How Do You Store Your Bobbins?

There are so many different ways to store bobbins and one method that I prefer is to keep the bobbin with the spool of thread that I wound the bobbin from.  I have mainly used two types of "bobbin keeps" if you will.  (I'm not referring to all bobbin storage...just how I keep these bobbins with their spools.)

 Handi-Bobs fit into the end of a spool of thread as shown.  I like them because I can keep the bobbin on the spool and still put the spool of thread back on the wooden thread pegs I have to store my threads.

I also use Bobbin Mates.  The Bobbin Mates are pushed into the end of the spool of thread and then the bobbin is placed on top of the blue peg. 

My problem has been what do you do with spools of thread with larger holes in their spools?

 As you can clearly see....not all thread spools have the same size holes in the spools.  So now what???


The other day,  I received a newsletter from Marci Baker at Alicia's Attic.  The title was, Keeping Your Bobbins and Spools Together.     I had to see how they were keeping their bobbins together so I clicked on the newsletter and I was pleasantly surprised by their idea.

They had used their Q-Tools Cutting Edge Strips as bobbin holders.  I thought...what a GENIUS idea!  (you can click on the link above to read the entire newsletter)  This method works wonderfully in spools with openings that are narrower than the Cutting or Sewing Edge Strips.

In this photo you'll see I used one of Alicia's Attic's Sewing Edge Strips (because I had it handy) in a spool of Aurifil Thread and sure enough....it worked wonderfully.  The Handi-Bobs and the Bobbin Mates don't fit the top of a large spool of Aurifil Thread.

But what about those spools with larger openings? 

The Cutting Edge Strips and Sewing Edge Strips are too narrow for this cone and a number of other spools I have.  Now what?

I walked around my sewing studio wondering what would expand into a spool of thread and still hold a bobbin.  Then it hit me....a pipe cleaner would work.  I took out a pipe cleaner (yes I had one...I keep tons of do-dah....I told you that before :) and attempted to get it to hold a bobbin and stay in the larger opening on this cone of thread.

I'm no engineer....just quickly wadded the pipe cleaner and put a bobbin on one end, then stuffed it into the opening in the thread cone.

 

The pipe cleaner method worked well in all the spools that had larger openings.  How cool is that?

 

Then I wondered if the bobbin would hold if I tipped it upside down.  You can see for yourself....it stayed in there just fine.

The next issue I had was wondering if the pipe cleaner would work with the thread rack I use.   I can't just put the bobbin on top of the wooden dowel to keep the bobbin with the thread because the dowel is too wide for the holes in the bobbins I use.  Will the pipe cleaner be compatible?

 

Once I put the spool of thread on the thread rack the pipe cleaner popped out and onto the floor.   Darn....but wait....the pipe cleaner is flexible so I tried to put it on after the thread was on the dowel...

 and it worked!!! How cool is that?  I was tickled that I had thought of this idea....my idea was sparked by the newsletter I received from Alicia's Attic. 

How do you keep your bobbins with your spools of thread?  I just gotta know.

Smiles,
Kelly