Over-Dyed Thread Storage System

~ Greetings and Warm Welcome ~

Have you been struggling trying to figure out a way to store your over-dyed and/or specialty threads and fibers? Several years ago I began storing my threads in this fashion and have found it to be a wonderful way to protect my threads from: dust, dirt and light. It is also a great way to easily organize by company line and thread name so that you can easily find and pull threads you need and then, once done with the project, replace back into the system for storage.

To store your threads in the way I do, you will need the following items: 

hanging file folders:

Key Tags and 1 inch book rings:

1/2 inch vinyl letters:

Paper punch, acrylic ruler and Utility Knife.

STEP ONE: measure 2 inches down from edge of one side of the file folder and cut straight across - repeat on the other side

you will end up having this after step one.

STEP TWO: Measure up from bottom edge 1/2 inch, draw pencil line. 

Then measure in (on both sides) 3/4 inch and make a dot on the pencil line. Continue down the line between the ends one inch apart making dots along the pencil line as shown:

STEP THREE: punch out the dots along the line.

STEP FOUR: repeat 1-3 several times until you have at least 26 file folder ends, cut and punched.

STEP FIVE: stick vinyl letters on key tags a-z, hook key tag onto book ring and then onto the end of one of the file holders as shown:

STEP SIX: load the file folder end with rings containing threads corresponding to the letter on the key tag for that row. *note* you may need more than one file folder for a letter in the alphabet - I just make the files with the same letter so that they all can hang together when set is complete.

STEP SEVEN: add your file alphabetically to your box or cabinet.

if you have a file holder box you will be able to see your threads arranged alphabetically from the side, and be able to immediately locate and find the thread you are looking for:

I put the name of the thread company on the front of my file folder box. 

This system would be fine housed in an actual file cabinet, but I used hanging folder file boxes for mine. I have a box for Gentle Arts, Weeks Dye Works, Classic Colorworks cottons and silks and NPI silks. This system works well for all of these lines. NPI does not use letters for identification, I store those by their identifying number instead. 

Simple, right?! 

It's a great way to store your threads! Do you plan on using this system? that's great! Just remember where you saw it and who taught you to do it this way. I love to share freely and abundantly, but it is only fair to give credit, where credit is due. Use my tutorials (completely or partly) - I don't care who you are - the appropriate attribution of anything you learn from me or someone else - is to name that person in a social media post, blog post or by word of mouth. 

Thank you for your attribution, acknowledgement of the time it takes to write and share tutorials. That's all the thanks I need.