I save all of my little pieces of thread in a container next to my sewing machine. I cut the thread pieces into about 1/2 inch pieces by placing them on my cutting mat and run them over with my rotary cutter. In the spring, when the birds are starting to make their nests, I scatter the thread pieces around the yard. The birds use them to make their nests. It is fun later to see my thread pieces in a bird nest that may have blown down out of the tree.