Orts Jars

[Claire Cousins]

Hi

I noticed the increasing number of Orts Jars ( jars full of beautiful coloured threads),  I may even start one myself.  I thought I would share my recent discovery of the history of such a jar.  In a Museum of Witch-craft, Boscastle, Cornwal, U.K; there is a very old jar with a collection of threads which was used to confuse the evil spirits.

Claire

[Annet]

Never thought these kind of jars would go back such a long time! I discovered orts about 18 months ago on a blog. It was a Totally Useless Stitch A Long (TUSAL). The blog doesn't exist anymore, but I kept filling my jar with orts. I added a photo yesterday. It's fun to see it grow through the year as a reminder of all the embroidery I did.

[sue dulle]

I have an ort box that I use and when it gets full I love to open it and remember all the lovely things I have been stitching. I do not save my orts...I used to put them outside for the birds and squirls until I was told some of the threads and some of the dyes harm the little creatures. You can see my last ort collection on my blog: http://sudukc.wordpress.com/2010/12/28/ort-box-memories/ .

 

[Teresa Glenn]

I wondered what an orts jar was......I've never heard of them but now I know, I.may start one of my own and at.years end, see if I can remember what thread went with what project

[sharonb]

I suppose I should start a new conversation but I was wondering if anyone was starting an Orts jar for the New year?

[Linda B]

I'm sort or thinking about it, but a few threads have gone out already. Is it cheating if I cut just a few little bits off the balls they came from?????

[Carol-Anne]

I tend to start my new orts box with each new Japanese embroidery Phase.  Having recently completed Phase VI, I have emptied my orts box into the orts bag (all very high tech around here, I have a home made folded paper orts box and the orts bag is a freezer bag!)  I will start refilling the orts box in March when I begin Phase VII.

 

I have a feeling the orts box will become very full this time.  Phase VII focuses on long and short stitch and I don't expect to find it easy!

sharonb said:

I suppose I should start a new conversation but I was wondering if anyone was starting an Orts jar for the New year?

[Julie Thomson]

A couple of years ago our Friday group decided to save our orts... about 15 ladies.. we ended up with a huge jar full which we displayed at our exhibition along with a book asking for suggestions on what to do with them... use as stuffing, leave them in the jar just to look at.... one lady wrote .. give them to a lady in Newcastle , which we did , she said that was going to use them in a freeform machine embroidery..... never saw the finished product.

[Annet]

I emptied my 2010 jar yesterday and started filling it again. I have some ideas what to do with these orts, I didn't throw them away. My 2009 orts are in an Easter egg.

sharonb said:

I suppose I should start a new conversation but I was wondering if anyone was starting an Orts jar for the New year?

[Claire Cousins]

Thats exactly what my 11 year old daughter has done,  She proudly showed me her jar and when I asked how come it was full, she admitted to cutting them off her stash. :)

Linda B said:

I'm sort or thinking about it, but a few threads have gone out already. Is it cheating if I cut just a few little bits off the balls they came from?????

[Claire Cousins]

I have to say your easter egg ort makes a rather nice decoration.

Claire

 

Annet said:

I emptied my 2010 jar yesterday and started filling it again. I have some ideas what to do with these orts, I didn't throw them away. My 2009 orts are in an Easter egg.

sharonb said:

I suppose I should start a new conversation but I was wondering if anyone was starting an Orts jar for the New year?

[Bridged Hall]

I seem to remember reading recently about ancient burials in Britain and Europe where the women had been found buried with their 'thread pouches or bags' which the experts were saying were sacred objects used to ward of evil spirits and to commune with the Gods.  Maybe, but my money is on them being their Ort Bags too.  Mine wards off my evil spirits!  And the Easter Egg gave me an idea for a filled glass Christmas Bauble.

[sharonb]

I like the idea of orts warding off evil spirits but will they ward off the dust bunnies too? If so I am definitley starting one!