I don't know about you, but quilting has brought out the most frugal part of myself. I've begun to hoard things related to sewing and I'm about to turn my sewing room into a "path room" with all this stuff. Anyway . . . I read something recently that will help me to get rid of my little crumbs, tiny slivers of fabric that I cut off the edges of yardage, and my thread throw-aways.

I can't remember where I heard about this, and so I apologize if it was here and I'm double posting. I got a hanging moss pot at Home Depot to save this stuff in all year. Then in spring, I'll hang it out under one of the big trees and let the birdies knock themselves out. I throw my thread into empty kleenex boxes and when I clean them out, I just cut through the tangle of thread with my scissors to shorten things up and then toss them into the basket. Can't wait to see how they'll like it.

http://www.thepracticalherbalist.com...al-basket.html

I'm going to post pictures on my blog if you want to see what I'm talking about. Not there yet, but later today.

Neat idea. Thanks for sharing it.

I LOVE YOUR IDEA!! We love watching "our birds"!

I try to cut my thread into short lengths so that in case the birds swallow it that it won't get stuck in their guts.

I wonder if this is necessary?

Wow !! I love this idea!! Im gonna set some out hopefully they can insulate their nests for the winter...

Great idea! I put out snips of my (natural fiber) yarn leftovers and they disappear FAST. I just "sprinkle" them under some azaleas in my side yard (because I see birds picking at the ground there all the time-there must be some good bugs!). I like the idea of the basket--especially where I could watch!

I love to go out and see my birdhouses full of my b pretty threads. I use a lot of varigated so colorful. My DH loves to build me bird houses of all kinds so there are plenty hanging around here. Love the country.

I read somewhere that a gal used the lint from her dryer for the birds as well. Sounded like a great idea to me.
Also I don't think that the birds will swallow the threads that you leave out for them, no matter how long they are. Since they are looking for nesting material and not feeding, they'll know the difference. :D
:XD:

The article says to cut things into three-inch lengths. I'm cutting them a little shorter, just to be sure. I just take the wad of thread and cut, cut, cut. No measuring required. Kind of like chopping vegetables.

Yes, I'm putting my dryer lint in there as well. Different materials for different birds.