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Monday 1 December 2014

What to do with short orts

If you are collecting even short pieces of thread - orts, what can you do with them?
Well, why not curl them?
Wind them round a stick, bamboo skewer or similar.
Roller iron them.
Pull them off the stick carefully.
Couch them down and you get recycled thread waste. Pile 'em on.
at

19 comments:

  1. Julie Fukuda1 December 2014 at 13:38

    Mine are filling a large jar. I put them out in the trees for the birds to use for their nests.

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    1. Queeniepatch1 December 2014 at 16:22

      I have heard of others who do this, and have read comments of 'Please don't do it'. The latter claim that the birds' claws can get tangled in thread, but I think that can only apply to longer pieces of string...

      Delete
  2. Pamela1 December 2014 at 14:06

    Great idea!

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    1. Queeniepatch1 December 2014 at 16:25

      You've done a bit of Goldwork, haven't you, Pamela? I was thinking, if you starch the thread and then wind it over a very thin wire you could get 'purl'. Fill it with a thicker thread and you'll have another kind of thread... I'll have to try that!

      Delete
  3. Chris(craft) and Dave(photos) Richards1 December 2014 at 15:57

    Oh what a lovely idea.......Must try this !
    hugs
    Chris Richards xx

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    Replies
    1. Queeniepatch1 December 2014 at 16:19

      It is a smart way to use up stray pieces, but you need to be into free form embroidery, I guess.

      Delete
  4. margaret1 December 2014 at 16:10

    your have come up with a great idea here Queenie, I must start saving mine instead of binning them

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    1. Queeniepatch1 December 2014 at 16:18

      These curls can also be used on the stumpwork portraits I make. How would you use yours? Maybe better bin them!

      Delete
  5. Séverine1 December 2014 at 17:33

    What a good idea! I have a jar full of little bits of thread..

    ReplyDelete
  6. Elizabeth's quarters1 December 2014 at 21:36

    I was just thinking they'd make perfect hair for stumpwork portraits! I do a similar thing by unravelling tiny swatches of knitting, then steaming them to get crinkly hair for peg dolls etc.

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    1. Queeniepatch1 December 2014 at 22:37

      That is a smart way to use up smaller pieces of knitting. Another way would be to add thread or yarn to needle felting...

      Delete
  7. https://linsartyblobs.blogspot.com2 December 2014 at 05:52

    I do tend to dump my short orts, but I'd never thought about curling them, good idea.

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    1. Queeniepatch2 December 2014 at 13:09

      For artists, and those who work with mixed media craft, why not coat the thread with bond before winding it around a stick it can easily slide off, skip the iron and leave instead the curl to self dry. I guess you would end up with a neat 'spring' of thread!

      Delete
  8. carorose2 December 2014 at 15:15

    Clever. Mine decorate the floor then get eaten by the vacuume cleaner!

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    1. Queeniepatch3 December 2014 at 09:20

      Well, there are all sorts of things to do with short orst, aren't there, ha, ha?

      Delete
  9. Anonymous2 December 2014 at 19:20

    A good idea, I may be able to use this idea myself!

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    Replies
    1. Queeniepatch3 December 2014 at 09:22

      You are now into knitting and should have lots of curly yarn if you knit a bit and then unravel it like Elizabeth at Elizabeth's Quarters suggested, see comment above.. Perfect for curly hair on any doll.

      Delete
  10. Unknown6 December 2014 at 01:41

    I have 3 bags and 1 jar. Not sure what and when I am going to use it, but, that is a good idea.

    ReplyDelete

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