Tatters help save the planet... one thread at a time.

On Earth Day (April 22, 2011) I learned a small but new to me way to help save the planet. Tatters and all needle artists are encouraged to save their orts. Orts? you say? Yep, that is what a scrap, a morsel, a crumb or a bit of thread is called. Instead of sending them to the land fill, snip them into very short pieces and set them out for the birds.

Take all orts and whatever bits of fabric scraps, threads, string pieces, yarn pieces, and anything else you think a bird could use in its nest and place them in a mesh bag. A mesh bag like that used to hold sacks of onions is good. Poke it full to bulging so that little bits stick out the holes. Next, tie up the ends of the bag and let it dangle from a tree limb.

When the birds are ready for nest building, they will land on the bag and pull out thread bits in the same manner that finches use to pull thistle seed out of nylon stockings. Start watching the trees for odd bits of color. And while you are waiting why not tat up a bird or two?

http://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/2682.asp

And here is another neat way to recycle plastic and help spread the art of tatting!

Save those plastic tubs of butter and turn them into disposable tatting shuttles. Using the template provided, trace shuttle shape onto plastic and cut out. Use a hole punch to place holes at opposing ends of the faux shuttle and cut a slit into the hole from the edge. Wind up several with large size thread and tuck them into your purse or pocket. Next time you are stuck waiting in a line and someone admires your charming tatted earring, you can get out a shuttle and teach them to tat on the spot!

http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2011/isdiharashtltemplate.pdf

For this type of tatting shuttle you will want to use the flat shuttle tatting technique. And Tatting at BellaOnline has an instruction page to show you how to do it!

http://www.bellaonline.com/content/link_edit.asp?id=940

Here's the latest article from the Tatting site at BellaOnline.com.

Hiding Tails basics method
The best way to hide your thread ends is to avoid creating them whenever possible. Eventually, no matter how hard you try to avoid it, you tat to the end of the thread, literally. Here are several ways to hide the ends.


http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1395.asp

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http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=39

I hope to hear from you sometime soon, either in the forum or in response to this email message. I thrive on your feedback!

Have fun passing this message along to family and friends, because we all love free knowledge!

Georgia Seitz, Tatting Editor
http://tatting.bellaonline.com

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