If you’ve ever opened a brand-new pack of embroidery floss and instantly turned into a tangled ball of anxiety — welcome to the club. 🪡
Floss is one of the most fun (and sometimes overwhelming!) parts of cross-stitch. There are hundreds of colors, multiple brands, and about a dozen ways to keep them organized. The good news? You don’t need to know them all — you just need the system that works for you.
In this post, we’ll walk through how to choose floss for your projects, understand those mysterious numbers, and keep your collection neat and untangled — no meltdown required.
1. Understanding Floss Brands & Numbers
Let’s start with the basics:
Most cross-stitch patterns are written using DMC floss numbers (like 310 for black, 321 for red, 5200 for white). DMC is the most popular brand worldwide, and most other brands — like Anchor or Cosmo — have conversion charts if you prefer their threads instead.
Each floss color has its own number — it’s like an address that tells you exactly what shade to use.
Pro tip: Keep the little paper band with the number on it until you’ve stored or labeled your floss. Once it’s gone, guessing which “light pink” you used becomes an adventure no one wants.
2. How to Choose Floss for a Pattern
Most beginners start by stitching kits or digital patterns that already list which colors to buy — perfect!
But if you ever want to substitute colors or stitch from stash, here’s a quick guide:
- Solid colors: Great for classic patterns and clean outlines.
- Variegated or overdyed floss: Adds a hand-dyed look, great for samplers or motifs.
- Metallic floss: Sparkly but tricky — best used sparingly until you get the hang of it.
Tip: Always buy an extra skein of any color that’s heavily used in your design. Dye lots can vary slightly, and running out mid-project can be… well, a frog-fest.
3. Taming the Tangles — How to Store Floss
This is where stitchers have strong opinions (and creative hacks!). There’s no one “right” system — but here are the most popular ways to keep things tidy:
Option 1: Bobbins
Wind each skein onto a small plastic or cardboard bobbin and label it with the number.
- Fits perfectly into a floss box or craft organizer.
- Great for large collections.
- Bonus: You can easily pull what you need for a project and go.
Labeling hack: Write the number on both sides of the bobbin — that way you can still see it after it’s half-used.
Option 2: Floss Drops or Tags
Perfect for stitchers who love texture and color.
- Wind the floss around a hole-punched card or drop.
- Add a ring to hold all colors for your current project.
- Ideal for variegated floss (it shows off the beautiful shading).
Option 3: Floss Bags
Each skein gets its own zip bag with a label — easy to swap, add, and rearrange.
- Keeps thread protected from dust and moisture.
- Perfect if you stitch multiple projects at once.
🐸 Frogging News Favorite: Many stitchers use a hybrid system — bobbins for storage, floss drops for current projects. It’s the best of both worlds!
4. Keeping Track of What You Have
Once your stash grows beyond a handful of colors, keeping track is key (and oddly satisfying).
Try these organization methods:
- Floss inventory sheets (printable or digital) to mark which numbers you own.
- Apps like Thread Stash or X-Stitch Organizer to log DMC colors.
- Binder systems with labeled sleeves for each color family.
Pro tip: Organize your floss by number order (like 300s = browns, 700s = greens) — it matches DMC’s numbering system and makes restocking a breeze.
5. Staying Sane (and Inspired)
Remember, this hobby should be fun — not a fight with 200 tangled skeins.
If your floss stash looks chaotic, that’s okay. Every stitcher starts somewhere! Make small improvements as you go, and focus on what makes stitching easier for you.
There’s no “wrong” way to organize floss — only your way.
Wrap-Up: Finding Your Thread Zen
Choosing and organizing floss doesn’t have to be complicated — it’s part of the creative journey.
By keeping your colors labeled, sorted, and easy to find, you’ll spend less time untangling and more time doing what you love: stitching.
🐸 Until then, may your floss stay tangle-free and your colors bright!
Next up in our Your First Stitches series:
👉 Cross-Stitch Tools & Accessories You’ll Actually Use (and What You Can Skip)
Floss drops are really fun and easy to use. They come in lots of colors, shapes, styles, and materials. This colorful set is by Chickadee Stitchery on Etsy.