While postponing work this morning -- so successfully that it's almost time for lunch -- I got to wondering how many ways there are of keeping track of bobbins.
I have the little clips that hold a bobbin on one side and plug into a spool on the other. Only six are in use, and two are on opposite ends of the same empty spool, holding two little dabs of gray six-ply cotton that I'll probably never use because I keep forgetting that I have it. A zip-lock bag concealed among the clutter of threads holds two full spools, one almost-empty spool, and a bobbin of thread that matches the "oakwood" twill that I've used up and worn out. But I still have yards of the two cotton jerseys that I bought to go with the oakwood slacks, and this thread averages the mixed colors in those, so it's a good thing I did the survey because I was just threading up the machine with ecru Cordonnet to start stitching a T-shirt of the striped jersey. But I think I'll use the ecru until I get to the top-stitching, because Cordonnet 100/6 is stronger than Guetermann's 50/3.
The rest of my bobbins are in the paper drawer under the sewing machine. (a sixties-era typing stand is just the right height for my sewing machine; a shallow drawer filled with open-topped boxes is just right for my various and sundries.)
Bobbins of basting thread are scattered among the two boxes of empty bobbins; four are bobbins that have lost their provenance, a bobbin of two-ply thread is labeled with the word "baste" written on a bit of correction tape stuck to the flange and sheared to shape with an Exacto knife, and the double-wound bobbin is labeled by the knot that keeps the two threads from getting out of sync.
The six bobbins of size A silk are corralled in a bobbin-box lid (all but one of my bobbin boxes are broken, and they appear to have stopped making 12-bobbin boxes, pout. They were so useful for so many things.) at one end of the box of A and D silk threads. Since each bobbin holds an entire spool, there is no spool to keep track of, and it's easy to tell whether I'm looking at A or D. Likewise, the bobbin with a remnant of black 100+ silk is in the box of 100+ threads.
For some reason, in my box of thimbles there's a spool of scarlet Mettler 50/3 tied to a bobbin of the same with a strip of maroon interlock. I wonder where I bought Mettler thread? Perhaps I brought it with me when we moved; it's certainly been a long time since I sewed bright-red cotton. The maroon-interlock shirt (which I happen to be wearing) is sewn with navy thread.
At which point, it *was* time for lunch. But I'd covered all the bobbins, except for a zip-lock bag containing one bobbin of black
50/3, one bobbin, and a threaded needle. I'm going to have to get that threaded needle out today, because a seam I sewed with the black thread has split; I don't think it would have if I'd used 100/6. But even for a patch on ragged slopping-around pants, I don't like to use white thread on black fabric.Oh, yeah, the remaining unbroken four-compartment bobbin box contains one compartment of copper brads (which I use to hang patterns on the walls), one compartment of white 100/6, one compartment of ecru 100/6, and three odd white bobbins: one plastic bobbin has "60" scratched into it with a needle; that's only for hand sewing, since I've used up the spool and #60 will never be seen again. One has "40" scratched into nail polish on a metal bobbin; that's 80/6. One has "20" rubbed on with Lettraset; that's 40/6, and I wonder *when* I ever sewed anything that heavy.
So I'm using at four ways to label bobbins and four ways to keep bobbins with their spools.
Meanwhile, it's time to clear off the ironing board and press the shoulder seams in my striped T-shirt.
Joy Beeson