Alexei Volkov
Plastic floss bobbins are a great way to organise your embroidery threads. They are durable, cheap, and can be hung from binder rings. While you can wind bobbins by hand, a bobbin winder is inexpensive and makes the process faster. To use a bobbin winder, insert a bobbin into the slot, lining up the hole on the bobbin with the hole in the winder, and secure it with a peg. When winding, ensure the thread is snug, but not too tight, to avoid stretching and tangles. You can then store the wound bobbins in a plastic bobbin box.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Winding by hand or machine | Winding by hand is possible but time-consuming, a bobbin winder is inexpensive and faster |
| Tension | Keep light tension on the thread, not too tight or too loose |
| Thread organisation | Plastic bobbins are durable, cheap, and can be hung from binder rings for organisation |
| Thread storage | Wound bobbins can be stored in plastic bobbin boxes or metal binder rings |
| Labelling | Label the bobbin with the colour number and thread type, using a pen, marker, or pre-printed sticker |
| Eco-friendliness | Plastic bobbins are not biodegradable, cardboard bobbins are more eco-friendly but less durable |
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What You'll Learn
Using a bobbin winder
Bobbin winders are inexpensive and very useful for winding embroidery floss. They are designed with a crank that spins a cardboard or plastic bobbin as you wind the floss around it. The bobbin is attached to the winder using a small peg.
To use a bobbin winder, first remove the peg that holds the bobbin. Insert a bobbin into the slot, lining up the hole on the bobbin with the hole in the winder. Reinsert the peg to secure the bobbin. The bobbin winder is designed with notches at the base that allow it to perch upright on the edges of a standard plastic bobbin box. This keeps the winder stable as you use it. If you don't have a plastic bobbin box, you can place the winder on the edge of a cardboard box as long as the cardboard isn't too thick.
When pulling embroidery floss from the skein, it's important to pull from the right end to avoid tangles. Hold the skein in one hand as you turn the crank with the other. Keep a light tension on the thread so that it stays snug to the bobbin as it winds, but don't pull too tight. Continue winding until the skein is fully wound. Try to keep the floss from getting too thick in one spot by winding it evenly throughout the width of the bobbin instead of wrapping it repeatedly in one section.
When you're near the end, tuck the end of the thread into one of the slits in the bottom of the bobbin to secure it, then remove it from the winder. You can use a marker to label the top of the bobbin with the colour number. Alternatively, you can stick a sticker or tape the label from the floss onto the bobbin.
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Winding by hand
Winding floss bobbins by hand is a straightforward process, but it can be time-consuming if you have a lot of floss to wind. It is recommended to break it down into smaller chunks and do a few at a time while doing other activities, such as watching TV or riding the bus.
To begin winding by hand, hold one end of the floss against the bobbin with one hand, and start winding the floss around the bobbin with the other hand. It is important to wind the floss evenly throughout the width of the bobbin, rather than wrapping it repeatedly in one section, to avoid the floss getting too thick in one spot. Keep a light tension on the thread as you wind, so that it stays snug on the bobbin, but be careful not to wind it too tightly, as this can stretch and deform the thread. Similarly, avoid winding it too loosely, as the thread may slip off and become knotted.
When you reach the end of the thread, tuck the end into one of the slits at the bottom of the bobbin to secure it. You can then label the bobbin with the colour number, either by writing directly on the bobbin with a marker or pen, using a sticker, or taping the label from the floss onto the bobbin.
Wound bobbins can be stored in plastic bobbin boxes, or on metal binder rings if you are using them for a specific project.
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Avoiding tangles
To avoid tangles when winding plastic floss bobbins, it is important to pull from the right end of the embroidery floss. One source suggests pulling from the \"DMC numbered long label\" end. Another tip is to keep the floss from getting too thick in one spot by winding it evenly throughout the width of the bobbin, rather than wrapping it repeatedly in one section. This will also prevent the thread from becoming too loose and slipping off the bobbin, which can cause knots.
To avoid tangles when pulling from the skein, one source recommends placing the skein over your wrist as you wind. You can also try storing your floss in ziplock bags or pouches to prevent tangles when taking your threads out of the house.
When winding, it is important to maintain light tension on the thread so that it stays snug to the bobbin, but do not pull too tight. Winding too tightly can cause the thread to stretch and lose its shape, which can result in frustrating tangles. It can also cause kinks in the floss.
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Storing bobbins
One common method is to use a bobbin box. These boxes are designed to store bobbins and usually have a compartment for a bobbin winder. You can organise the bobbins within the box by colour number or hue, whichever makes the most sense to you. You can also use a DMC colour card when organising your thread. When pulling bobbins for a specific project, you can put them on metal binder rings to keep them all together. Binder rings come in various sizes, so you can choose one that fits your project.
Another option is to use a bobbin holder, which can be hung from a scrollbar on your sewing frame. This makes it easy to access each colour and keeps your floss neat. You can also use Ziploc-style baggies to store your bobbins, which can be useful if you have several projects going at once. Each project can have its own ring of baggies, while a large stash of colours can be kept in a compact "Rolodex" of baggies in a storage cabinet.
If you're using plastic bobbins, it's important to note that they are not biodegradable. Cardboard bobbins, on the other hand, are more eco-friendly and can be recycled or composted. However, they are not as durable and can be damaged by water or wear and tear. They also tend to bend or curl when you wrap your thread around them. If you decide to switch from cardboard to plastic bobbins, you'll need to unwind your thread from the cardboard bobbins and wind it onto the new plastic ones, which can be time-consuming.
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Labelling bobbins
One method is to write directly on the bobbin with a pen or marker. A fine-point Sharpie is often recommended, but some people find that even permanent markers can rub off. Another option is to use a marker meant for writing on plastic. If you are using cardboard bobbins, you can also make your own by cutting out shapes from old greeting cards, and decorate them with your chosen design.
Some people prefer to use stickers, and you can buy pre-printed stickers for all the DMC colours. You can also use a label maker to create your own stickers, or use the number from the skein itself and tape it to the bobbin. If you wind by hand, you can also tape the label over the hole at the top of the bobbin.
Other methods include colour-coding your bobbins, for example, using a dot of nail polish. You can also use stick-on notebook paper reinforcements and write the thread colour and type in tiny writing.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic bobbins are cheap, durable, and can be hung from binder rings for easy access. They also take up less space than other storage options and keep your threads neat, undamaged, and organised.
Hold one end of the floss against the bobbin and start winding. Try to wind the floss evenly throughout the width of the bobbin, rather than wrapping it repeatedly in one section. Don't wind the thread too tightly or too loosely—it should be snug.
You can wind bobbins by hand, but a bobbin winder will make the process faster. Bobbin winders are inexpensive and easy to use. They have a crank that spins a plastic bobbin as you wind the floss around it.
Wound bobbins can be stored in plastic bobbin boxes. You can also hang them from binder rings, which come in various sizes. Smaller rings are perfect for small projects, and larger rings are ideal for larger projects.
