six skeins, along with full skeins in at least a few project bags . . I won’t need more onyx for at least a couple of years.
It’s really nice to feel like the floss is organized and I can find what I need when I need it. I can’t believe I let it get into such a mess.
Shauna Trueblood says
I think you did great, I love the boxes, I have considered something like that, but so much of my floss is on bobbins from years ago, that I want to use that up before I make an big changes to how I store floss. I did create a spreadsheet that lists all the colors of DMC, Classic Colorworks, Weeks and Gentle Arts, then noted what I had and if it was pulled for chart, I listed the chart. That way if I just need a little 321, I can pull it out of the bag, use it and put it back. It took a while to do, but I have found several times where I just needed a couple of stands of a color, so I found it, used it, and put it back. I will say having the chromebook next to me really helps, I can open that spreadsheet and find what I need quickly. I don’t have as much overdyed, but it stash is growing there, and at some point I will have to figure out a better way, but right now they are on rings inside a tub, works but isn’t great.
Now that your floss is all organized, that means you get to stitch today and not worry about it any more!!!!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
No! I haven’t taken a stitch yet! (7:30 p.m.). Dishwasher repairman was here about an hour. Washed some clothes, fixed lunch, cleaned up the kitchen, finished the laundry, put clean sheets on our bed, gave Rita a bath, drove 1 hour to get Addie, visited with Chad and took a ride in the old truck, drove back home, fixed dinner. Addie is in the shower now. We’re going to make ice cream cones when she gets out. I’ll be lucky to get to stitch an hour tonight.
But, I am very glad to have that floss organized.
Joyce in Iowa says
Great job, Judy! I’ll get mine under control one day. What I’ve recently discovered I need to pay more attention to is how much floss of one color is used in a chart. For example, I have one chart that only uses two stitches of one color and nine of another. In the past, I would order the chart, linen, and floss. I know DMC is inexpensive, but I really don’t need more floss added to the collection (or a duplicate one) for those small amounts. Live and learn!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I agree. If it only needs a couple of stitches and it calls for black and I don’t have black, then I’m using very dark brown. It’s not always easy to see how many stitches there are for each color and especially not online. That’s why I plan to decide my 2023 stitches early, look at the charts, look at the called for colors, see if I have the exact colors and if not, if there’s something close.
Cindy F says
You did a great job!! I know I need to better organize my cross stitch stuff and I’m slowly working on it. The trouble is I don’t stay focused…Part of the issue is that I need to organize the area where I’m storing all that stuff and that’s a BIG job. It’ll get done though…in time…lol In the mean time I’m trying to make sure I don’t add to the bigger mess right now.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
There are other areas I need to get organized – for sure around my chair. Another day . . not today! 🙂