What do you do with your cut off string?

[littleturtlegirl]

I am making a Christmas tree ornament and as I am doing it there are many colors that are not used that much, so I have a bunch of long and small strings that I am cutting off. What do you do with the string once you cut it off? I put it in a little pile next to me, but I find that I catch it on my sleeves, at the end of the evening it is missing, maybe the cats have eaten it, who knows. What do you guys do?

[Serinde]

If the piece is long enough to be used elsewhere, I put it with the bobbin it came from. If it's too short to be useful, it goes in the fire. Some people keep these bits in containers because they look pretty. I suppose they might make interesting Christmas ornaments?

[MaggieM1750]

I collect the little bits in what used to be a glass candle holder. Candle burned down, it was next to my stitchy chair.. it became the spot where all my little snippings were collected. Every few months, I dump into a baggie and give to another woman in my craft group.. not a clue what she wants them for.. I'll find out eventually.

[Busy_B]

I just have a small bag by me that I put the pieces that are too small to stitch with in. When I empty the bag, I either throw it away or put small clumps outside for the birds to use for nests.

[rcperryls]

The long pieces go back with the bobbin for me to use again, either in the same piece or in a new one. Small pieces go into a mason jar which I keep near me. I haven't a clue what I will do with the bits when the jar is full, but since I am stingy with my thread (use it till a strand is either too small or too used) it can take years for the jar to fill (jelly sized jar, not the big gallon ones)

Carole

[gparr]

Like everyone else: Useable lengths go back on the bobbin. If it's too short it goes in a jar.
Gary

[littleturtlegirl]

Thank you for all the responses. I love hearing what you guys do.

I am soooo stingy with my string so I use it till I can't any longer. I do need to lighten up however because I can tell that I am pulling a little too tight at the end.

I had never thought a about keeping the string in a jar. I just went and got a ball jar. What a cook jar it will be after a little while.

MaggieM1750, I can't wait to hear what it is she does with them.

Serinde, That might be a cool idea. At the end of each year you could fill one of those ornaments at the craft store that people fill with paint. I guess it would also show how little or how much I have stitched in a year.

[starshine123102]

At the end of each year you could fill one of those ornaments at the craft store that people fill with paint. I guess it would also show how little or how much I have stitched in a year.

That is an awesome idea. I'm going to start saving my thread after the new year and do that. Usually I reuse the bits that are long enough to do so and put aside the ones that aren't. Every week or so I toss them out or vacuum them up when I vacuum up the dog hair off the couch!

Our tree is all Christopher Radko and Disney ornaments but I think this may need to be added. That or I should make a small tree after a few years that has stitchy related stuff on it!

[littleturtlegirl]

At the end of each year you could fill one of those ornaments at the craft store that people fill with paint. I guess it would also show how little or how much I have stitched in a year.

That is an awesome idea. I'm going to start saving my thread after the new year and do that. Usually I reuse the bits that are long enough to do so and put aside the ones that aren't. Every week or so I toss them out or vacuum them up when I vacuum up the dog hair off the couch!

Our tree is all Christopher Radko and Disney ornaments but I think this may need to be added. That or I should make a small tree after a few years that has stitchy related stuff on it!

I like giving them to the birds, but I saw these empty ornaments at A.C. Moore and thought they would be cute, they had paint and stuff in them. I think they would be cool filled with string, especially how colorful all the string is. I posted the question because I was sick of messing with the string. I love this forum as now I have an idea from all you guys!

I am going to learn how to take pictures, then I will start a 2014 project post. Then at the end of next year I will show you guys my 2014 string ornament picture.

[hularac]

I've been putting the little snippets in a clear plastic piggy bank. I give them a shake and a roll occasionally (along with a few pennies for ballast) and this is the result so far:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44247770@N05/11278091005/" target="_blank" target="_blank

[littleturtlegirl]

I've been putting the little snippets in a clear plastic piggy bank. I give them a shake and a roll occasionally (along with a few pennies for ballast) and this is the result so far:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44247770@N05/11278091005/" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Awwwwww so cute. I love it!!!!

[bookknurd]

I love the ornament idea! I'll have to consider doing this next year. Currently, I have a little open box made of paper that folds up when I'm not using it and fits nicely in my stitching tools bag. I put my cut ends that are too short to use in there and once it fills up I just throw them away. It gives me a good portable little trash can, so I don't have worry about cleaning up after myself if I'm stitching out and about.

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

I do the same as most - anything useable goes back on the bobbin or in the floss away bag, the rest in my ort jar (a 200g Douwe Edgberts coffee jar if that means something to anyone!) on my stitching table. I haven't emptied it since I took up stitching seriously at the start of 2011, and it's tightly packed and 3/4 full. I love seeing all the different threads I've used and can pick out quite a few of the projects they were used in - like the pesky red rayon in Chinese Garden !

[wendywombat]

I like the Plastic Pig!!!

I bin the short ends...re bobbinate those that are long enough...But I do like the Plastic Pig idea!!!

[Squirrel]

Definitely usable lengths go back onto the bobbins but anything else is into the rubbish bin.

Some time back someone posted on here about lengths of thread being eaten by a dog or cat and how it can get into the intestine of the animal and cause major problems for them. Its best to make sure any threads are picked up and put away safely.

[MaudL]

If it's long enough to reuse, it goes back on the bobbin. DMC costs an arm and a leg here, so I tend to be stingy with it.

The short ones go all year long in a clear glass jar that has permanent residence on the fireplace mantel. I love looking at the layers of color all year long

Once the year is over I stitch a small piece that I turn into a pillow/pincushion and stuff it with all these ORTs.

This is 2012 ORTs:

[Serinde]

That's beautiful! And what a nice idea.

[wendywombat]

Yes!!! Now that's a great idea.......


With a bit of Lavender inside it would make a lovely wot-not to pop into a drawer.

[stitch addicted]

That's so pretty!!

[destructiveernie]

I do the same as most - anything useable goes back on the bobbin or in the floss away bag, the rest in my ort jar (a 200g Douwe Edgberts coffee jar if that means something to anyone!) on my stitching table. I haven't emptied it since I took up stitching seriously at the start of 2011, and it's tightly packed and 3/4 full. I love seeing all the different threads I've used and can pick out quite a few of the projects they were used in - like the pesky red rayon in Chinese Garden !

I've got exactly the same jar as my ort jar!!!