Are you having a fun time getting organized with your creative space? Even if you are only virtually following along, that can be tons of fun, too! Be sure to scroll to the end of this post for links to all 16 creatives on the Creative Spaces Blog Hop. I’m getting inspired, and hope you are, too!
This week we are discussing ways to organize our embellishments: buttons, trims, thread, and what have you. Here’s a not-so-secret truth about my work: I’m a minimalist and I don’t really embellish my quilts. (FYI, that’s why I find it hilarious that I named my current fabric line Fandangle – a real, but silly-sounding word that means excess embellishment or ornamentation, LOL!!)
But anyway, back to today’s post! I choose to decorate my quilts with quilting and thread rather than bling them up with buttons or beads, so I’ll share a bit about the thread I love to use.
I love being able to get an exact thread match, no matter which fabrics I choose! This is an in-progress shot when I was making my modern Abacus wallhanging – (PDF pattern available here).
My favorite thread is Aurifil 50 weight cotton and I use it for everything: piecing, quilting, binding and machine applique. It comes in every color of the rainbow and I love mixing and matching thread colors to the fabrics I use.
During my last huge quilting cleanup I decided that it was high time to organize my thread stash. I sold or donated anything that wasn’t Aurifil and I keep all of my threads in plastic drawers sorted by color. The drawers are located in a shelving unit with doors so that the threads are kept away from heat and light (just like my fabric).
I have drawers full of Aurifil thread to choose from, sorted mostly into warm and cool hues.
The picture above is actually an older image that shows a small collection of other weights, too. But since then, I’ve gotten rid of those, too. I really only use 50 weight now for everything.
I love taking the time to “audition” my threads to see which will work best. Above is an image from a recent quilt along I did to showcase my first fabric line, Modern Marks.
Quilting it was just as much fun as sewing the top!
One of the main reasons I chose to simplify my thread stash is for purely logistical reasons. I didn’t want to have to keep track of all the different types of thread, in all the different sizes, and worry about which bobbin matches which thread!
Once I find something that works, I tend to stick with it and don’t really need to veer outside my comfort zone. Besides, since I piece and quilt with the same thread, I know what to expect performance-wise in each and every quilt that I make.
If I’m not sure which thread to pick, many times I’ll choose a soft neutral with just a hint of color!
This is a detail shot of Modern Puzzle, one of the free quilt patterns I offer.
The nice thing about being able to piece AND quilt with the same thread is that I can always use up leftover quilting bobbins whenever I piece my next quilt, especially if it’s scrappy.
In fact, I’m so gung-ho on thread being able to do double duty that I curated a collection of my favorite threads with Aurifil – the Piece and Quilt Collection in Colors and Neutrals.
My threads with Aurifil have been hot sellers for several years now because they cover all the basics! Want to go wild and colorful? Choose the Colors collection.
If you prefer to tone it down, choose the Neutrals collection. I love storing these in the Aurifil thread boxes, because that helps keep the clutter under control when it comes to thread!
I’ve been quilting with Aurifil exclusively since around 2013. I’ve tried many brands in the past, but none of them gave me satisfactory results. I tried other brands that friends raved about, only to be disappointed with how they performed in my machine. So my biggest piece of advice when figuring out what you like is to get a small spool, quilt it on a real quit and see what you and your machine like best!
How do you like to store YOUR threads, or other embellishments? Leave me a comment and let me know!
Mondays
Tuesdays
Wednesdays
- Kate Colleran of Seams Like a Dream
- Kris Poor of Poor House Quilt Designs
- Jessica Caldwell of Desert Bloom Quilting
Thursdays
Fridays
Saturdays
Sundays
Christa Quilts 
I use plastic thread boxes, but also have a 4 by 4 peg board filled with thread sorted by color and type. I cover this with a heavy clear vinyl slit like blinds so I can reach through. I keep black out curtains in the room closed unless I’m working.
I have some thread boxes for my piecing threads, my embroidery threads are on spool racks, and my longarm thread cones are in a drawer away from the light.
I store mo thread in see through containers with lids. Most of my thread are neutral colors for piecing since I haven’t done my own quilting yet. Your thread collection is so colorful and cheery.
Your thread collections are beautiful Christa! I have one clear scrapbooking box that I use to store my small collection of thread. Someday I hope to have enough thread to have a storage problem! Thanks for this delightful and inspiring blog hop!
I rather agree with your style. For years, I only used Mettler 50wt, but soon needed some for specific jobs – handquilting or appliqué. I now prefer to use Aurifil but find there are not as many of the smaller spools around. I use a lot more nuetral than color – for piecing and often quiltiing. I have most of my thread in art bin storage/thread storage cases.
My threads are stored on an open rack. I’m thinking of closed storage to keep the dust down. Or maybe I need to hire a housekeeper. Lol!
I use Artbin boxes for my thread or the Aurifil boxes.
I like keeping mine in plastic boxes as well although being fairly new to quilting I don’t have large collections. I do like the colors in collections you referenced above. I haven’t tried Aurifil yet but after this week its definitely on my next purchase list. Thanks again for sharing.
By color on a wall rack. By the way, I love your tutorials! I just did the spray basting one today for the first time. Slick!
I store my threads by type in drawers or plastic boxes. I do use sulky 30 wt blendables but often pair them with aurifil 50 wt in the bobbin so don’t have the problem of keeping separate bobbins for separate thread. Thanks for showing us your thread storage.
I store mine in plastic organizers and a box. Not the greatest, but t works for me.
All of mine are in plastic containers. It is too dusty here to put them on wall racks. My machine would be so dirty inside if I did.
I have quite an assortment of threads – spools and cones both. I try keeping mine in containers by name and weight, if necessary. Bottom Line goes in one box, So Fine 40 in another, etc. My regular sewing threads (50 weight) are kept in a plastic container where I can find the color I need easily. I think I should weed through mine; I’m sure having one brand would be so much easier.
I have a peg board which is handy but not ideal as dust can gather. Some spools go in a drawer & a few in a nearby basket.
I don’t have nearly as much thread as you do, but I should weed out the other brands that I don’t really use. I like Aurifil 50 wt as well, although I do use 40 wt for quilting sometimes.
Pat
I store my thread in drawers similar to the way you do. But I also have several Aurifil thrread collections (sadly, not one of yours) and I love the storage boxes they come in.
Your thread boxes are nice. I have mine in clear plastic shoe boxes by color.