Silk ties...

My mother would say, "Just like you wash a handkerchief" as if that would mean anything to most of us. Check the tie for a stain.. If you find one put just a stingy drop of dishwashing detergent or gentle shampoo on it. Otherwise, I'd just swish the tie in some cool, soapy water, rinse and pat out flat to dry on a towel. They can't stand much real rubbing or scrubbing. Don't ask how I know. Polly

"Johanna Gibson" Men are starting to give me their silk ties, and I'd like to know from

Have no answer to your questions, Jo; but I just had to tell you of the myriad of images the first part of your post gave me >g<

I mean: why? how? are you standing outside the Town Hall, or the railway station, with a placard and a box? Did you go on local radio? Or did you threaten them, and insist they gave you them there and then on the main street of Dundee? ... ... . In message , Johanna Gibson writes

I had moved past that. I was wondering what comes next? (Precious Memories) Polly

I saw a photo in a book several years ago of a glorious quilt on a bed with a medallion in the center made of men's ties! Apparently, the quilter had cut the ties to about 24", and stitched the ties together side by side, so they made a circle. The cut off ends were used as binding. I have no idea how many ties were used, and quite frankly didn't pay a whole lot of attention beyond the initial "WOW".

Still have my pile of silk ties in a bag waiting Time! It was suggested that I use a very light iron-in interfacing with them to stabilise (ties are cut on the cross so not much room for manouvre).

I took them to pieces and then put them in a fabric bag (used either a pillowcase tied shut of one of the bags for delicate items, to stop tangling.

Then just threw them in the machine with Persil Wool/Silk on a gentle wash. Silk is tough! Ironed up like a dream. Might have put a colour catcher in - can't remember.

Sally at the Seaside ~~~~~~~~~~ (uk)

ROFLOL! Pat, I have to admit that I was wondering, too, but I hadn't gone quite so far in my imaginings. ;)

You can also foundation piece; then you don't need the interfacing. Karen Stone did her New York Beauty workshop for our guild last week. She showed us one that she did using neckties and necktie scraps. She starches the ties before using them to help give them some body, but does not use interfacing.

Julia > Still have my pile of silk ties in a bag waiting Time! It was suggested

I ruthlessly dumped all the ties (whole) into the washer with some enzyme-free wool wash. Figured there were bound to be greasy gravy spots, and I wanted the eventual quilt to be washable. Then I took the ties apart (tedious) and pressed very carefully with a hot steam iron (Try not to mess up the grain!) This is when you spot worn areas along the folds, and find out which ones are really polyester. Anything that didn't survive at any point in this natural selection process got tossed.

I've used them for several projects, including a twin size made of pinwheels. You can get 4 good-size HSTs from the wide end of an average tie, alternated with a dark neutral (mine was navy blue). Can't remember how many ties were involved, but it would come to one per block. Also did a mariner's compass WH using some tie fabric for some of the points, combined with other silk scraps.

You could easily start making blocks -simpler is better, I recommend the pinwheel. When you get a whole bunch, sew them into a quilt. If your silk doesn't want to behave, you can stabilize it with a light-weight iron-on. I recommend the woven cotton batiste, adds body without stiffness. Roberta in D

"Johanna Gibson" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

Best not to ask. My tie collection started when my quilting buddy Dawn went on a business trip to Cologne that happened to coincide with the Thursday before Lent, AKA Weiberfastnacht. Women run wild with scissors on that day, and men know to wear the ties they were going to get rid of anyway, because the ties get cut off. Dawn happily began collecting tie stubs, got more from her office colleagues back home, and we started working on the pinwheel quilt as a charity project. She left it and the box of ties with me when she moved. Roberta in D

"Patti" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@quik.clara.co.uk...

geez, i have been begging my dad to give me his tie collection for years! he'll be 80 and only wears ties for weddings and funerals. i wanted to do a starburst pattern i sketched that i've had forever, with them.

i should go run with Roberta and her friend to get ties!! sound like a hoot!!

amy in CNY

Ah, well. It all started when I was working in Tesco on a Sunday morning and this older gentleman and his wife came to my queue. He had on a burgundy tie with little beige and blue elephants. It was well cool. I said that it was really nice and he said he bought it in Thailand when he was travelling there on business years ago - bought 3 actually - and it was older and wearing out. I said I did patchwork and had heard that you can make things from old ties, even quilts if you collect enough!

So he took it off and gave it to me. I was well chuffed. Then I went on holiday for several weeks, so I could study for exams. So I wasn't in every Sunday morning, as I usually am. Turns out he left a bag with 4 or 5 ties for me, and one of the managers gave it to me when I was in shopping one day. How good is that?

Now Mark has offered me several silk ties that he doesn't wear. So I've gone from nought to about 10 ties in a week or so. Hmm. I hadn't really planned on collecting ties, but there you are. I suppose it must be fate.

Thanks for all the information folks! I like the idea of a sort of "Dresden Plate" effect from lots of ties. Maybe a big one on an otherwise "whole quilt" type of affair. Lots of ideas to be thinking on ....

-- Jo in Scotland

Jo, there is at least one, and probably more, book that is all about using ties in quilts and projects. The title is "My Daddy's Ties" (I think, and have no idea who the author is. ) I am sure that I remember being told that there is all the info you need about using ties. One thing, the interfacing in good ties may be usable as sleeve headers in tailored jackets and the like. If you know someone who does that kind of sewing they might really like to have the innards of your ties. (No, I have a bunch I got from someone else. And really don't do much with jackets here in the desert. )

I have seen a couple of quilts made with ties. One in particular had a big Dresden plate type of center.... as many ties as it took to make a circle. Then each corner had a quarter of a "plate" made with the narrow ends of the ties. The background was (American) muslin or something in the same color. It was stunning.

Good luck, have fun. Pati, in Phx (my Dad mostly wore bolo ties and they don't work worth beans to make a quilt.........)