We talk about storage a lot, however when it comes to cross stitch needle storage we like to get serious. We’ve gone over storage at length, but in short, we’re strong advocates of one method of storage in particular; needle tubes.
These things are great, not only do they allow you to store your needles away from the air (that’ll rust or oxidize them), but you can separate them by size or type with ease. However, I received a lot of comments from readers about where to store the tubes. After all, having tubes hanging around is a pain in itself, especially if they chose the glass tubes from makers like Tulip. However recently I saw a post by NeedleNThread about storing needles tubes and its life-changing! Well, OK, maybe it’s cross stitch needle thread changing…
Her idea was simple; find a box that fits them. Simple in theory, but hard in practice. That was until she let us in on a little secret; cotton bud boxes. Depending on the style of box you get, these might be in a case similar to the below, or a tub style, however, cotton buds are almost exactly the same size as needle tubes, so you can simply drop them in the box and keep them nice and organized.
Got any other life-saving cross stitch organization tips? We’re kind of obsessed, so send them our way!
Happy stitching!
Lord Libidan
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do needle storage tubes work?
Needle storage tubes are small glass, plastic, or wood tubes with a securely tightening lid. You can store the needles in the tube to avoid them getting damaged and avoid them spilling onto the floor.
Are needle tubes better than needle books?
Needle tubes are considered better than needle books by most as needle books can often result in accidental bending of needles, as well as needles accidentally falling out of the needle book.
What size tubes fit most needle brands?
Needle tubes come in a standard size that will accommodate almost all needle types and sizes. Some odd-shaped needles and specialty needles will need alternative storage options, however.
Just collated my needles from disparate locations in my stitching cupboard using this recommendation. Brilliant, thank you! xxx