What are ORTS and how to use them

If you’re a embroiderer, you may have heard the term orts begin used. But what are orts and how can you use them?

What Are Orts?

Orts are the little off cuts and bits of thread that accumulate during your stitching projects. They can be:

• Tiny clippings: These occur when you run out of thread or trim excess lengths.
• Longer strands: Threads you no longer need after completing a section.

The term ort has an interesting history. It originated from Middle Low German and originally referred to food scraps. However, stitchers reused it to describe leftover thread. Some even speculate that “ort” stands for “old ratty threads” or “odd remnant threads.” Regardless of its etymology, orts have found a special place in the hearts of stitchers worldwide.

Why Save Your Orts?

1. Pride and Accomplishment:

• A full ort jar becomes a badge of honor—a tangible representation of your dedication and the hours spent on your beloved craft.
• Watching your ort jar fill up is oddly satisfying, like a slow accumulation of stitching victories.

2. Sentimentality:

• Each snip of thread carries memories of special projects—the stitches lovingly made and the time invested.
• Orts become sentimental reminders, invoking nostalgia as you gaze upon them.

3. Thrift and Creativity:

• Practical stitchers find ingenious uses for orts:
  • Stuffing: Fill pincushions or small stuffed animals with these thread bits.
  • Mending: Longer pieces can mend small tears or to join fabrics together to help them fit an embroidery hoop
  • Crazy Quilts: Incorporate orts into your crazy quilt designs.
  • Small Stitching Projects: Use them for embellishments, stitching samplers or testing colour pallets.
  • Fibre Art: Get creative and incorporate orts into your textile art. Weave them in, use them with dissolvable fabric, or spin new yarn.

How to Save Your Orts

Ort Jar or Bin:

• The classic method involves using a jar or any glass vessel with an easy-to-remove lid. I like my jam jar and also the Douwe Egberts coffee jars and they have a lid with a cavity.

• Alternatively, opt for a fabric bin or basket.
• Pro Tip: Create your own ort box frame with my free laser cut file.

Collect as You Stitch:

• Keep your ort jar or bin nearby while stitching.
• Trim your threads and drop the snippets directly into it.
• Start a new ort jar at the beginning of each year or with each new project.

Creative Uses for Your Orts

Once your ort jar is brimming with thread bits, explore these imaginative ideas:

Fill a Clear Plastic Christmas Ornament:

• Display your colorful orts inside a clear ornament for a unique decoration.

Frame Them:

• Arrange orts in a frame, turning them into a quirky piece of textile art.

Pen Barrel Filling:

• Empty the barrel of a clear pen and fill it with orts.

Pincushion Stuffing:

• Add orts to your pincushions for a touch of stitching history. Like my mason jar pincushion.

Small Stitching Projects:

• Incorporate orts into small embroidery projects or crazy quilts.

Fiber Art Creations:

• Let your imagination run wild, create unique fibre art using these humble thread remnants.
• Fill a hoop with random selected threads from your orts, stich in straight lines to fill the hoop completely.

Note: While some suggest spreading orts outdoors for birds to use in nest-building, be cautious. Threads, even short ones, can pose risks to baby birds. Stick to indoor projects to ensure their safety.