Silk neckties may be most commonly worn around the necks of sharply dressed men, but that is certainly not the extent of their usefulness. With a little bit of creative thinking, one can turn salvaged neckties into a wide variety of fashion and home accessories. Their ease of accessibility and the variety available makes them excellent candidates for upcycling.
Currently, upcycling is all the rage and for many good reasons. It is a low budget source of crafting that produces high end results while pushing artists to their creative limits. Silk ties are an excellent candidate for this art form because they are easy to obtain and provide a luxury material at a budget price. Projects created from the ties of family and friends can be very sentimental pieces and make great gifts. As it's name suggests, upcycling is more than an art form and is recycling in it's most natural form, so one can feel good about using and giving their salvaged creations.
Sourcing silk ties for upcycling projects can be done through a variety of venues. The generosity of a friend or family member can easily supply a small project, but for a larger undertaking one will most likely have to go shopping. Estate sales and thrift stores are good sources for project materials. Rather planning a project from donated or purchased ties, one should be careful to choose materials in good condition.
Once the neckties to be worked with have been collected, they must be prepared. Luckily, for the vast majority of projects, this process should be fairly simple. If the ties are carefully chosen and are in good condition the first step of the process will probably be a good airing out to remove any dust or moth ball odor that may be clinging to the fabric. For ties in less than ideal condition, one will need to make a visit to the dry cleaner and/or plan their project to work around any imperfections. With clean materials and a good plan, it is time to start sewing.
Mental preparation is also necessary when working with silk. Knowing a few tips and tricks can go along way to easing one's mind and ensuring a successful project. To start with, plan to work at a relaxed place and be sure to have sharp pins, sewing machine needles designed for delicate fabric, and polyester thread. When working silk, keep its delicate nature in mind and only pin with in the seam allowance and never back stitch. To secure seams and hems hand tie the loose thread ends.
A soft silk pouch is an excellent first project to create from neckties. Since a tie is created as a hollow tube of lined fabric, it lends itself well to the creation of small bags. Eye glass cases, cell phone pouches, and Ipod cozies can all be made by cutting the desired tie off at an appropriate length before turning it inside out and stitching together the cut ends. If desired, the finished end can then be folded over to create a flap secured with a button.
Creating a throw pillow is another fun option. Although it requires a few more neckties and some additional materials, it is still an easy project. Use a seam ripper to open the ties along the center back seam, then use a dry iron to flatten out the previous fold lines. Lay the opened up ties in the desired pattern and stitch together to create a piece of custom fabric. Use a template to cut a square pillow top, then use a coordinating backing square and some fiber fill to complete the pillow.
With a little planning and creativity, silk neckties are good for far more than embellishing the male neckline. Pouches and pillows are just the beginning of the many things that can be created by upcycling this common household item.
Currently, upcycling is all the rage and for many good reasons. It is a low budget source of crafting that produces high end results while pushing artists to their creative limits. Silk ties are an excellent candidate for this art form because they are easy to obtain and provide a luxury material at a budget price. Projects created from the ties of family and friends can be very sentimental pieces and make great gifts. As it's name suggests, upcycling is more than an art form and is recycling in it's most natural form, so one can feel good about using and giving their salvaged creations.
Sourcing silk ties for upcycling projects can be done through a variety of venues. The generosity of a friend or family member can easily supply a small project, but for a larger undertaking one will most likely have to go shopping. Estate sales and thrift stores are good sources for project materials. Rather planning a project from donated or purchased ties, one should be careful to choose materials in good condition.
Once the neckties to be worked with have been collected, they must be prepared. Luckily, for the vast majority of projects, this process should be fairly simple. If the ties are carefully chosen and are in good condition the first step of the process will probably be a good airing out to remove any dust or moth ball odor that may be clinging to the fabric. For ties in less than ideal condition, one will need to make a visit to the dry cleaner and/or plan their project to work around any imperfections. With clean materials and a good plan, it is time to start sewing.
Mental preparation is also necessary when working with silk. Knowing a few tips and tricks can go along way to easing one's mind and ensuring a successful project. To start with, plan to work at a relaxed place and be sure to have sharp pins, sewing machine needles designed for delicate fabric, and polyester thread. When working silk, keep its delicate nature in mind and only pin with in the seam allowance and never back stitch. To secure seams and hems hand tie the loose thread ends.
A soft silk pouch is an excellent first project to create from neckties. Since a tie is created as a hollow tube of lined fabric, it lends itself well to the creation of small bags. Eye glass cases, cell phone pouches, and Ipod cozies can all be made by cutting the desired tie off at an appropriate length before turning it inside out and stitching together the cut ends. If desired, the finished end can then be folded over to create a flap secured with a button.
Creating a throw pillow is another fun option. Although it requires a few more neckties and some additional materials, it is still an easy project. Use a seam ripper to open the ties along the center back seam, then use a dry iron to flatten out the previous fold lines. Lay the opened up ties in the desired pattern and stitch together to create a piece of custom fabric. Use a template to cut a square pillow top, then use a coordinating backing square and some fiber fill to complete the pillow.
With a little planning and creativity, silk neckties are good for far more than embellishing the male neckline. Pouches and pillows are just the beginning of the many things that can be created by upcycling this common household item.
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You can visit the website doublevalue.com for more helpful information about Upcycling Projects For Silk Neckties
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