"Tie"ing Up Loose Ends - Using Men's Ties
Ideas for using mens ties in quilts and other creative sewing projects.
Have you ever been to a garage sale or auction and seen
a box full of old silk ties? The fabric in them called to you but you
didn’t know what to do with them, so you passed them by. If that memory
still haunts you, go ahead and buy them next time! Use these tips
for making projects out of mens' ties.
Silk ties come in different sizes, styles and weights. Try to work with
all the same weight if you can. Carefully unpick the stitches on the back
of the tie when you take it apart. Remove the lining and the label and
save it for use in
another project. You should get about an eighth of a
yard of silk fabric to work with. Check it over for stains or holes. It's always
risky washing silk. Test a small area first. You might be happier just
cutting around any stained area, or maybe appliquéing the label over the
hole. If the front of the tie is
stained, check the back. Sometimes the pattern on the back is just
as interesting as the design on the front.
Should you cut off the triangle end? That depends
on what pattern you choose. A Dresden Plate design or a three
dimensional Dahlia
can use the end pieces intact. To avoid cutting your ties, try a Dresden Plate or Sunburst design. Leave
the end of the tie intact and just sew the edges to a foundation for a
three dimensional effect. Why not put the tie label in the center of each
circle? Click on the picture thumbnail to the left to see one made
by Sr Clementine, CSJ, Rochester NY.
Before choosing a pattern, remember that silk ties are cut on the
bias.
Bias edges have a tendency to stretch which means you either need to be
very careful when handing your cut tie pieces, or you need to stabilize
them. This can be done by ironing a very lightweight fusible to the back
of the tie before cutting it. Do not try to use fusible interfacing as a
foundation - the fusible melts at a lower temperature and will cause your
project to buckle.
If you don’t wish to add bulk to the fabric,
consider sewing your cut tie pieces to a foundation, either paper or
fabric. Foundation
by the Yard is a fabric panel which is pre-printed with sewing
lines. It is the same thing as paper piecing, only you sew on fabric
and do not remove the foundation later. This keeps your blocks
stable and square. Each panel is 45" x 46", and includes
foundation patterns, instructions for piecing, and fabric requirements.
There are 13 different styles available.
Choose a pattern for your ties that will use them to their best advantage.
Remember that silk ties tend to be narrow and slippery, so choose a
pattern that uses
narrow strips firmly secured. For example, a sew and
flip technique, like a crazy patch. For example, the crazy patch
design to the left will make the wall hanging to the right. Use those specialty stitches on your
machine to embroider the seams. (Click on the picture
thumbnails to see them up close.)
Here
is a picture of CeCe with her tie block made using the paper piecing pattern
above. Click on the picture thumbnail to see it up close.
The log cabin design also uses narrow strips. There are several types of
log cabins: the traditional; the off center; the pineapple; and courthouse
steps. There is no rule that says an item made with men’s ties has to be
ALL ties. If you need to buy additional silk to make the design work or as
an accent, do so!
Traditional Log Cabin |
Off Center Log Cabin |
Courthouse Steps |
Pineapple |
How about a Chinese Coin design with the pieces set in black velvet? The miniature done below by Helene L used tie scraps sewn to a foundation using a flip and sew method and a black wool tie for the sashing and borders. Click on the picture thumbnail to see it up close.
Consider cutting your tie into squares cut on the diagonal of the tie.
That puts them back on the straight of grain, doesn’t it? Now you can make
a simple block quilt.
If you inherited the ties from a loved family member, you
could honor their memory by making a mini quilt for Priority:
Alzheimer's.
This project of Ami Simms is a grassroots effort to raise awareness and
fund research to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease by auctioning donated
mini quilts. All profit is donated to Alzheimer's research. Quilts
must be no larger than 9"x12" so they may fit into a cardboard
USPS priority mailer. They are auctioned on the first day of each month at
www.AlzQuilts.org. Bids have ranged
from $15 to $250.
The picture of the wall hanging to the left is courtesy of Doreen Birnie. See more of her work below.
Whatever you choose to do with your ties, enjoy the process - and send me a picture! I would love to show off your project on this page. Be sure to click on the picture thumbnails to see these up close.
Be sure to visit the Artful Ties blog, too. She has some great ideas.
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This tie pillow courtesy of Linda A. Click on the thumbnail to see it up close. |
 Doreen Birnie of Manchester MI made this small quilt for the daughters of a friend who had passed away. |
 Another one of Doreens. She used his bow ties.
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This quilt was stolen 8/9/07. If you see it, contact the Quincy Police at (617) 479-1212 |
Pat Fay of Quilters Compass made these from her late fathers clothing. |
Joy made thisfrom silk ties, lightweight fusible onto a muslin foundation. The mauve sashing is a satin prom dress phoenixed into a new life. |
Ann of Fayetteville GA made 39 Teddy Bears from her fathers ties. |
She also made 40 pillows from his shirts - click on the picture thumbnail to see it up close |
Isn't this a clever back for those pillows? The pocket can be used for the tooth fairy or for prayer requests. |
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