25 Things in 2025 - Thing #20

[smallhobbit]

Sort Anchor threads

It took a while, but I now have a neatly sorted box:



Sorted by colour primarily and then in order of shade number.

This is not really a working box though, so, since I have a second box, I've made up a working box:



Colours in the right hand half are currently in use for this month's Mouse SAL, which has a lot of different colours.  The ones in row 4 (reading from the left) [if this was a numerical table this would be column 4, but the box is flat, so to me it's a row.  And my box, my rules] are for this particular month, the ones in rows 5 and 6are mostly recurring colours.  The ones on the left hand side tie up with the following



I've been doing a number of kits lately and there's normally floss left when I've finished.  There's not sufficient for a major project, but ideal for a card which may only require a few strands of thread.  So the left hand side of the working box has the larger quantities of floss, plus the sparkly floss, while the coloured bobbins have small amounts of floss, sorted into colours.

Comments

[just_ann_now]

I remember many happy hours sorting like this!

[smallhobbit]

It's taken me about 6 weeks in total - now to keep on top of it!

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

I have sorting envy. Well done!❤️

[smallhobbit]

Having it as a challenge helped, otherwise I doubt it would have been done!

[badly_knitted]

I like to keep all of mine sorted too, but I have both Anchor and DMC, so... there are a lot. Also some Madeira threads, and some non-name brands picked up cheap. They all have their uses though.

[smallhobbit]

Most of mine are Anchor, so I reckon if I keep them sorted then I can just use the rest as and when. They're definitely all useful though.

[badly_knitted]

I use DMC more, because most of the designs in the magazines I have are stitched in DMC. Those stitched in Anchor, I've bought the threads I need for them, but I don't think I have a full set. I used to have all the DMC colours, but they've brought out a bunch of new shades over the past few years. I had to buy two of those for the Stonehenge picture I stitched for a friend.

[smallhobbit]

That's a lot of threads! My magazine gives the option for DMC or Anchor, so I go with Anchor and just buy the extra ones I need. Or if it's something small I'll use the nearest shade I already have, or if it's something generic like a selection of small flowers I'll pick whatever I fancy at the time.

[badly_knitted]

You are so much more flexible than me, I usually stick to what's recommended, not brave enough to do otherwise, lol!

[smallhobbit]

For something like the floral SAL I used set colours, but in my mouse SAL because she goes on our monthly calendar I change her clothes to colours we particularly like, since she hangs by the dining table.

[badly_knitted]

What a lovely idea!

[debriswoman]

Excellent organisation skills, hobbit 😊😊😊

[smallhobbit]

Thank you - I'm hoping it will make life easier by being able to find the shades I want/need.

[scfrankles]

"My box, my rules." I... don't think I've ever come across that sentence before ^____^

Seeing it all sorted out is very satisfying ^__^

[smallhobbit]

I like to be original 😂

Yes, I was very pleased to have done it.

[meridian_rose]

Beautifully organised and so pretty!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you - it should make it simpler when I'm working on a project! (At least I hope so!!!) That's one thing about embroidery floss, it does look pretty.

[therealsnape]

Oh, you have the same system I have, only I have lots of DMC, not anchor. My own, and I inherited by mother-in-law's collection. She was a very keen embroiderer.

Haven't done it in years, though. Fanfiction, photobooks, and now knitting took over. Still, I have the yarn. Who knows?

[smallhobbit]

I think most people have DMC. I was given an Anchor starter kit by a friend one Christmas, so when I started a project I supplemented it with the extra shades I needed. I also find Anchor is cheaper (you do get less, but I rarely need a complete skein), so I simply carried on. I use sparkly DMC on cards but I doubt that makes a difference.

There's always time! How much I do of different things varies from week week; I like having the choice 😃