Where is YOUR Thread?

by Granny Elen

How to make a thread storage board :

Select and measure a bulletin board – After getting the measurements add 6 inches to the length and width.  Measure and cut the fabric     -   for this I used cotton so it will not stretch

Lay out the thread on the board to see how you want it arranged, I did 3 rows for large spools and 1 row for small spools.  I can get 14 spools across so will have the first and third row with 14 and the second row with 13.

Mark where the strips of stretchy fabric will go.  I measured down 4.5 inches from the top for the first row, 10.5 inches for the second row, 16.5 inches for the third row, and 22.5 inches for the row for small spools.

Measure and cut the fabric for the strips.  For these I used really stretch knits that does not run or ravel.  The knit I found was actually swimsuit fabric.  Since it tends to stretch so easily, I measure 2 inches for the spacers, not the actual 2.5 inches and stretched the fabric when I stitched it in place.  I made the strips 4 inches wide so the thread would be covered to keep dust off and so the sun would not fade the thread.

To know how long to make the strips to hold the thread, stretch the fabric around a full spool of thread, take that amount and multiply it by the amount of spools you will have in a row.   In my case it was:  14 spools of thread times 4 inches for the spool pockets equals 56 inches add to that 2 inch spaces for between each spool (26 inches) and 4 inches for each edge for a total of 90 inches, plus seam allowance    Cut 4 inch strips to make 3 rows (If you choose to have less spools in the middle row, subtract the amount that you allow to go around a spool of thread.)

Next you will sew (stretch stitch) the strips to make pockets for the spools of thread, I measured over 1 inch from the center,*then 4 inches for the pocket, then 2 inches for a space*  repeating this both ways of center to make 14 pockets (measure 1 inches from center to start the first pockets keeps the pockets centered.  For the middle row where I had only 13 spools, I measured over 2 inches from center,* then 2.5 inches for a space and then 4 inches* for the pocket and repeated both ways  until I had 13 pockets:

I stitched along the lines to make the pockets,  when I had them all finished I laid them out on the cotton fabric and pinned them in place, starting from center and the edges, centering the pockets – you will need to stretch the spacers.  I then sewed the spaces down top-stitching 1/8 inches from the top, bottom and by the pocket seams

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For the bottom row for smaller threads, I cut a strip 2 inches by 40 inches.  I stitched this down onto the cotton measuring out 2.5 inches from center and repeating toward both sides.  I stitched along these lines and across the bottom.  The fabric stretches enough to allow for the smaller spools without adding extra.
After  I had it all sewn into place, I took the back off the bulletin board, marked 1.5 inches all the way around to help lay it into place properly.  The top of the first strip, the bottom of the small strip and the pocket for the first and 14th spools on the first and third strip are 1.5 inches from the edges.

I tacked the fabric in place, then turned it over and stapled it on the back side with ¼ inch staples to secure it.
Lay this back in the frame and with 9/16 inch staples, staple close to the edge into the frame to secure it into the frame.  If you staple away from the edge, the staples may poke through to the front.

Have fun filling it!  This will be very heavy, so I am having mine screwed to the wall, into studs.

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