Necklaces Made From Recycled Neckties

Use geeky ties to make colorful accessories.

Men's ties are often made of fine fabrics, such as silk, and have elegant patterns not found in other fabric. Older ties, such as those you might find in a thrift store or yard sale, are sometimes wider than modern ties, so you get more useable fabric out of them. Rather than getting rid of them, or letting them molder in a box in the attic, use them to make accessories such as necklaces.

Preparing the Ties

Remove the tag and open up the back seam with a pair of small, sharp scissors such as cuticle scissors. Remove the interfacing and discard it. Remove any lining by snipping through the stitches that hold it in place, and discard that as well unless it is large enough to use. Hand-wash the ties in warm, soapy water and rinse them well. Roll the ties up in towels to dry them. Iron each tie on the wrong side with a warm -- not hot -- iron, while it is still barely damp. While ironing, check each tie for small holes from tie tacks or stains. Cut around damaged areas if necessary.

Beaded Tie Necklace

Buy enough large beads, 1/2 inch in diameter or more, to make a necklace. For instance, if you want an 18-inch-long necklace, you'll need 18- to 24 1/2-inch beads. Measure around one of the beads to find the circumference. The circumference of a 1/2-inch bead is a little more than 1 1/2 inches. Cut a strip of tie fabric 1 1/2 inches wider than the circumference of the bead and 1 1/2 times as long as the necklace you want to make. Sew a tube with a 1/2-inch-wide seam allowance. Trim the seam and turn the tube right-side out. Sew one end closed and put in a bead. Run a needle and thread through the end of the tube and through the bead. Bring the needle out to the right side of the tube, wind it tightly around the tube of fabric and then drop another bead inside. Insert the needle back into the tube through the second bead and out the other side. Wrap the thread tightly around the tube again. Continue until all the beads have been stitched in place inside the tube of tie fabric. Trim the ends and insert them into necklace fittings. Sew the ends firmly inside the necklace fittings.

Cords

Buy 1/4-inch cord about six times as long as the necklace you want to make. Cut three strips of tie fabric about 2 inches wide and as long as you want the necklace to be, plus 2 inches. Cut the cord into three equal pieces. Fold the strips of tie fabric in half lengthwise, and sew along the long side to make three fabric tubes, with a 3/8-inch-wide seam. Insert one piece of cord about 2 inches into one of the tubes, but don't fold in the end of the fabric tube. Sew across the end, stitching the cord in place as you do so. Begin pushing the cord further into the tube, gradually turning it inside out to cover the cord. It's easy after the first few inches. Repeat with the other two cords and strips of fabric. Trim the cord leaving about 2 inches of cord showing. Turn in the raw edges of the fabric and sew in place with needle and thread. Braid the three tubes together, trim the ends and insert them into necklace fittings. Sew the ends firmly into the necklace fittings.

Cleaning

If it is ever necessary to wash these necklaces, wash them by hand in warm, soapy water and let them air-dry. If the beads are wooden, they might bleed a wood stain onto the fabric, so if you envision washing the necklace at some time, it's better to use plastic, glass or ceramic beads.

References

• Maybe Matilda: Pleated Necktie Necklace
• How to Reuse it Creatively: How to Reuse a Necktie to Make a Necklace
• Elegant Musings: Springtime Accessories: Fabric Necklace Tutorial
• BeadingHelpWeb: Finishing Ribbon Necklace Ends
• Pom Pom Emporium: How to Make a Bib Necklace
• WhipUp.net: Yo-Yo or Suffolk Puff?

Resources

• Felt, Fabric, and Fiber Jewelry: 20 Beautiful Projects to Bead, Stitch, Knot, and Braid; Sherri Haab