Some of the things I've read about using neckties for patchwork suggest washing them all first in the machine. It is better to have them fall apart in the washer than after you have gone to the work of making something from them.
Julia > Maybe not, Jeanne. If she's talking about men's silk neckties - I'm not
Julia: Good point. I've been trying to recall the name of the author of a very nice book on this topic. She recommended what you stated. I think her name is Janet Elwin or maybe Janet McElwin.
I would use a foundation of a very thin cotton. In fact I have a small collection of such fabric set aside for foundation piecing.
PAT > Some of the things I've read about using neckties for patchwork suggest
They are pure silk and the ones I have taken to pieces so far washed like a dream in the machine with a silk detergent.
Silk is actually pretty tough!
Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk
Val wrote:
Nothing showed up at all on the original post (Silk Ties), and you haven't appeared on this thread until now. These computers do seem to be getting a little wilfull recently, don't they.
I started off thinking I'd use a very fine vilene as the foundation (taking the place of the paper) and then wondered if each piece of tie should be mounted on an iron-in interfacing. But that would mean two layers of interfacing, so then I either use paper or don't back each tie individually.
Oh...it does get complicated!
I've been collecting silk (and only pure silk) ties for about 10 years so have quite a good little collection - predominently blue though. You get a surprisingly large lump of silk from one tie!
Perhaps the answer really is to just play, but I have little wall hangings for the next 3 Saturdays' sales to finish!
Off to put the bindings on (they will be machined!)
Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk
Patti wrote:
I made 6 'silk' tie pillows from BIL ties. First thing I did was throw a dye catcher in the washer, put some Dreft in,filled the machine with warm water and threw the ties in, washed them on warm GENTLE cycle, and popped them in the dryer--regular heat. Did NOT lose a single one. Then I took them apart, put the lightest weight iron on interfacing that I had on hand, cut them along the fold lines, cut around 'stains' and made them into pillows: Log Cabin pattern. They were everything from pure silk to poly.....I used every kind. HTH Butterfly
Howdy!
Janet B. Elwin, Pat. Beginning of chapter 1, she recommends washing the ties. Amen.
Thanks. Your method plus using paper for the paper piecing is winning!
When I originally started to collect them it was pre-quilting but. I saw someone buying some of the most gorgeous rich mulberry coloured silk at the show I went to last week and drooled from a distance, so perhaps next year I shall be the one making people envious as I buy the setting fabric!
It really was lovely..... The stand belonged to The Silk Route at
Butterflyw> I made 6 'silk' tie pillows from BIL ties. First thing I did was throw a dye
Howdy!
Thanks for the reminder, Pat. I have only a couple of silk items in my collection, generally wearing cotton for comfort. However, I'm not afraid to wash what I own. ;-)
Here's a pretty good guide to caring for silk:
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