Artful Ties

Card Tutorial

2011-04-12T09:14:00.000-07:00

There's a tutorial on how to make an envelope for a small card from a necktie, on the Urban Threads website.
Urban Threads sells unique and modern embroidery designs, both hand and machine styles.

Upcycled Necktie Rugs

2010-08-01T16:28:00.001-07:00

One great way to recycle old neckties is to make rugs.

Dreamweavers’ "Executive" rug made from upcycled silk blend ties saved from the cutting floor.
See color selections here
According to Lifestyles Furniture's website, "Who said going green couldn’t look good? One of our best selling rugs, The Executive is thickly plush, with deep softness provided by its unique pile. The mix of silks and polyester fabrics are upcycled neckties. Each piece of our Executive rug is cut and sewn by hand, filled with hypo-allergenic poly filling, pieced together and backed with a non-slip action backing. The rug is stain-resistant, colorfast and 100% machine washable"
This article by Attic Mag talks about the Dreamweaver necktie rugs, along with rugs made from recycled tee shirts, belts, and shoelaces!

I've written previous posts about rugs that are listed in the sidebar, but I'll re-post the links here for easier reference
Woven rug

Another by Weaver Girl

A floor runner that I would love to learn how to make

Rag rugs by Sandy Voss

Braided rug how-to

Circular rug by Maylina

Another by Eileen

I'm not able to pull the photo, but the patchwork mat by Stephanie of Little Birds could be made with neckties.
If you're worried about wear and tear on silks and polyesters, you could maybe encase the mat in clear vinyl.
An idea anyway.

Steampunk Corset Dress

2010-07-29T17:24:00.000-07:00

Fun corset dress costume by Erica Young
Tutorial on Instructables

Google is tied up

2010-06-20T21:08:00.000-07:00

Fun image on Google today, for Father's Day.
To read more about how Google artists interpret holidays and special events, see this article from CBS news

Read all about it

2010-06-16T16:58:00.000-07:00

Pretty exciting--this blog was mentioned in an online story by Associated Press writer Jennifer Forker
find it here

Let there be Light

2010-05-31T21:01:00.000-07:00

Nancy Gamon made this unique lampshade--such a fun idea, and quite attractive too!

You can find her designs in her Etsy shop (including embellished neckties, scarves and headbands made from neckties, and more)

Extraordinary Quilt

2010-03-21T22:12:00.000-07:00

Absolutely amazing quilt made by Stacey of
Peppermint Pinwheels, she calls this quilt Silk Orange Peel.
(flickr link)

Stacey says, "The tie silks I used were actually either samples or remnants from a factory that made neck-ties. They weren't ever finished into ties, but were about 4-1/2" by 12" (app.) pieces.
To make the quilt I used a paper-piecing technique, but used muslin instead of paper to add stability. I also used a pattern by quilt-maker Karen K. Stone."

I noticed that Karen Stone suggests using scraps from neckties and the paper-piecing technique in at least two of her patterns:
Enticement

and
Untitled

A new take on a dress from ties

2010-01-18T19:51:00.000-08:00

Nina said she was inspired by this site (thank you!), and made this gorgeous dress.
She even won second place in a recycled fashion contest!

Woven chair seat

2010-01-16T19:56:00.000-08:00

"Un-tie" Chair, by Peter Raphael Russo (2009)
Walnut, birch plywood, neckties

Wearable Ties

2010-01-09T11:48:00.000-08:00

Christine's dress, as seen on Kira's Crafty Life

Woven bodice dress by Denise Applegate-Schober

I adore this one, but couldn't find any information about it other than it's linked (in a goodgle search) with I'll Fly Away I later found the image on Flickr.
The photographer's sister Alison made the dress.
She says, "The main part of the dress was made from a pattern and then the flounce was replaced with a collection of ties. Dress itself has invisible zipper in the back and is fully lined and has light boning. I collected the ties in shades of blues to match the main part of the dress.The fabric was a roll end which was going cheap"

More Quilt Designs

2010-01-09T10:55:00.000-08:00

Necktie Quilts.
Click on highlighted text for more information

Art Quilt by Jana Morgan.She describes it as "men's neckties, hand-dyed fabrics, thread and yarn on canvas"
and "This piece is made up mostly of men's neckties that I wove into a thick fabric, hand-stitched together with other hand-dyed fabrics, cut into squares, reconstructed into a grid, stitched to canvas and drew over with machine stitching. I invested months of meandering, free-associative stitching into this painting / crazy quilt. Both the long process and the final form reflect my personal response to / map of the flows and restrictions of everyday life (daily driving) in Los Angeles"

"Tied to Thad", String Quilt by Martha Herbert

Striped ties quilt by Cheryl Gerhart

Quilt from her boyfriend's ties, by Feng Shui by Fishgirl

"Leo's Ties of a Life", as posted on Offenburger

Unique pattern (click on image to enlarge) that was in a quilt show in Hemet, 2008, called "Preacher Bill's Ties", by Glenda Alexander (I saw it posted on Threads in Time)

Memory Quilt by Donna Sinrud

Photoshop Ops

2010-01-05T19:03:00.000-08:00

From a Photoshop contest a couple of years ago, featured on Freaking News.

"Toward the Threadbare"

2010-01-05T18:37:00.000-08:00

I totally screwed up and forgot to post this while it was current.
I so apologize.
The photographs, however, are still inspirational.

An art installation using ties appeared at the Janice Charach Epstein Gallery in West Bloomfield, Michigan, October 17 through December 17 of last year.

San Francisco artist Isaac Amala contacted me about the exhibition, saying it was a collaborative effort featuring new sculptural installations by himself and artist Liz Simpson.
I posted about another of their installations previously.

He said, "Neckties, idiosyncratic in design and personality, are normally viewed independently of one another.
As cultural objects, they bring to mind the world of professionalism, formality, conservatism and business.
In our current body of work, we examine the necktie as formal material rather than formal wear.
While we don't necessarily aim to strip the ties of their popular associative weight, or their distinct, secret histories, we seek to better understand and ultimately reveal their properties.
Organized into gradients, the neckties become agents of the painting process.
As building blocks, they function much like tapered pixels - bridging micro- and m
acro-narratives, embracing the tension between the individual parts and the sum total. Our collaborative practice continues to develop site-specific configurations - exploring numerous architectural, physical and psychological intersections that our matierals and each new space present."

You can read more about the artist's work on their blog, issac & liz.

Tie Clock!

2009-11-23T20:18:00.000-08:00

I love it when readers send me links!
Heather (no blog link given) gave me a heads up about this fun clock by Candian Design Resource.
There are so many great ideas out there!

Circular Quilt

2009-11-22T18:53:00.000-08:00

Karen, of Quilt Luver, sent me a photo of another quilt she posted about previously.
This quilt (more like a wall hanging) was at a show in Durand, Michigan.
No information is available about the creator.
It's fun to see the different variations of patterns that people choose with ties.
This round pattern is popular in rugs too.

Bowtie Quilt Pattern

2009-11-20T10:32:00.000-08:00

I would credit the quilt maker if I knew more information, but this image is shared from another blog, in a post about the Kalamazoo Quilt Show.
Thanks to Quilt Luver for her post, and Amy for giving me the heads up.

I've seen other necktie quilts made in the bowtie pattern, but I really like the design in this one.
Note the fringe of ties at the lower edge.

No-sew Wreath idea

2009-11-15T21:50:00.000-08:00

Michaels is having a contest for making a do-it-yourself holiday project.
Winners can receive $100 gift certificates to Michaels stores, with the grand prize a trip to New York to see the Martha Stewart show.

I was on the Michaels website looking through the gallery, and this necktie wreath, submitted by Katie W. of Decatur, Georgia, caught my eye.
No sewing is required.

Project Description:
Dad's old neckties can be beautifully transformed into this timeless family treasure!

Materials:
One foam wreath form (sizes vary)
Sewing or floral stick pins
One necktie for every inch your wreath measures, plus one extra (ie: if your wreath is 14", you'll need 15 ties)

"Ties to the Past" Quilt

2009-10-28T22:40:00.000-07:00

My mom and I recently attended a Quilt Show put on by the Kaleidoscope Quilt Guild of Lemon Grove.

I was blown away by a necktie quilt by Rita Anaya.
Ms. Anaya was kind enough to send me a photo of her quilt, since my camera was recently stolen.
There is a label on the back of the quilt that tells about it, and includes some of the interesting labels off the tie backs.

She said, "The ties belonged to my Dad who lived here in San Diego and some from my uncle who lived in Texas. Both passed away several years ago."

The wonderful thing about necktie quilts is the emotional layers, including a layer of whimsy in fun fabrics, a layer as a time capsule, and a layer of remembrance.
Often, necktie quilts are memorial or mourning quilts.
Necktie quilts tell a story--of the year the ties were made and the prevalent styles and colors of that time, and they also tell of the people who wore these ties...and how they were important to us.

Ties Quilt

2009-10-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

Stephanie, at Make It a Wonderful Life, posted this fun quilt made for her father-in-law, from his large collection of ties.

Ties Font!

2009-09-17T14:31:00.000-07:00

There's a fun font available that makes letters out of neckties.
See the info on the blog 973 Third Avenue.

Cool Shirt

2009-07-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

(click on image to enlarge)

I wish I could find a better photo, but I am really intrigued by Ade's shirt (bottom right, the red shirt).
This is the top ten of So You Think You Can Dance, by the way.

But this shirt appears to be embellished with a tie as a vertical element down the front, and the collar also seems to be edged in the tie.
I'd love to know who designed this.

Methods and Ideas

2009-05-24T16:22:00.001-07:00

Lots of ideas for using parts of ties in your sewing project, posted on my purse blog today.

What a fun idea

2009-05-23T14:22:00.000-07:00

Reupholster a switchplate!
Idea from Craftzine

Tutorial on Eco-artware

Make a Pillow from Neckties

2009-05-23T14:15:00.001-07:00

Tutorial by Carol Sews

Make a purse from neckties

2009-04-21T16:12:00.000-07:00

I have another blog that is devoted to making purses.
Every two months or so, I post a challenge and ask readers to make a bag according to a theme.
There's no prize involved or anything, it's just for fun.
Too, my aim is to get people to think outside the box, to try new skills, new textures, new materials.

The current challenge is to make a purse using neckties.
I will be posting a lot of ideas.
More information at The Purse Project.

Dye eggs with Silk Neckties

2009-04-11T12:16:00.000-07:00

Since it's almost Easter, I thought I'd repost about Necktie Eggs (original post from my Woof Nanny blog)

Vintage Lilac posted about this idea from Martha Stewart.
There's a video tutorial on Martha (if it doesn't link, search "Silk-Tie Easter Eggs")
Monogram Momma also has a tutorial.

I got together with my friend Jen, and we dyed Easter Eggs using pieces of silk neckties.

It was so much fun unwrapping the fabric packages to see what magic was inside!
Definitely an oohs and aahs moment.

Look at the lily!

Three of the eggs didn't color, because one tie was polyester (oops), and the other two were hand-marbled designs in swirled colors. Perhaps somehow the colors had been permanently set, so the design didn't transfer.

We'll have to find ways to best wrap the eggs, because where the fabric folds or pleats, the egg remains white.
It was really easy though, really fun, and we'll definitely do it again next year!

Necktie Valentines

2009-02-07T11:47:00.000-08:00

This fun idea is from Craft Stylish (thanks to Cindy for sending me the tutorial link)

Glam Frocks

2009-02-03T17:37:00.001-08:00

Fun dress from the Junky Styling show at last year's London Fashion Week, as seen on Treehugger (I only now found the photo).
"This strapless dress was made of men's ties and tartan, sewn together, into a long gown with a swishy skirt."

And some amazing designs were showcased on WhipUp (thanks Aimee for the link).
Etsy seller Glamarita makes ball gowns from men's ties

Tie Seats

2009-02-01T18:17:00.000-08:00

The idea of upholstering furniture in neckties fascinates me.

Mag Ruffman has a tutorial on her site, Tool Girl.

The DIY Network also has a tutorial.

Diane from Della Mano Designs teaches a class in Maine (more info here).

If you want to buy a chair with its seat already woven, Globalicious has several available in her Etsy store (this one is a rocking chair)

There are no rules that weaving has to be in a straight line.
If the avant garde is more your cup of tea, perhaps you'll be inspired by this Art Chair by Tracy Deramus.
Daddy's Fattys Armchair was created by weaving vintage neckties onto a vintage Harry Bertoia chair.

I previously posted about Alabama Chanin's woven chair seats.

You can always upholster without weaving.

Inspiration from Country Living Magazine, March 2008
Sandy Stone used vintage neckties stitched to a foundation backing to upholster a 1950's chair.

This amazing ottoman was made by Meg Jewell

Necktie Art

2009-01-30T11:32:00.000-08:00

54 Ties, 2008

Artist Charles LeDray uses everyday items in his art: toys, necklaces, pieces of clothing.
His pieces speak of clothing and its impact on our individual identity.
More info here.
Necktie skirt

Grateful Thread will take custom orders using your textiles, and make woven pieces like this wall hanging to "preserve personal memories"

Isaac Amala and Liz Simpson assemble sculptural pieces using neckties.
One their blog, they explain this material choice: "Neckties, idiosyncratic in design and personality, are normally viewed independently of one another. As cultural objects, they bring to mind the world of professionalism, formality, conservatism and business. In our current body of work, we examine the necktie as a formal material rather than formal wear. While we don't necessarily aim to strip the ties of their popular psychological weight, we seek to better understand and ultimately reveal their properties. Organized into gradients, the neckties become agents of the painting process. As building blocks, they function much like tapered pixels - bridging micro- and macro-narratives, embracing the tension between the individual and the sum total. We continue to employ numerous configurations while exploring the physical and associative impact carried out by these forms".

Pass Through Without Any Noise, 2007The gallery describes this piece: "Using thousands of acquired neckties, Isaac Amala and Liz Simpson create large scale sculptural installations. In the popular consciousness, neckties often promise little more than modes of conformity. As a building block, however, these elongated, quadrangular textiles offer a radical trajectory from the world of banal business transactions to one of soft craft, and flamboyant geometry. The forms also highlight our formal wear's most formal elements: through color interaction, repetition of shape, and by considering and transcending the original associations inherent to the materials."
Note there are additional necktie pieces on the blog link.

Seema Nusrat experimented with neckties draped into figural forms.
"(She), in her soft sculptures, all made up of wrapping neckties around abstract figures is making a statement about cultural images." (source)"‘Yellow Mellow’ was a structure made with all kinds of yellow ties. Seema had marvelously created an irregular figure of a woman without any facial features. Initially the artist noticed human figures from where she began looking at drapes without figures and capturing what she observed". (source)

It's a snake!

2009-01-26T21:27:00.000-08:00

Really cute article about making toy snakes out of neckties, by Jill M. Nicolaus, courtesy of a wonderful gardening website called Dave's Garden.
(linked with permission)

Even more fun kid's clothes

2009-01-25T21:15:00.000-08:00

Adorable halter top and jeans skirt, again by Andrea
(aka abracapocus pocus cadabra)

Precious necktie halter and skirt
I love how the sun peeking through reminds me of a fairy!

Children's clothing

2009-01-24T22:23:00.000-08:00

A couple more inspiring ideas from abracapocus pocuscadabra

Little girl's pants made with neckties

And dress, with straps and hidden zipper in the back

Dignified Doggies

2009-01-12T14:50:00.000-08:00

I love it when my love of dogs and my love of sewing with neckties overlaps.
Andrea makes dog collars from old neckties, but with a twist--they have a hanging necktie in front
too.
(photo from abracapocus pocuscadabra on Flickr)

I asked Andrea if she had a photo of her pup Chuck wearing his tie.
She said she had a photo of her brother's dog.
Here is Wallace the Pit Bull wearing his necktie.
(isn't he CUTE?! He even has his own fan club!)
(flickr page)

I'm not kidding when I say I talked to Wallace's photo for five minutes when I first saw it.
"oh MISTER! You are SO CUTE!..."
My friend Tracie would laugh out loud if she read this.
She and I both get all squeaky around cute doggies :)

Wreaths

2008-12-20T11:22:00.000-08:00

Check out this wreath of neckties--it's the J.Crew window display near Rockefeller Center, New York City (posted by Gail at Large)

plaid necktie wreath on gingham background
Originally uploaded by Skitzo Leezra

One of several necktie wreaths made by Skitzo Leezra.
She also sells on ebay.

Christmas ideas

2008-12-19T20:26:00.001-08:00

Neckties can be useful in several Christmas projects, from the plain red and green, to the novelty holiday ones.

Necktie tree skirt, from the book "Daddy's Ties", by Shirley Botsford.

2005 Bell Pulls
Originally uploaded by by-melissa

Here's an inventive way to use Christmas-themed ties--decorative bell pulls.
Melissa says, "I ironed the ties onto fusible batting, backed them and used regular fabric for the binding."
(click on images to go to Flickr pages)

Upcycled Necktie Christmas Stocking
Originally uploaded by undoneclothing

There are so many ways to use neckties in handmade Christmas stockings.
Here is a cute example.

Chocolate Lab - vintage necktie side
Originally uploaded by leafpeople

You can always make gifts or ornaments with ties.

See Brooks Brothers' Tree of Ties display.
Hmmm...gives me some sewing ideas...

Make a scarf!

2008-09-30T21:31:00.000-07:00

Diane of Craftypod has a tutorial on Craftstylish, on how to make a scarf from neckties.

This gives you a starting point, even if you'd rather piece your scarf in different sized strips, or strips on the diagonal, or in a patchwork, or in a quilted pattern, or....

Too, she lined her scarf with silk, but you could use something soft and warm like flannel instead if you like.

More Quilting Inspiration

2008-07-10T14:18:00.000-07:00

Cauchy09 had, from what I can tell, several hundred neckties that had belonged to her dad.
She decided to incorporate them into quilts.

At one point she randomly decided that 3.25" x 7" rectangles would be the appropriate size, so this limited her design options

She decided upon this gorgeous rail fence pattern, done in quadrants of like colors

(click on image to enlarge)

She still had lots of ties left over, so she made another quilt top, this one an experiment in color and random placement

Another view here.

Vegan Vice made this amazing crazy quilt

Sometimes I see items on ebay or elsewhere that inspire me.
This quilt was up on ebay

The description read: "This is such a beautiful Vintage Patchwork quilt made from old ties. It's in good condition !!!! This is very collectable!! I found this at an estate sale in Pennsylvannia.
This is so gorgeous and measures 72"x68" inches."

detail:

Another one from ebay, this one more like folk art...just random, like a string quilt

So cute little girl's dress

2008-06-07T16:00:00.001-07:00

Tutorial by Rockerchic

Gift Bag

2008-06-04T22:10:00.000-07:00

Homemade wine, ahem, sleeve.
Made from a necktie and a long-sleeved shirt, or a shirt with button cuffs.
Idea from book Sew Subversive: Down & Dirty DIY for the Fabulous Fashionista.

Fun and Funky Quilt

2008-05-26T19:26:00.000-07:00

Whimsical quilt made with neckties and clothing,
by Caryl Bryer Fallert.

Fallert says, "This quilt was inspired by my husband's decision to sort through and discard a twenty-five year accumulation of old clothes. I wanted to use his old clothing to represent the high-pressure business man coming home and 'unwinding' after a hectic day at the office."

More information and detailed photos here.

Also, great quilting article about sewing with neckties, and several photo examples, over at Quilt Bug.

More Clothing Inspiration

2008-05-14T12:08:00.000-07:00

From a newspaper article back in May of 2006, this dress was made by Tampa's Academy of Design and Technology Student
Tia Noto.

Dress by Shanel Riegler that has a bustle at the back.
I found this newspaper article about the designer.

More views of her necktie dress designs.
The designer is in the center in the blue dress.

I especially love the bodice of the brown dress

Gorgeous dress by Outsapop (lots more images on her flickr pages if you click on the link).
Her Trashionista Blog.
And, what is really cool, is she has a tutorial on Cut Out + Keep, showing how to make necktie feathers

Just one of the many beautiful items made by Mayabr.

((¤Maylina¤))
Originally uploaded by Mayabr

How To Sew a Ties Scarf

2008-05-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

Designer Spotlight: Sohung Designs

2008-04-02T20:26:00.000-07:00

Neckties couture from Sohung Designs.
Amazing.
(click on images to enlarge view)

Thanks to Annie Chin for posting on Does This Look Stupid.

Mixed Quilt

2008-03-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun quilt from Quilt Words.

It is made from silk neckties, and men's wool suits (all thrifted fabrics).

I really like that she was not afraid to mix both fabric content and texture.

The finished blocks are less than seven inches, with individual logs cut at 1-1/4" to render 5/8".
Whew, that is really small when you're dealing with slippery silk and nubby wool.

More info about this quilt posted here
with better pics here,
and more details here.

Designer Spotlight: Laura Kluvo

2008-03-04T13:43:00.000-08:00

The person responsible for sending me down this path of sewing with neckties, my inspiration, my mentor (if you will), is Laura of Rick Rack Ruby.

Ironically, Laura doesn't sew much with ties anymore, but her past projects are full of inspiration.
Her work is so professional--it brings 'recycling' to a whole new level.
And on top of all that, I've had the pleasure of meeting her, and she's delightfully nice, upbeat, and fun.

Check out this beautiful messenger bag.
Tutorial on craftster, and also on craft bits.

"1000 points" Messenger Bag,
she says, "If you look closely you can see that I have inserted tie tips into the the seams on the front like feathers. It was really hard to keep everything lined up. It turned out great though, didn't it?"

Big Bag

Slouch Bag

Crazy collaged bags

She has several shoulder bags she calls the Cora, including this pink and purple one.

"Here is the handbag that I made from the leftover bits of the Pink and Purple Necktie Skirt. I lined it in hot pink velveteen and added a giant rhinestone brooch."

Her peacock bag is accented with a peacock brooch

And don't forget her Gypsy Rose bags!

Red Rose Valentine Bag

Make the Rose embellishment
Tutorial on craftster, but sadly most of the photos are missing

Or you can make Necktie Daisies
Tutorial on craftster.

Necktie Backpack

Other goodies include a Corset belt
Tutorial on craftster

Funky beanie
Tutorial on craftster

Christmas Stockings

Necktie strawberries (pins and necklaces)

And yes, she makes skirts too.
Necktie skirts are usually made with the ties 'as is'.
Meaning the 'guts' are still inside, and the tie is still folded in its standard shape.
Take the tie apart and lay the fabric out, however, and you get what Laura calls a "Swishy Skirt"

A long skirt
"This was a tough design. There are about 30 ties and it is HEAVY! They're sewn together about halfway down and then loose at the bottom. You should see this in motion...."

Laura has lots of examples of the 'standard' necktie skirts too.
Instructions. Class pics.
Her "Paris Hilton" is made with all pink ties

Here's another

Orange ties

Cartoon ties for a child's version

Look at all the things that can be made with 15 ties! (read more here)

Article about Laura in the Arizona Republic newspaper.
And another article here regarding her Project Runway blog.

ANOTHER blog, Barb?

2008-03-01T22:27:00.000-08:00

Yep, another blog.
I decided (thanks to Gina) that I have too much interest, and too many links about neckties...
and that my love of sewing with neckties deserves its own blog.
I'll eventually link up all the info I've previously posted so it's available in this space.
Please take advantage of all the links, tutorials, and ideas in the sidebar.

For now, let's drool over chairs, shall we?

Recycled neckties on antique chairs, by Alabama Chanin.
Originally posted by Poppy Talk and Domino Magazine (thanks for telling me, Cindy)