A carrier body has a core suitable for receiving a needle tip through one end. A pair of flanges extends outwardly from the core, defining an interflange gap for having thread from the needle wound in the gap. The flange nearer the entry end of the core defines a radial slot receiving thread from the needle eye and passing it into the interflange gap. When the thread is wound on the core, the radial slot prevents having thread from also winding around the needle. The carrier body is configured to enter an open-topped container body in a predetermined position displaying the radial slot and thread at a preselected location for ready viewing of the thread.