How to Make a Quilt With Neckties

The more colorful, the better - men's neckties can be recut and sewn into elegant blocks for a quilt, pillow, wall hanging or purse. A tie quilt also is a wonderful way to remember a special man.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Several men's neckties
• Fabric with coordinating colors and textures for quilt blocks
• Scissors
• Seam ripper (for opening tie backs)
• Iron
• Pressing cloth
• Rotary cutter, if desired
• Straight pins
• All-purpose thread
• Sewing machine
• Materials for quilt: Backing fabric, batting, quilting thread

1. 
   Neckties

   Gather a number of neckties from a family member or acquaintance, garage sales, or a thrift store. Choose ties that are clean (dry clean if necessary) and in good condition. Tie fabric is most often delicate silk, nylon, polyester, or blends of these fibers, so condition is important for a sturdy quilt.

2. 
   Half-Dresden Plate block made from 3 neckties

   Choose a pattern for your quilt. These patterns work well because of a tie's original shape:
   Dresden Plate (click photo to enlarge)
   Grandmother's Fan
   
   Other patterns that make beautiful designs include:
   Sun Ray
   Block (large squares)
   Crazy Quilt
   Patchwork
   Circular
   
   Neckties also make good fabric for appliqued quilts.
   
   Locate or make your own templates for quilt block pieces. Patterns and templates are available in quilt shops, craft centers, in books from libraries or bookstores, or online.

3. Open up ties by carefully clipping stitching and removing labels on back side. Remove lining and interfacing fabric. Most tie fabric is cut on the bias, so avoid unnecessary stretching in this step.
   
   Place tie fabric flat on ironing board, top side down. Heat iron on silk setting; cover tie fabric with pressing cloth. Carefully iron to remove folds as much as possible for easier cutting. Make note of or mark spots or stains on tie fabric so you can avoid them when cutting.

4. Decide on color and fabric scheme for your quilt. Depending on finished size, one block could require most of the available fabric in 3 ties. A block can include fabric from several ties which creates a colorful and unified quilt top. Or each block can feature fabric from only a few ties which makes a varied and interesting quilt design. If the quilt is to honor a special person, this approach likely will evoke memories with the ties being more identifiable.
   
   Using pattern templates, cut necktie and coordinating fabric pieces for quilt blocks with scissors or rotary cutter. Stack together each block's cut pieces for easy storage until ready to sew.

5. Sew quilt block pieces together according to pattern by hand or with sewing machine threaded with all purpose thread - quilting thread may be too heavy for the delicate necktie fabric.
   
   When all are assembled, lay all blocks on bed or floor to determine placement for finished quilt. Create a pleasing arrangement of color, texture, and fabric designs; rearrange until you are happy with the overall look. Stack each row in order, and label each stack by row for storage until ready to sew.

6. Using all purpose thread, hand or machine sew blocks together to create quilt top and carefully press seams down on raw-edge side with iron on silk setting. Spread out quilt top, raw-edge side up; spread quilt batting over. Then spread quilt backing fabric over both.
   
   Pin in place in preparation for the quilting process of stitching in patterns with quilting thread through all three layers. Do the quilting yourself if you have the skills and equipment. If not, look for a professional quilter or a group that does quilting to raise money for charity. These groups often can be found through churches or senior centers.

Tips & Warnings

• Very old ties may not be colorfast. Test a fabric patch before ironing or sewing a dark colored tie fabric next to a light colored background piece.
• With most necktie quilts, there is always uncertainty about colorfastness and the delicate fabric's durability. It's a good idea to dry clean rather than wash necktie quilts.

[waters]

on 7/26/2009 Good instructions on how to make a quilt with neckties.

[jenkinr]

on 7/17/2009 This is quite interesting. My wife has been learning to quilt from my mother and is working on a quilt at this time. I never heard of a quilt made using ties, quite interesting. 5*

[dorigillman]

on 7/14/2009 what a wonderful way to recycle neckties.