How to Make a Crazy Quilt With Ties

Neckties can be used as fabric scraps for a crazy quilt.

Many quilters use any fabric scraps they can find for their quilting projects. You can use scraps from other sewing projects or even worn-out items from your wardrobe. Using scraps for quilting projects helps save money and give new life to fabric that would otherwise go to waste. You can save neckties from being thrown out to add colorful scraps of fabric to your materials to make a crazy quilt.

Things You'll Need

• Neckties
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Thread
• Sewing machine
• Border fabric
• Batting
• Backing fabric

Instructions

1. Fold the ties in half and cut them at the fold. You will be using the wider sides of the ties for your quilt. Cut across the bottom of the tie in a straight line to remove the pointed end. Set the triangle pieces aside for later.

2. Cut the folds on either side of the ties. You should now have trapezoid shapes of fabric with skinny and wide ends. Make sure the pieces of fabric are uniform in length. Cut any extra fabric off, if needed. These pieces of fabric from the ties will be the main foundation of your quilt.

3. Lay the pieces of fabric you've cut from the ties next to each other along the long sides, alternating the wide and narrow ends. That is, the wide end of one piece of fabric should have narrow ends on either side of it. Line the pieces up until the quilt is as long as you need. Pin them together. Sew the pieces of fabric together, removing the pins as you go. If needed, create a second row to make the quilt twice as wide. This is the top piece of your quilt.

4. Cut the border fabric to match up with the length and width of your quilt. If you have two rows of fabric from ties, cut an additional strip of border fabric to go between the rows. Pin the border fabric to the top piece. Sew it to the top piece, removing pins as you go. This is your quilt top.

5. Measure the dimensions of your quilt top. Cut your backing fabric to match. Cut the batting 1/2 inch shorter than the quilt top on all sides.

6. Lay the fabric backing on your work surface with the wrong side up, and lay the batting on top of it. Place the quilt top on top of the batting with the right side up. Pin the three layers together. Sew your quilt layers together.

7. Pin the triangle fabric pieces from the ties to the outside edge of the quilt to create an additional border. Sew them in place to complete your quilt.

References

• Learn How to Make Quilts: How to Make a Quilt!