Once you have several colors of thread, keeping the spool and bobbins organized can become a real challenge — especially if you’re a thread stash queen or king. You might end up in the realm of hundreds of spools and bobbins. If you just throw them in a box or a drawer around the house, you’ll have a hard time finding what you need when you need it.. And unless you tape the end of the thread to the spool, you’ll unquestionably end up with a tangled mess.
Since organization breeds productivity, you’ll want to untangle and get organized. You can find premade thread organizers online and at various brick-and-mortar stores. Or harness your DIY capability and make your own thread holder to better contain your stash.
Whatever your organizational path, we’ve got some fantastic choices ahead.
Important Thread Holder Features
Before diving into our bobbin storage ideas, consider the features you need. Most likely the most important feature for the majority is likely the number of spools the thread holder will hold. Additional considerations include:
- The material the thread holder is made from.
- Whether each peg can hold the thread spool and bobbin.
- Whether the pegs are designed for short or long spools.
- How much space the thread holder takes. For those who don’t have a lot of space, consider a thread holder that hangs on the wall.
- Are the thread spools exposed or in a drawer or cabinet?
Once you determine what you need, you’re ready to start looking for the perfect thread spool holder and get organized.
Our Recommended Thread Holders
1. 192 Spool Thread Rack
This genius wooden thread rack holds 192 spools. The posts are 2 inches apart so that larger spools fit as well. As long as the bobbin hole is ¼-inch or larger, posts have room for the spool of thread and the bobbin. The rack does take up some space – it is 24 inches wide and 36 inches tall. However, that space is on the wall, as these thread organizers are meant to hang on the wall.
The posts are made from birch dowels, and the racks are made from clear pine — plus, when you get the thread holder, it is already fully assembled. No hammer needed! This is perfect for the sewer who has a large stash and very little room on or in a craft table or on the floor for such a large thread organizer.
Never buy duplicate thread because you can’t find the color you are looking for again! And never deal with tangled thread again.
2. DIY Thread Drawers
You can make this cute cabinet for yourself with plywood and 1×1 boards. While you could use a sheet tray rack from a restaurant supply, the pans are too far apart – unless you prefer to stand the thread up instead of lying it horizontally. You can purchase smaller racks, like this one, from Amazon. You can use one full-size sheet pan on each rack slide or two half sheet-pans. You will have to purchase commercial-sized sheet pans for this to work.
If you decide to make a sheet pan rack, you’ll be able to adjust the slides to the size of the sheet pans you wish to use. You can also adjust the height. For example, if you have tall spools of bulk thread, you might have a bottom layer with more height to it, then place the other trays closer together, as shown in the photo.
If you really want to go all out, use a hot gun to glue dowels to the sheet pans to keep the thread from moving around. If the dowels are tall enough, you’ll be able to keep the bobbin on top of or under the spool of thread right on the same post.
3. Clear Plastic Storage Box
4 Layers Stackable Clear Storage Box/Organizer
When you need a space-saving way to organize your stash of thread spools, you could choose something like this clear plastic storage container. It’s small enough to put into a closet and keeps the dust off your spools. You can also carry it to your workspace if you don’t have a dedicated craft room.
The box has different layers, so you can organize your thread by color and take only the layer with the colors you need for your current project.
4. Cove Molding Bobbin Holder
If you need an inexpensive way to organize bobbins, pick up a piece of cove molding from the hardware store. You can glue it to the edge of the sewing table or even tack it to the wall above your sewing machine. It comes in vinyl, clear plastic and wood. Be sure to get the cove molding shaped like a V. You can use the 90-degree cove molding, but you’ll have to use a shim to move the lower half away from the wall, or the bobbins will just roll off.
5. Pegboard Thread Organizer
If you have the space on a wall, you can create a nice pegboard thread organizer. You can choose to build a frame for the pegboard or leave it plain. Hang the pegboard on the wall and add dowels or metal posts to the pegboard that will hold the spools of thread. If you make the posts long enough, you’ll be able to put the bobbins on the same post.
The nice thing about pegboard is that you can make a thread organizer as large or small as you wish. If you don’t have dowels, you can use whatever fits in the pegboard holes, including colored pencils. You can frame it or not. You can also paint the pegboard so that it matches your craft room — and so that it doesn’t have the dull brown or tan color.
6. Carousel Thread Storage
Fully Rotating Wooden Thread Rack/Thread Holder
When you have just a little space to work, this carousel thread storage that stores 84 spools of thread is just what you need. However, it is not suitable for large spools. The posts are about 2 inches long and are 1.9 inches apart.
The item comes with nine extra pegs that you can tap into the top of the carousel, giving you space for 93 spools. To look for a color, spin the carousel around. The width of the carousel is just over 7 inches (18 cm), so its footprint is small enough for the corner of your sewing table. Think of it as a lazy susan for your thread!
Another great benefit is that the spool carousel is made of natural wood, so you can stain or paint it any color to match your sewing room.
7. DIY Thread Rack
Another great idea for craft rooms that don’t have much table space but plenty of wall space is to build a rack for the spools. The size you build depends on the size of the spools you have. Essentially, you’ll make a frame of 1×2-inch boards or 1×4-inch boards. Once you square up the frame, insert boards horizontally to make shelves. Screw them into the frame. Attach a thin piece of plywood for the backing. If you use ¼-inch plywood, it is thin enough to keep the project light yet sturdy enough to keep the frame square.
When attaching the plywood, use small framing nails. Nail it every 4 inches around the frame and along each shelf. Paint and stain the shelf.
You can also add wall panel molding in different shapes to the front of the frame to make it more decorative. Finally, add nails or hooks to the front of the shelves to hold the bobbins. If you want to use hooks, bring a bobbin to the hardware store to make sure it fits on the hook style you like.
8. Bobbin Case Storage
63 Slots Bobbin Case Holder
If you have plenty of storage for spools of thread, but the bobbins are thrown in a drawer where you have a hard time finding the color you need, or they’re getting tangled, you can corral them in a bobbin case. This particular bobbin case holds 63 bobbins, and it doesn’t take up that much space. It’ll fit in your sewing drawer or even in a sewing case. While the bobbins won’t be next to their corresponding spools of thread, they’ll be organized neatly so that you can find the color you need with just a glance.
9. Needle and Thread Spool Rack
This spool organizer holds 63 spools of thread and is made of metal with a cute needle and thread at the top. It hangs on the wall, so it’s within reach yet out of the way. If you are looking for something to spice up your sewing room or corner, this will do it. It’s a handmade item made from steel, so it is sturdy.
10. Combo Tray and Project Manager
This spool organizer holds 63 spools of thread and is made of metal with a cute needle and thread at the top. It hangs on the wall, so it’s within reach yet out of the way. If you are looking for something to spice up your sewing room or corner, this will do it. It’s a handmade item made from steel, so it is sturdy.
11. Portable Standing and Hanging Thread Organizer
4X60 Spools Wooden Thread Rack
When you need space to store a big stash of thread spools and are working with more than one color at a time, this thread organizer keeps you in your seat. They hang on the wall, so they’re out of the way. When you need the thread colors on one of the four racks in the set, lift it off the wall hooks and set it on the sewing table. Each rack comes with a folding support so that it will stand on the sewing table. They are for smaller spools – the height of each post is about 1.4 inches, and the distance between two posts is about 1.7 inches.
12. Adjustable Spool Organizer
Deluxe Embroidex 60 Spool Cone Thread Stand
This plastic thread spool organizer holds 60 spools – until you start removing pins. If you have different sizes of spools, you can simply remove a pin or two to make room for the larger spools. This organizer hangs on the wall, so all of your thread is within reach of your workstation.
This thread organizer measures 17 ¼-inches wide and 18 ¾-inches tall. It sticks out from the wall about 3 ¾-inches. It’s perfect for hanging right over your sewing machine or anywhere within reach. This organizer does require you to assemble it when you get it. It is made of sturdy plastic, so it goes together easily.
FAQs
How long can I store the thread?
It depends on the type of thread. Most thread produced now lasts much longer than thread manufactured 15 to 20 years ago. Some threads can last 40 to 50 years.
When building a rack, how far apart do I keep the spool posts?
It depends on the size of your thread spools. Measure the area by placing two spools next to each other on the board. You want plenty of room between the spools so that the threads don’t get twisted. Measure from the center of one spool to the center of the next. That is the distance you need to place your posts.
Why is my thread fading?
Make sure you store your thread out of direct sunlight. If you hang an organizer on the wall, be sure it is in a spot where the sun can’t reach it or cover the rack to block the sun.
Does it matter if I store my thread over a heat / air conditioning vent?
Yes. You should make sure your thread organizer is not directly under or over a heat vent or air conditioning vent.
Everthing in the Right Place
A little organization goes a long way, especially when you’re talking about the neverending sprawl that craft and sewing supplies can become. My thread holder recommendations couldn’t possibly encompass every option, but hopefully, this list gives you some ideas for how to keep your bobbins under control and workspace organized.
