13 Bobbin Storage Ideas: Get Control of Your Sewing Machine Bobbins!

Are your sewing machine bobbins out of control? Or are you making do, but looking for something better? Well, you are not alone. Bobbin storage can be such a headache! If you want bobbins filled and ready in every imaginable color, that means you have lots of bobbins! Thread comes unspooled and gets tangled up, especially if you toss them all in a container together. I’ve been sewing a long time and have tried all of the available storage products.

Here you will find all the popular storage solutions – the best and worst including some upcycled and unique options that may work for you. I’ll spill all the details to help you decide which one will work best for you.

Advice from a Sewing Expert

I’m a bobbin hoarder. I admit it. Through the years, I have owned many sewing machines and collected bobbins in all the different sizes. As far as I know, I have also tried every bobbin holder or organizer on the market, and even a few custom ideas. My favorite solution is at the end of this article, but each one has different elements that might make them work better for you.

When considering bobbin storage options, I will evaluate each one based on the following criteria:

• Cost
• Does it prevent the bobbin thread from unspooling?
• If you drop it, will the bobbins fly everywhere?
• Is it easy to use?
• Appearance
• Other important considerations

Plastic Case with Snap Lid

Cost: $

Does it prevent the bobbin thread from unspooling? No

If you drop it, will the bobbins fly everywhere? No

Is it easy to use? Yes

Appearance: Drab

Other important considerations: This is very functional bobbin storage. You can see the colors through the case, and the lid is secure. It is also easy to fit several in a drawer or sewing case.

Acrylic Case with a Snap Lid

Cost: $ Reuse what you have!

Does it prevent the bobbin thread from unspooling? No

If you drop it, will the bobbins fly everywhere? Yes, acrylic plastic is brittle.

Is it easy to use? Yes

Appearance: Cute

Other important considerations: This case came with a set of bobbins that I purchased online. I like it for storing empty bobbins because there is no thread that will unspool. It holds a small number of bobbins, and the lid is secure.

Wooden Folding Rack

Cost: $$

Does it prevent the bobbin thread from unspooling? No

If you drop it, will the bobbins fly everywhere? Yes

Is it easy to use? No

Appearance: Cute

Other important considerations: It’s easy to knock over this wooden tower; when it was on my smaller sewing surface I tipped it over a few times and decided I didn’t want to use it any more. I couldn’t have it close enough to be convenient, and I couldn’t keep it in the drawer.

Silicone Bobbin or Spool Huggers

Cost: $

Does it prevent the bobbin thread from unspooling? Yes

If you drop it, will the bobbins fly everywhere? No

Is it easy to use? Yes

Appearance: Cute

Other important considerations: These spool huggers are not a case or organizer; the bobbin storage is still a concern. If you throw them into a jar or a bag you will have to dig around to find the bobbin that you want when you’re ready. You can also use them on thread spools to keep them from unraveling.

Bobbin Clamps

Cost: $$$

Does it prevent the bobbin thread from unspooling? Yes

If you drop it, will the bobbins fly everywhere? No

Is it easy to use? Yes

Appearance: Clunky

Other important considerations: How many bobbins do you want to hang on a string; how strong is your magnet or hook? At the time of this article, the Amazon seller offers a 30-day refund period which makes it a nice option to try for yourself.

Silicone Ring-type Bobbin Storage

Cost: $$

Does it prevent the bobbin thread from unspooling? No

If you drop it, will the bobbins fly everywhere? Most likely

Is it easy to use? Yes

Appearance: Cute

Other important considerations: I personally enjoy using a ring holder for temporary bobbin storage next to my machine. It provides easy access to bobbins while keeping them from rolling around or falling down. Without a lid, it’s not practical to stack or store in a drawer.

Bobbin Boat

Cost: $$

Does it prevent the bobbin thread from unspooling? Yes

If you drop it, will the bobbins fly everywhere? No

Is it easy to use? Yes

Appearance: Cute

Other important considerations: It is just as easy to put the Bobbin Boat in a bag for travel as it is to set it on a sewing desk. It’s not practical for a large bobbin storage solution; each row holds 10 and they don’t stack or clip together. It is available in two sizes.

Plastic Spool Pins that Hold the Spool and Bobbin Together

Cost: $$

Does it prevent the bobbin thread from unspooling? No

If you drop it, will the bobbins fly everywhere? No

Is it easy to use? Less than most. The spool pin requires accuracy and pressure to shove it through the bobbin.

Appearance: Cute

Other important considerations: It’s not a case or organizer; the bobbins still need storage. I do not like storing my bobbins and thread together. Thread spools require much more storage space than bobbins, so my bobbins are kept next to my sewing machine, while thread is a few feet away on a thread rack.

Acrylic Storage Bin that Comes with a Popular Thread Bundle

Cost: $$$ to buy this thread bundle, $ to buy a similar box without thread inside

Does it prevent the bobbin thread from unspooling? No

If you drop it, will the bobbins fly everywhere? Yes, acrylic plastic is brittle and this lid isn’t terribly secure.

Is it easy to use? Less so. For regular use you need to remove the bobbins on top, to get the one at the bottom.

Appearance: Cute

Other important considerations: When choosing a bobbin, it’s easy to see almost all of them. It is also easy to have this bobbin storage tucked in a drawer or on a shelf.

Cadillac Bobbin Case

Cost: $$

Does it prevent the bobbin thread from unspooling? Yes

If you drop it, will the bobbins fly everywhere? Not if the case is zipped up

Is it easy to use? Yes

Appearance: Sleek & Sophisticated

Other important considerations: This isn’t actually called a ‘Cadillac case,’ but here is the Amazon link to purchase this one. The foam inside this case does not hold the bobbins as tightly as the previous case does, but it looks really nice zipped up.

Bobbin Tower of Terror (aka Stack and Store)

Cost: $$

Does it prevent the bobbin thread from unspooling? Yes

If you drop it, will the bobbins fly everywhere? Yes, and it will break into many pieces that must be reassembled. This happened so often that I threw mine away in anger which is why I couldn’t take my own picture.

Is it easy to use? No

Appearance: Unique

Other important considerations: It’s very wobbly, which causes it to fall to the floor with the slightest bump. I would never buy this bobbin storage solution again and recommend against it.

Plastic Case with Foam Insert

Cost: $$

Does it prevent the bobbin thread from unspooling? Yes

If you drop it, will the bobbins fly everywhere? No

Is it easy to use? Yes

Appearance: Pretty with colored bobbins inside.

Other important considerations: This is my favorite bobbin storage case of all. You can buy one for each bobbin size. I keep several stacked in a drawer near each sewing machine to hold my different bobbin colors. Here is the Amazon link if you would love to have one too!

3-D Printed Bobbin Tray

Cost: Free, if someone you know has a 3-D printing hobby.

Does it prevent the bobbin thread from unspooling? No

If you drop it, will the bobbins fly everywhere? Yes

Is it easy to use? Yes

Appearance: Cute & Custom. It will be the color of the 3D printing filament.

Other important considerations: There is no lid on mine, or any way to keep the thread from unspooling, but this bobbin storage tray is wonderful next to my long-arm quilting machine. I can load it up with extra bobbins in the color I need, and it’s easy to grab them.

I especially love it because my son printed it for me as a gift. There are free 3-D printing files for this bobbin tray and others online.

Pro Tip: Be sure to pay attention to the size of the bobbin that you’re storing when you purchase a storage solution.

With so many variations of sewing spaces and tools, what works best for me won’t necessarily work best for you. I hope this has been useful in helping you decide what bobbin storage solutions you want to try. What is your favorite? Tag me @SewCanShe and #SewCanShe.

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