I had many spools of thread on fancy spindles right out in the open - in the light - with a fan blowing near many of them. For years, I have stored my thread here and there,some in plastic containers, some in sewing machine drawers. Not well organized.

Then I started teaching my four Granddaughters how to sew on their small sewing machines and the thread kept breaking. I was blaming the sewing machines, the needles, the fact that they were beginners and finally I pulled out a length of thread and pulled on it and it snapped in half. The THREAD WAS ROTTEN! Since I live 20 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, this may have something to do with it.

Then I started checking the rest of my thread stash. To my horror, almost ALL of my thread was rotten. I then Goggled the problem and read that thread should NOT be stored in the light or air. Whew! However, even my thread that was in heavy plastic cases away from the light and air was also rotten. The thread that was good and strong had been stored in double-plastic cases with one plastic case inside another plastic case.

When I went shopping for more thread (just a little at a time from now on.) I immediately tested the thread as soon as I got out the door and it was rotten (or shall we say WEAK, IT SNAPPED IN HALF. A person is supposed to pull off a six inch length and pull with both hands and if it's weak and snaps in half, it's rotten. Then I went to another Fabric Shop and purchased another spool of thread and once again, IT SNAPPED IN HALF. I returned it to the store and they said that I was the FIRST person to ever report rotten thread. I then purchased stronger thread -- for hand quilting (although they said that it was also OK for the sewing machine It was marked - Polyester 68% Glace Finish Cotton 32%. This was much more expensive, but hey, it's STRONG and I've done some sewing, and it works fine.

I suggest you check out any thread you purchase and make certain that you are getting good strong thread. I do NOT BUY Bargain thread either -- only the famous brands.

I'm still insecure about the best way to store my thread, but am open to suggestions.

Here's a Panda Tote Pattern I designed. No, it's not minitature, but your darling bear reminded me of it. Lift the head and put your stuff in under the neck. The arms are the handles.

I have a Singer 319 book that came with a sewing machine purchased in 1953 and the part looks very much like this part. It is a ruffler and pleater.