Innov8R

I buy inexpensive clear plastic at JoAnn's and cut it in strips that fit my various spool sizes. Once I open thread, I slip one of the strips around the outside and tape with clear tape. My thread stays clean and behaves perfectly.

Barb in Louisiana

I use the sandwich bags and put bobbins of the same color in there too.

Edited to add: My spools are all in pull out drawers or in the JoAnn large plastic cases. The spools don't stand up well after you put them in the sandwich bags, plus I don't want my thread to get dust on them. I buy in bulk to save on shipping. Another thing. A couple of years ago, at the Dollar store, I bought the fluffy ponytail holders for little girls. These work great on the bobbins. The downside is you can't see the color.

Snooze2978

Go to your local florist and ask for their flower nets as they normally just throw them away. You can cut these whatever length you need and they won't unravel like the sock type we got years ago. I use them on all my size spools and they will stretch to whatever size I need normally.

Mariposa

You could also get some free nets from a florist~~ just an idea

Dordee

I went to the dollar store and bought the elastic child ponytail holders, works like a charm, I think there are about 20 to a pack $1.00

d.rickman

A lot of spools of thread, the bottom can be pulled down, then wrap the excess thread around the spool bottom, and place the spool on your table and press down to close it. The aurifil thread bottom can be removed or also pulled down and again wrap around your excess of thead, then put the bottom back up to close. Guiterman thread is the same, you have to pull it down and it is quite hard at first, but it will also pull down. Those that do not have a notch in the thread, I use my small cutter, and cut a nick in the top to place in the thread.

Those bobbin threads can be pushed through one of the holes in the top or the bottom of the bobbin, if they have holes, mine does. However I don't think all spools have a hole in the casing - my janomi I just run the excess threads through and under the thread that is wrapped onto the bobbin still.

wishfulthinking

[ATTACH=CONFIG]604798[/ATTACH]I've been using these little mesh nets that garlic comes in at the grocery store. Work fine so far and they can be cut to whatever size you need. I'm such a tightwad!

ruby2shoes

I buy clear plastic storage boxes that are divided into little sections. The dividers are removable so you can make larger spaces if needed. I keep each thread spool and bobbin together in the one section. The clear plastic top makes it quick and easy to find the thread colour I want and there is no crazy unravelling of spools or bobbins. Of course, this only works with spools, not the larger cones.

Cheshirepat

Darn it, I *knew* I should have been saving those for something! I will now!

nativetexan

you know, long ago i tossed one of those nets that came with thread. didn't know what it was for!!