A tidy stash saves money: you stop buying colours you already have and can start projects straight away. Here are storage ideas, how to use the Colours I own list to design and shop, and what our pattern library says about which colours are worth keeping in stock.
Thread and bead brands number their colours, so the simplest system is numerical order. DMC floss on plastic or card bobbins, with the number written on each, fits neatly into compartment boxes in number order. Skeins in small zip bags on a ring, or in a binder with a card per colour, work just as well. Beads are easiest in compartment boxes with the colour name and number on the lid.
Storage
Best for
Watch out for
Bobbins in a compartment box
Large floss collections; quick to scan
Winding takes time; tight winding can kink thread
Skeins in zip bags on a ring
Keeping labels and dye lots with the thread
Bulky for big collections
Project bags, one per pattern
Works in progress
Colours get “lost” from the main stash
Compartment boxes for beads
Fuse and seed beads
Label lids; similar shades are hard to tell apart
Keep the paper band or label from each skein when you wind it, at least until the project is done: it carries the dye lot, which matters if you need to buy more of a colour for a large area.
Keep a list in Colours I own
Even a well-organised box is slow to check in a shop. Colours I own keeps a list of what you have, for each brand, saved in your browser.
Type or paste codes: “310, 321, 3865”, one per line, or a shopping-list CSV, then Add these.
Add a whole pattern: in a generator or the editor, Add key to my colours (under More downloads) adds every colour in the key.
Quantities are optional: leave the box at zero to mean “owned”, or enter how many skeins or bags you have.
Back it up:Download backup saves the list as a file, and Restore backup loads it on another device or browser.
Copy codes puts your whole list on the clipboard, handy for a forum swap or a shop order.
Shop for what you need
On any pattern, the colour key puts a tick next to colours you already own. To buy only (CSV) downloads a shopping list of just the missing colours, ready for an online order or a trip to the shop. The thread guide explains how skein counts are worked out.
Design from your stash
Once you have listed at least two colours of a brand, the pattern generators show Only colours I own. Turn it on and the pattern is made only from your inventory, which is a great way to use up leftovers: a small design from a photo, matched to the threads already in your box. The result may need a little editing where the nearest colour you own is far from the original; our guide to choosing thread colours explains how far is too far.
Which colours are worth keeping?
If you stitch a lot of small designs, a core stash of common colours means you can start most projects without shopping. Here is what our own library uses most:
And how many of our library’s patterns a stash of a given size could finish completely, if you collected colours in the most useful order:
How many patterns can a stash finish?
Library patterns you could stitch with no shopping, by number of DMC colours owned
Show the numbers
DMC colours in your stash
Patterns complete
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Our 100 DMC cross stitch patterns use 172 different colours between them. Choosing colours in the order that completes the most patterns, 54 colours are enough for half the library; 40 colours complete 39 patterns.Source: CraftPatterns pattern library, computed at build time
DMC 321, a true red, appears in more than a third of our patterns (37 of 100), more than any other colour. Black 310 comes next, then the two whites, BLANC and B5200, followed by pinks, greens, blues and browns such as 3371, often used for eyes and outlines. But the curve climbs steadily rather than levelling off: half the library needs 54 of its 172 colours, because many designs use a shade or two specific to one flower or animal. A starter stash of the 15 colours in the table covers the most common needs; for everything else, buy per project. Your own stitching may differ, so treat this as a starting point.
Keep it current
Remove a colour when you use the last of it.
Use quantities for colours you use a lot, so you know when to restock.
Do a stock-take once or twice a year, especially before a big project.
Storage tips
Keep thread and beads away from sunlight and damp: light fades colours over time, and damp can mark thread and encourage mildew. Label everything, because a colour you cannot identify is hard to use. When a shade is missing, the thread conversion guide shows how close the nearest DMC or Anchor alternative is.
Sharing a stash
Families and clubs often share threads and beads. Keep one master list per shared box, and agree that whoever uses the last of a colour adds it to a shopping list. Swapping duplicates with friends is a good way to fill gaps without buying full packs; Copy codes makes it easy to post your list.
Frequently asked questions
Where is my list of colours stored?
In your browser on the device you use, like your saved projects. Nothing is uploaded. Use Download backup to save it as a file and Restore backup to load it on another device.
Can I paste a list of colours I own?
Yes. Paste codes separated by commas or one per line, or a shopping-list CSV, and choose Add these. Brand prefixes, leading zeros and unique colour names are understood.
Can patterns use only colours I own?
Yes. Once you have listed at least two colours of a brand, the generators show Only colours I own, and the pattern is made only from your stash.
Can I record how many skeins I have?
Yes. Each colour has a quantity box; leave it at zero to mean "owned, not counted", or enter how many skeins or bags you have.
How should I store floss?
Wind it on numbered bobbins in a box, or keep skeins in labelled bags on a ring. Store it away from sunlight, which fades colours over time, and away from damp.