How Big is Your Thread Stash?

[tatknot]

While I'm sure we would all agree you can never have too much thread, I've heard some interesting comments on the forum about how much thread some of our members have. So just how much thread do YOU have? You can post pictures, give a list, give the weight, or just share the size and number of containers. I need to reorganize my containers and assess my own supply so I can answer this question myself.

I hereby promise that gaining this knowledge will NOT hinder my future accumulation of thread.

[shannon_in_love]

I have:
2 balls of Aunt Lydia's sz10 thread, 1 in Red and 1 in light green
1 ball of Royale (i think ?) black sz 10 but feels thinner
1 ball anchor blue pearl cotton (thank you kersti)
a bit of unknown...variegated..again kersti.
and i think that's it... i definitely need more. need being the operative word :)

so far in my tatting adventures...i have went through 1 full ball of aunt lydias red, 1 pink variegated, and 1 violet Royale...i loved that ball. i need some more.

[PattyD]

Shannon, hmmm. Maybe it's time to try a smaller thread? The effect of tatting has a lot to do with the size of the thread. When a thread feels smaller than the posted size, it could be that the fiber is not cotton or that it has only 3 or 4 plies. Also, the fact that it is black has a lot to do with the final size. Dyes contain different chemicals that can affect the all the other characteristics of the thread, like make it thicker or thinner, or softer or stiffer. So size is always a best guess.

[Marty]

What a thing to ask -- I'm not admitting to anything! Stash? Moi? :whistling::shifty:

Actually, think about the size of a twin bed. I have boxes that would comprise about half of that filled to the gills. Everything from quilting thread to size 10 in almost every color you can think of (but very sparse on yellows, browns, and black). That's just the main stash. I've got other stuff ...er... stuffed here and there.:blink::embarrassed:

[PattyD]

Marty, that's funny "stuffed stuffing"! Does that double the size of your stash?

[poeticfairy]

So great to be able to talk about thread to people who don't think i'm loony because I like to talk about thread :).

PattyD, that is interesting about the dyes and the thread size because I wondered about that with my thread. I tatted something a long time ago with a purple DMC Perle cotton (size 12) and thought it would look amazing in black. I tried tatting it in exact same type/size of thread, but in black, and it looked completely different it looked like I used a completely different and finer thread. It was rather disapointing and a bit confused.

Well, my thread stash is definately not enough, but I have:

DMC Perle (size 12) 2 white, 3 black, 1 green, 1 christmas red, 1 silver, 1 yellow/gold, 1 purple, 1 country blue
DMC Perle (size 8) 1 white, 1 some form of purple (These are the ones I learned tatting on)
DMC Perle (size 80) 2 white, 1 pretty varigated purple

Olympus (size 20) 1 a very pretty pink (almost hot pink)

Lizbeth (size 10) 2 black, 1 purple, 1 deep purple, 1 victorian red
Lizbeth (size 40) 3 black

My wish list is a lot longer ;).

[RandaGray]

I won't list in specific colors... That'd take all day lol
But I have a rubber made container; not sure on the size, just that it's clear & filled up my shopping cart & put a serious cramp on the grocery shopping that night. At present it's about half full of mostly Flora & Altin Basak.... Recently I've learned to not care so much for the Altin Basak & have started to replace it with both Flora & Lizbeth. All kinds of colors, except black - which as of today my sister has informed me I need so *darn* another shopping spree!!!!

[xstchntat]

Ok put on a bib for the drool factor
http://www.intatters.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3934
http://www.intatters.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3688
http://www.intatters.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3690
http://www.intatters.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3694
http://www.intatters.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3692
http://www.intatters.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3694
plus 40 balls of Lizbeth 20
20 balls of Lizbeth 40
3 balls of Altin Basak
3 boxes of Lily tatting thread 12 in a box
1 box of Star tatting thread 12 in a box

Just remember I warned you:devil::innocent:
http://www.intatters.com/%5BIMG%5Dhttp://www.intatters.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3934%5B/IMG%5D

[squeeky]

Since I used to crochet doilies, I have gobs of size 10 thread in almost every color available (if I don't have it, I probably used it up or gave it away already, I had paper boxes full of balls), but have started buying LizBeth 20 and have accumulated an okay stash...falling leaves, victorian red, carousel, jelly bean, caribbean, vineyard harvest, med. leaf green, spring green, boysenberry dark, springtime, dark purple, bright turquoise dark, red burst...but there are way more on the "i want" than the "i have" list. I also found some left over balls of size 20 cebelia (a couple of white, an ecru, and a lavender) in my crochet stash. Recently I found some DMC size 80 in the clearance bin for 78cents each, so I grabbed all three (lavender, blue/white variegate, ecru). I didn't break my $2 limit because each was less than a dollar (gotta adjust the rule a little sometimes...:biggrin:).

I've also got a lot of sewing and serging threads I've started using to tat - I just double or triple the ply and mix colors; the tweedy effect is sorta neat. I recently mix three plys of Gutermann sewing thread (dark gold, bright yellow and purple) and it came out pretty interesting, but not sure what I'll do with it. Lately my sewing dresser has been getting a good clean-out as I rummage through for ideas on things to try tatting up.

[Lace-lovin' Librarian]

I'm afraid to look! : )

[BlueDode]

I could throw out a number, but I'd probably undershoot it.
Years ago, right after college, a friend asked me how many pairs of shoes I had: I thought about a dozen: my roommate at the time, very tactfully, suggested that I go count them. I counted 40-odd pairs of shoes, I recall. That said, I have size 12 feet, and in those days, when I found a pair of shoes that fit, I bought them, because I could never find a particular color and style when I wanted to. In those days, I was charged with finding a pair of white sandals to wear as a bridesmaid and a friend's wedding: it was a nightmare: finally found a pair I didn't like, after shopping all over town!
If you can itemize, you aren't nearly out of control yet!
Thread and yarn become part of an environment, something that soaks up creative juices and inspires us to continue our crafts. Enjoy the stash!

[tatknot]

What fun to hear about all of these stashes! They come is various sizes, stored in various manners, and contain quite a variety of goodies. I got distracted and haven't made it to my stash yet. This thread is my motivation to get in there and organize it a bit. Pictures coming later.

[AnneB]

In two words: Too Big
But still not big enough :whistling:

I am away from home and can't provide photos of the entire stash, but this was my DMC 80 collection some while ago, and it is bigger (doubled) now. In addition to this I have quite a few spools of Mölnlycke, several balls of OnLine Häkelgarn, Not so many balls of Lizbeth 20 and 40 (plan to increase this by Lizbeth 80 as soon as that is available), and some odd balls of other threads bought for testing or just because. Then there are some spools of quilting threads bought for tatting.

6091

[stashtamer]

I won't bring out photos of my stash, but it resembles the one already shown in photo form in this thread on thread. Most of my stash is vintage variegated size 70 threads. I haven't seen threads in some of the color combos of the variegated threads. And the thread is everywhere, most of it is in a container (of some sort) but there are those stray balls of thread or spools of thread. I still have not found all the beads. Got distracted by the actual tatting and have not gone back into the stash room to search again for the beads.

[rsmre]

Hi Tatknot,
Uh, I'll never tell.

[rsmre]

Wow, Xstchntat, that's the prettiest thing I've every seen! :-D

[carolivy]

Bibs required if you wanna look at my stash! No drooling on the thread! :tongue: (the center image is of my tote that has size 30 in it. The bags are size 40 and a bit of 70)

[carolivy]

Ohh! How could I forget THIS thread? :shock:

[Jon Yusoff]

I can finish counting all my thread in under one minute. Does that mean I am under-stashed?

[carolivy]

I can finish counting all my thread in under one minute. Does that mean I am under-stashed?

:shock: Yes! :ohmy:

[Jon Yusoff]

http://www.intatters.com/../images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by Jon Yusoff http://www.intatters.com/../images/buttons/viewpost-right.png (http://www.intatters.com/../showthread.php?p=25835#post25835)
I can finish counting all my thread in under one minute. Does that mean I am under-stashed?

:shock: Yes! :ohmy:

Oh dear, :ohmy: this is serious. I know there are no over-the-counter treatment that is effective for me here. Almost all have to be imported and bringing them in costs at least an arm and a leg. And I need my two arms to tat because they are attached to my hands.
:faint:

[poeticfairy]

Oh my! Xschntat and CarolIvy, i'm jealous!

[tatknot]

Oh dear, :ohmy: this is serious. I know there are no over-the-counter treatment that is effective for me here. Almost all have to be imported and bringing them in costs at least an arm and a leg. And I need my to arms to tat because they are attached to my hands.
:faint:

Okay, Jon, you may have a set of special circumstances here that requires an exception. Of course, you would add an extra room onto your house to accommodate your stash if you had an opportunity to accumulate like many of the rest of us. Right? :wink:

[carolivy]

Oh my! Xschntat and CarolIvy, i'm jealous!

Ok, in my defense, I used to be a crochet adict who got into selling craft supplies to support my habit of thread...lol A couple years ago, the company I was purchasing my supplies from decided (without any warning to me) that my business wasn't purchasing enough supplies in 12 month's time, so closed my account. That is where the size 10 thread comes from....leftovers from the crochet and inventory from the store. If I hadn't given away 3 FULL BLACK GARBAGE BAGS FULL of thread, there would be 4 more of the Green totes FULL of size 10 thread. The other tote of smaller thread came from a friend of my mother's who got them from a friend of hers who passed away. She got all the thread and yarn and since she knew I used thread, and she didn't, just knitting hats and mittens, she gave me all the thread. My story, and I'm stickin' to it...lol
Can't say that about the other rack of thread though...I bought all of that...lol....bought it to do Embroidery on Cards though. ;-)

[xstchntat]

Let's not get into yarn(whole cedar chest and 3 big bins in Garage full) or embroidery threads(4 sets of the entire DMC collection cotton floss, rayon, linen and many extras of some colors plus other embroidery threads)and perle cotons for swedish embroidery(3 bolts of huck fabric to do it on) and another 5 bins in the garage and 3 in daughters room. Crochet thread for doilies are another 3 bigger bins and I have 5 filing cabinets full of cross stitch, hardanger and embroidery kits. I thought you all just wanted to know about tatting threads. Let not go into the entire bookcases of patterns for all these crafts! New hubby and I are still trying to find places for all the stash. I actually was think of putting some of it up for sale in the tatshop if I can get pictures of it all.

[PattyD]

To answer the original question: I haven't got the faintest idea! Since I will tat with anything that will allow a ring to close, a lot of my bobbin lace threads have been hijacked into the tatting realm. And then there is the wire, which I haven't done much with lately. Still digging out from when the daughter lived here and my stuff got put anywhere it fit. So, the most accurate thing I can say is ~ a bunch.

[tatknot]

I loaded some pictures to my Miscellaneous album, but it really looks worse than it is.

I DO have loads of size 80 thread. Most of it was given to me or I picked it up really cheap. I haven't added to it in about 8 years, but since I don't use that size very often, there are still lots of balls of thread.

My perle cotton drawer contains my favorite Finca 16 threads in the front in a pretty wide selection of colors. Purchased over 10 years ago, it has just lasted and lasted. I'm finally about to run out of my favorite colors. I had been purchasing it one ball at a time, when the store decided to clearance it out and stop carrying it. I got a great buy on a box of assorted colors. Most of the other threads in that drawer are larger sizes I've used for teaching.

The collection that gets the greatest use are the sizes 10, 20, and 30. For years, Cebelia was the only thread with color I could find. Most of what I have left of it are either colors I don't care for or the basics of white, black, and ecru. I have partial balls of Manuela in all three sizes (LOVE THAT THREAD). I added the Flora threads (at the back of the size 20 drawer) two years ago and added a bunch of Lizbeth to the same drawer just last week. (It was on sale for less than half price! What could I do?) That same day I added a selection of bedspread weight cotton to the size 10 drawer to use for tatted bracelets, etc. for my daughters.

I thank all of you for helping me find the motivation to reorganize my threads today. It is so much easier to find what I'm looking for and even to just see what I have. I'm really enjoying admiring your stashes as well, so keep them coming.

[carolivy]

Great looking stash Eliz!

[tatknot]

Great looking stash Eliz!

Thanks! And I can justify every purchase! :biggrin:

[Mogs]

Lovely to look at your stashes. Mine fits into an A4 size tin! I must just say though that I was gifted a variegated blue thread in size 80 in an exchange (Carol I think). My brand new blouse just developed a hole and the thread is EXACTLY the correct colour!! So I am now tatting an edging to bodge over the hole with!
Carole x

[carolivy]

You will start a new trend Carole!

[Mogs]

You will start a new trend Carole!
Bodged blouse trend? I will post a piccie if I get it finished!

[Jon Yusoff]

Okay, Jon, you may have a set of special circumstances here that requires an exception. Of course, you would add an extra room onto your house to accommodate your stash if you had an opportunity to accumulate like many of the rest of us. Right? :wink:

Oh yes :yes:, Eliz! In a flash :wink: *tongue-in-cheek*

[soyloquesoy]

My stash fits (with room to spare) into a Danish butter cookies tin. It is all no8 cotton perlé. (19 balls, only two of them more than half used - I have not finished any one yet).
I have a little no. 5 left from the coasters too.

I also have about half a dozen balls of no 30 and 80 old thread in my granny's inherited tatting tin.

[Marty]

Marty, that's funny "stuffed stuffing"! Does that double the size of your stash?

I think it certainly must, because when I go to stuff more in there's just no room!

[poeticfairy]

Ok, in my defense, I used to be a crochet adict who got into selling craft supplies to support my habit of thread...lol A couple years ago, the company I was purchasing my supplies from decided (without any warning to me) that my business wasn't purchasing enough supplies in 12 month's time, so closed my account. That is where the size 10 thread comes from....leftovers from the crochet and inventory from the store. If I hadn't given away 3 FULL BLACK GARBAGE BAGS FULL of thread, there would be 4 more of the Green totes FULL of size 10 thread. The other tote of smaller thread came from a friend of my mother's who got them from a friend of hers who passed away. She got all the thread and yarn and since she knew I used thread, and she didn't, just knitting hats and mittens, she gave me all the thread. My story, and I'm stickin' to it...lol
Can't say that about the other rack of thread though...I bought all of that...lol....bought it to do Embroidery on Cards though. ;-)

I guess that is a good enough excuse lol :o).

Oh, I sure wish I was standing next to you when you were willingly handing out garbage bags full of thread !

[shannon_in_love]

I guess that is a good enough excuse lol :o).

Oh, I sure wish I was standing next to you when you were willingly handing out garbage bags full of thread !

for real though! right next to her!

[carolivy]

I took them all to our local second hand store and they sold them for about $.25 each or so. Took in a shoe box full of brand new knitting needles and crochet hooks too. And 2 bags full of brand new skeins of yarn. I had all this stuff for about 1-1/2 years after my craft suply business closed and hadn't used (or sold) any of the new stuff and I was getting tired of walking around all the boxes and bags. I quit crocheting doilies because they weren't selling at craft shows anymore and wasn't tatting much then, so couldn't see the need to keep all that thread around. Now I wish I had kept some of the colors I really liked....ah well.

[Susan B T]

I have been collecting thread for 15+ years. I have a lot of Anchor, Lilly, Star, DMC, Finca and other thread. Lots if you add the Sulky and such tat I blend with other thread or use it alone.
Might have to go take some pictures to give you an idea.

[tatknot]

I have been collecting thread for 15+ years. I have a lot of Anchor, Lilly, Star, DMC, Finca and other thread. Lots if you add the Sulky and such tat I blend with other thread or use it alone.
Might have to go take some pictures to give you an idea.

Please do, Susan!

[Lynn]

I saw the title of this thread a couple of days ago, and quite frankly I have been avoiding reading it. I just couldn't bring myself to see what everyone else can accumulate in places where a) you live in areas where you can go buy thread, and b) you have rooms in which to store it. But then I decided to just take a peek, and am totally blown away. I showed my DH Rachel's photo, and he said, "She lives in a house." As opposed to a 400 sq. ft. flat. That said, I'm off in a few minutes to get a ball of thread that I found earlier this week. I now have one rather large Lock and Lock box full of thread plus one drawer that has several threads squished into it. If I get a chance to pull it all out and organize it, I'll post again. I had this thread on my mind when I went to bed last night, not yet having read it, and realized that I'll be 70 years old in 11 years. I hope I'm still healthy and tatting at that age, but the realization made me start to wonder how to dispose of my stash once I get to the point when I can't tat anymore. Seeing some of y'all's photos has only made me more conscious about this problem. Any thoughts? Right now I've only one niece who knits and crochets who is the only candidate for inheriting my stuff. If I get a chance I'm going to try to make her into a tatter, but as she lives in Tanzania and I live in Hong Kong, it's going to take a while.

[Josie Passell]

I am lucky enough to have plenty of thread but I can never resist buying more, some is so pretty I just get it out to look at. There are always new threads to try and each new project calls for yet more thread. I also use my bobbin lace threads for tatting, not the 170 honiton thread though.

[Susan B T]

Lynn, do not dispare at the lack of thread. I will never use all of mine. When I retire I will start posting some of it for sale.
If you run out of room you can put a hook in the ceiling, the thread in a bag or maybe a decorative basket and hang it.

[LadyDoc]

So, as I was reading previous posts tonight I was thinking about how I should really get all my threads organized in one container. Then I come HERE!!!

So, I guess that might be my project for tomorrow- to make a start on getting all my threads together. Since I have no idea what that will look like, I'll let you all know, lol!

[Lynn]

Thanks, Susan, for your encouraging words. I have decided to have fun tatting what I have and add to it if I see something that really zings me. After all, I learned to tat because I thought it would be fun. It is fun. I'm not going to take the fun out by worrying over stash. But I have enjoyed admiring some of the stashes pictured here.

[stashtamer]

I have a single many drawered unit. I'm going to move all my tatting threads into that unit. I think they will all fit. I guess I'll find out<grin>. But I think that will hold only the threads... not the beads and shuttles.

So, after I get the threads moved into that unit, I'll see about pictures of each drawer... if only for posterity (or to keep a visual record of what I have). Even if it doesn't all fit into that one unit, it is a move in a good direction to try to get it all into that one unit. Frees up some of the other drawer units for OTHER things.... like quilting projects, quilt patterns, and so on. I'll move into the craft room on Sunday and start moving threads around. Tomorrow is a picnic day (I do have tatting to take with me).

[tatknot]

I've just added some of my threads to the Thread Exchange (http://thethreadexchange.blogspot.com/). Look for the Sunday, August 22, 2010, post. So far, I've posted my collection of Mettler 100% cotton machine-quilting thread (about a size 100?); my Nazligelin 100% cotton, 3 cord, size 10; some of my variegated Manuela size 20 threads, a 6 cord cotton; and a little Cebelia size 20.

So if you would like to try something new or get a new color or size in something you already have, check out the Thread Exchange blog. The labels on the right will help you find specific threads or sizes you are looking for.

[ldr103]

Oh dear, :ohmy: this is serious. I know there are no over-the-counter treatment that is effective for me here. Almost all have to be imported and bringing them in costs at least an arm and a leg. And I need my two arms to tat because they are attached to my hands.
:faint:
So, we teach you how to spin, and then you can have all the thread/yarn you'll ever need?

[crazytatter]

I have a canary yellow Royal size 10, a pastel blue verigated Royal size 10, and 2 packs of various color floss from cross stitch era in my life that I am using for tatting. Since I have read the thread test, I know I have whole lot more possibilities on my hands.

[AnneB]

After my previous post in this thread, I have taken photos of most of my stash and put it in my new "Stash album" (http://www.intatters.com/album.php?albumid=540). Missing is some of my OnLine Häkelgarn and my small collection of DMC Perle Cotton size 8. A thread I don't realy like using for tatting, but that is easy available here and have nice colours.

My stash is growing soon as I just ordered some Lizbeth size 80 (and 40 and 20 and 10...).

[jamlover]

Hey, I'm definitely under-supplied!! My twelve inch cube(1'x1'x1') of three plastic drawers sits right beside my chair. One drawer has my shuttles, etc and ribbons for bookmarks. The rest is threads. I've been feeling guilty like I should use up a ball before I allow myself another purchase. But I can see I really need to add to the stash. I heard that threads last for 100 years. Someone gave me some. It's only problem was some rust on the outside of the ball.

Now don't ask me to count flower pots!!!!


Ho!ho!ho!. Who would have thought adding a photo was advanced!! I found something new. :biggrin:

[Susan B T]

.......... I heard that threads last for 100 years. Someone gave me some. It's only problem was some rust on the outside of the ball. ........

Thread taken care of can last many many years. Keep it dry, away from damp, but allow air to circulate around it, Not in sealed plastic bags. DO not expose to heat or sunlight. Heat and sunlight cause dry rot and damp causes mold.

[CroTat]

I have more thread than I'll ever be able to use up. I am a beginner to tatting, but I use the size 10 DMC thread for lace crochet ALL the time. I have some in almost every color. If I were to guess, I'd say I have about 100 full balls of thread plus BAGS full of partially used ones. I also have lots of size 8 (slightly thicker) thread, but I don't care for that as much. I prefer the finer gauge threads.