Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Sew Organized: Constructing a Thread Organizer

After weeks of staring longingly at this homemade thread organizer by The Creative Homemaker, I resolved yesterday to make my own. It's made of solid pine and features shelves for thread spools and nails on which to hang the corresponding bobbins. The bottom shelf is for frequently used odds-and-ends, like a seam ripper and tailor's chalk. I also added 4 hooks to the bottom so I could hang my scissors for easy access.

Here it is on its own:


And here it is, hanging on my wall and stocked with thread:


  

I used 1"x2" pine for the shelves and frame, a 24"x24" sheet of pine for the back (cut down to 18"x24"), and 1" pine moulding for the edges. I mitered the corners and glued it together with carpenter's glue before reinforcing it with screws and finishing nails.
When I marked out the placement of the bobbin nails I decided to pre-drill the holes using my smallest drill bit. This ensured the nails all went precisely where I wanted when I hammered them in (I still haven't mastered the use of a hammer).

The thread organizer measures 18"x24" and holds 56 spools of thread and bobbins. If I had more room I'd love to add some taller shelves for storing serger thread (which I'll soon be collecting, because I just bought a new serger!).

Total costs: about $30
Unforeseen costs: all the thread I'll now feel justified in buying...
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6 comments:

  1. UnknownJanuary 4, 2017 at 11:25 AM

    Hello, I wanted to commend you on the recreation and the time for this post. I so need to make a few of these. I have to ask how did you know where to place the nails for the bobbins or did you go by a specific measurement? I don't know how to miter trim either so that will be a new skill for me. But drills and hammers I can handle. Thanks again for this terific idea Erica.

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  2. SheneMarch 26, 2017 at 6:19 AM

    I will be doing this soon, love it. I really like hooks for scissors and the bottom shelf for odds and ends. I will finally get rid of 30 year old plastic sewing box that takes up room on my sewing table

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  3. Sue AtkinsJuly 19, 2017 at 6:50 PM

    Thank you for saving my life. It was hanging together with thousands of threads from wayward spools that had no home. Ok, it wasn't thousands, but it WAS hundreds-- too many with no home. I plan to make your containers span my wall over one of the 8 foot tables. Hopefully that will take care of the sewing, embroidery, and quilting thread spools rolling around my studio!! AND the nails for the bobbins that go with the spools. Way cool!!

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  4. UnknownAugust 23, 2017 at 8:08 AM

    I totally love this and I am thinking about making one for myself and my new sewing room. Thank you for building and posting this great thread storage unit.

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  5. AnonymousDecember 9, 2017 at 2:52 PM

    how far apart did you put the shelves?

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    ReplyDelete