Old Neck Ties Projects/Ideas

As you are aware I love Upcycling ideas.  I have always liked the idea of using old tie; because, of the variety of color and styles.  I still want to get enough to do a quilt out of them.

Necklace made of Neck Tie

Materials:  Old Necktie, Wooden Beads (8, 1-inch round), and Sewing machine & thread or needle

Directions:

Start by removing the wide end of the tie. Cut off about 8 inches. Make sure that it's tall enough to fold the pointed flap down over your phone, plus another 1/4 inch for a bottom seam. Set aside.

Take the tie apart and remove the inner lining. Press your tie to remove wrinkles. If your tie is silk, use extra caution, especially if you haven't had practice ironing silk before. It's safest to put a pressing cloth or dishtowel over the tie, then to iron it with steam.

Cut the tie into a rectangle. Measure the narrowest part of the tie, and then trim off the wider portions to that measurement.

With the tie folded in half, trim the ends at an angle to form a point.

Fold the tie in half lengthwise, with right sides together. Sew one short end shut, and sew the long side with a 1/4 inch seam. Leave a 3 inch hole for turning in the MIDDLE of the long side. Because it's a narrow tube, this makes turning right side out much easier. Leave the other short end open so you can insert the beads.

Turn right side out through the middle hole. Then sew the hole shut with a 1/8 inches topstitch. If you're hand sewing, use a blind stitch or ladder stitch.

Make a knot in the tie, about 10 inches from the sewn end. This will keep your beads in place.

Add the beads, using 8 1-inch wooden beads. The cost about $1 per package.

Insert a bead in the tube, and slide it down to the knot. Tie a knot to keep the bead in place, and continue adding beads. Try to keep the front free of seams.

Stop when you have about 10 inches of tie left after the last knot. Fold in the raw edges of the tie and topstitch with a 1/8 inch seam. To wear, tie a loose knot at the back of your neck.

Stuffed Rattlesnake Toy

Materials:  Poly filler, glue, thread and needle buttons, old neck ties, and plastic bottle filled with beans

Directions:

The snake was stuffed with a single tie with poly filler, glues or whipstitches the opening shut, and then adds button eyes, a ribbon tongue and a “rattler,” usually a plastic bottle filled with beans. If you’re making the toy for a child, be sure to stitch on the accents securely rather than gluing.

Area Rug and Matching Stool

Materials: Old neck ties, thick felt backing, folding camp stool, Cushion, sewing machine, thread, etc.

Directions:

Begin with a piece of backing material.  The rug is 36" long and 25" wide.  The buckram comes in a 25" width; you can piece it together to make whatever size you like.  Ties are very long so you will only be using about half of the tie.  Be sure to hold on to the other half for another project.   Start in the center of the piece of buckram, pin your first tie down and then pin another tie next to that one with the large end pointed the other direction as you see below, we will alternate wide, narrow, wide, narrow.  It is important that you use a very heavy duty needle for this, use an 18/110 and a heavy duty upholstery thread.  Use a matching red thread. Using a fairly close zig-zag stitch, sew the first two ties together on top of the buckram backing.  Working out from the center out, keep adding ties with a zig-zag stitch, and trimming the excess tie off.

Trim off any leftover tie pieces or points.

Machine bind as you would a quilt.  You could try to bind by hand but it is difficult due to the thickness of the fabric.  Use a red twill fabric for this rug as binding so that it would hold up to wear and tear.

Stool directions are just like the rug; but smaller.

Belt out of Neck Ties

Materials:  2 neckties- in different colors or patterns, 2 small safety pins – use two small safety pins, Scissors, Measuring tape, and Chalk

Directions:

Lay out one of the ties face down on a flat surface and use your measuring tape to find where the tie narrows down to 2” across. Mark this point across with your chalk. Repeat with the 2nd tie.

Use your scissors to cut across your chalk markings. Sharp scissors and large cuts work best to prevent fraying ends.

After your ties are cut, we will lay them together.

Sandwich the two ties together, right-side in, lining up your cuts on one end. The backside of both ties should be facing out. About a ¼ inch in from the cut edges, use your chalk to mark where the ties will be connected.

Insert a safety pin, fastening it along your chalk mark. Starting at the top of that safety pin, insert another safety pin to secure the ties together along the length of the cut.

Alternately, you could sew the ends together for a more durable neck tie belt.

Unfold the belt.

Now you’re ready to try it on for size.

Hold the safety pinned part of the belt at your right hip and lace the ends of the neck ties through your belt loops around your front and back so that the loose ends come out at your left hip. Tie the neck ties together and let the long, thin ends hang down your leg.

Neck ties should be dry cleaned.





Share your ideas on this or anything here on the blog either here or e-mail me at stipple@verizon.net.  I look forward to hearing from you!