97 Ways To Store Your Ribbon

October 3, 2012

Okay, so the whole 97 thing is a lie, it’s really more like eleven. But really, sometimes numbers are just numbers and this post is bursting with storage options. The instant I began collecting images of contained ribbon things, the most ingenious, elaborate and detailed articles on storing this glorified string started flying me at from all directions. I had to duck for cover I tell you!

Summarizing and capturing the crux of them here, I can in no way lay claim to the organization-smarts of today’s post. Today I am merely the messenger.

Storage racks/ rods

These are a simple DIY project, at least according to Miss Martha who says you may “build storage racks from copper gutters. Have a lumberyard cut a half-round gutter and cap the ends. Punch holes along top edge; mount in a dry place away from sunlight to keep ribbons from fading.”

Additional instructions on the DIY approach to this storage system here.

Repurposed frame

Attach some rod brackets to the back of a frame and then slide some wooden dowels into place to hold your ribbon spools.

Hanger

While perhaps not the most beautiful storage solution of the bunch- a wire hanger can easily be untwisted in order to slide on your ribbon rounds. Re-twist the top, hang, and unwind to your heart’s content.

If you have any multi-tiered hangers (which kind of suck for their intended purpose) you might as well use them. Ribbons, it turns out, are far more conducive to the multi-tier than clothing. No twisting and untwisting required.

Hand towel rack

This, apparently, is a handle towel rack, though when I saw it I assumed it was a jewelry holder. C’est la vie, especially since either one would work.

Shoebox / bin

This may be one of my favorites and here’s how it goes: you get yourself a box, a dowel, some glue, scissors and an elastic band. Snip, snip here, glue there, pop into place, etc etc. More detailed instructions (as if you’d need them after that description) here.

Tackle box

We’ve already discussed how tackle boxes rock. Ribbons, too, fit nicely in their compartments. This method does obviously lack the spool-factor, which could be a good or bad thing depending on your personal preference.

Glass jars

Also rock. Bonus points if you punch a hole in the jar’s lid and feed the ribbon through.

Bobbin

This method is particularly useful if you have lots of shorter ribbons. Avoid a tangle situation by winding them around some bobbins. Easy peasy!

Choose to buy thread bobbins from your local craft store, or just cut some yourself using pieces of cardboard.

Afterward, you can file your bobbins away in a drawer (as seen above) or throw them in a glass jar, as below.

Soda straw dispenser

These guys will work perfectly for your ribbon spools. Pull up the lid to access your desired threads. Boom.

Candlestick ‘n stuff

I don’t even really know what’s going on here. Suffice it to say: it works. Directions and elaborations on that here.

Similarly, this crafty lady used metal stakes to make her spools stand upright and at attention.

Spool rack

An obvious solution for the devoted crafter/ gift wrapper. Long hooks allow you to easily slide spools straight on.

Any comments that make this title less of a lie by contributing further suggestions on how to store ribbon would be much appreciated. Also comments explaining your favorite method of the bunch. Also comments about your favorite color ribbon. And favorite texture. And any and all comments would be much appreciated. Just leave me your life’s story below.

 Image credits: Martha Stewart, House and HomeTorie Jayne, Scrapbooks, Etc, Real Simple, unknown, BHG, Cream City Ribbon, Honestly WTFCreate With Joy, BHG, BHG, Kristen NunezA Spoonful of Sugar Designs x2, House Doctor via Torie Jayne, All People Quilt, Givers Log, Sew Many Ways, House Doctor Zinc Spool Rack, House Doctor Collection via Stylizmo 

21 Comments

  1. Melissa on October 3, 2012 at 6:13 am

    My first thought is I just don’t keep that much ribbon – lol! Whilst I do keep a small stash in a box I am more likely to buy wrap and ribbon on an as needs basis.

    • livesimplybyannie on October 4, 2012 at 11:44 am

      I know! I was so stunned by how many people seem to keep such vast amounts of it on hand! I do like to keep a few strands, along with some tissue paper, etc, so that if I need to wrap something I can just get ‘er done, rather than having to run out.

  2. Crystal on October 3, 2012 at 7:01 am

    I have a huge box of ribbons which I have been meaning to organize, but it just hasn’t been a priority. I love the box idea since I have alot of those boxes. Thanks for the great ideas!!

    • livesimplybyannie on October 4, 2012 at 11:44 am

      Get to it Crystal! Check out the variation of the box method (with the holes). Would be super easy to do.

  3. Linda Samuels on October 3, 2012 at 7:54 am

    Annie- I just love all the wonderful photos and creative ways you’ve shared to organize ribbons. It makes me want to redo my ribbon drawer. I store mine in an Elfa unit. They are lined up in rows and I can easily find what I’m looking for. Not that you need more ideas, but if you’re interested, here’s the link to one of my blog posts, “5 Tips for More ‘Happy’ in Holiday” that includes the photo of my ribbon drawer.

    Thanks for sharing these lovely images. I really like the clean, simple look of your blog. Just beautiful.

    • livesimplybyannie on October 4, 2012 at 11:45 am

      Thank you so much for the sweet comment, Linda! And thanks for the sharing the link to your post, will def check it out.

  4. Linda Samuels on October 3, 2012 at 7:55 am
  5. Punctuation Mark on October 3, 2012 at 6:58 pm

    These are great ideas… The storage can be a whole decor feature

  6. DIY ribbon storage on October 30, 2013 at 5:01 am

    […] a small collection? Even though it’s not the prettiest daisy in the bunch, this idea is simple enough to hang just about […]

  7. Posey on February 12, 2014 at 4:20 am

    I have a couple of old CD racks that I store my ribbons on, if my collection keeps growing , I’ll try one of your ideas! Thanks

  8. Rainie on February 19, 2014 at 7:12 pm

    I have tons of loose ribbon, grosgrain/satin/wired, that I’ve collected from presents. they are just too pretty to through out so I reuse them. Right now I keep them loosely rolled in ziploc bags, organized by color then placed in a covered plastic bin. Any ideas on how to best keep them with out having to buy spools but using recyclable household items? Thanks!

    • Tiffany on August 19, 2016 at 1:12 pm

      My daughter started collecting bits of ribbon years ago! We used some for her pigtails or ponytail, but wrapped the rest around empty toilet paper rolls by taping the end to the roll and wrapping around! My mother had a rack made for thread on huge spools for an embroidery machine and the fit perfectly on those!!

  9. […] Source: livesimplybyannie.com […]

  10. […] Source: livesimplybyannie.com […]

  11. lilbrowncrafterRnjeetha on July 18, 2015 at 8:55 am

    I have so much ribbon that I need something which will work and I don’t have to put much effort into storing them. I like using hangers and boxes with compartments.

  12. […] über livesimplybyannie.com […]

  13. […] Found it here >> Live Simply by Annie […]

  14. Frame It - Cozy Little House on February 20, 2018 at 6:32 pm

    […] (Source)   A way to keep ribbon tidy. (Source)   For use as wall storage. (Source) A nautical decor look. (Source) A layered  table top organizer. […]

  15. […] Found it here >> Live Simply by Annie […]

  16. 35 Fantastic Ways to Repurpose Old Picture Frames | on December 10, 2018 at 10:44 am

    […] Source: livesimplybyannie.com […]

  17. […] See Source […]

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21 Comments

  1. Melissa on October 3, 2012 at 6:13 am

    My first thought is I just don’t keep that much ribbon – lol! Whilst I do keep a small stash in a box I am more likely to buy wrap and ribbon on an as needs basis.

    • livesimplybyannie on October 4, 2012 at 11:44 am

      I know! I was so stunned by how many people seem to keep such vast amounts of it on hand! I do like to keep a few strands, along with some tissue paper, etc, so that if I need to wrap something I can just get ‘er done, rather than having to run out.

  2. Crystal on October 3, 2012 at 7:01 am

    I have a huge box of ribbons which I have been meaning to organize, but it just hasn’t been a priority. I love the box idea since I have alot of those boxes. Thanks for the great ideas!!

    • livesimplybyannie on October 4, 2012 at 11:44 am

      Get to it Crystal! Check out the variation of the box method (with the holes). Would be super easy to do.

  3. Linda Samuels on October 3, 2012 at 7:54 am

    Annie- I just love all the wonderful photos and creative ways you’ve shared to organize ribbons. It makes me want to redo my ribbon drawer. I store mine in an Elfa unit. They are lined up in rows and I can easily find what I’m looking for. Not that you need more ideas, but if you’re interested, here’s the link to one of my blog posts, “5 Tips for More ‘Happy’ in Holiday” that includes the photo of my ribbon drawer.

    Thanks for sharing these lovely images. I really like the clean, simple look of your blog. Just beautiful.

    • livesimplybyannie on October 4, 2012 at 11:45 am

      Thank you so much for the sweet comment, Linda! And thanks for the sharing the link to your post, will def check it out.

  4. Linda Samuels on October 3, 2012 at 7:55 am
  5. Punctuation Mark on October 3, 2012 at 6:58 pm

    These are great ideas… The storage can be a whole decor feature

  6. DIY ribbon storage on October 30, 2013 at 5:01 am

    […] a small collection? Even though it’s not the prettiest daisy in the bunch, this idea is simple enough to hang just about […]

  7. Posey on February 12, 2014 at 4:20 am

    I have a couple of old CD racks that I store my ribbons on, if my collection keeps growing , I’ll try one of your ideas! Thanks

  8. Rainie on February 19, 2014 at 7:12 pm

    I have tons of loose ribbon, grosgrain/satin/wired, that I’ve collected from presents. they are just too pretty to through out so I reuse them. Right now I keep them loosely rolled in ziploc bags, organized by color then placed in a covered plastic bin. Any ideas on how to best keep them with out having to buy spools but using recyclable household items? Thanks!

    • Tiffany on August 19, 2016 at 1:12 pm

      My daughter started collecting bits of ribbon years ago! We used some for her pigtails or ponytail, but wrapped the rest around empty toilet paper rolls by taping the end to the roll and wrapping around! My mother had a rack made for thread on huge spools for an embroidery machine and the fit perfectly on those!!

  9. […] Source: livesimplybyannie.com […]

  10. […] Source: livesimplybyannie.com […]

  11. lilbrowncrafterRnjeetha on July 18, 2015 at 8:55 am

    I have so much ribbon that I need something which will work and I don’t have to put much effort into storing them. I like using hangers and boxes with compartments.

  12. […] über livesimplybyannie.com […]

  13. […] Found it here >> Live Simply by Annie […]

  14. Frame It - Cozy Little House on February 20, 2018 at 6:32 pm

    […] (Source)   A way to keep ribbon tidy. (Source)   For use as wall storage. (Source) A nautical decor look. (Source) A layered  table top organizer. […]

  15. […] Found it here >> Live Simply by Annie […]

  16. 35 Fantastic Ways to Repurpose Old Picture Frames | on December 10, 2018 at 10:44 am

    […] Source: livesimplybyannie.com […]

  17. […] See Source […]

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