Fab Fabrics: Vintage Neckties

by Becky Striepe April 27, 2010, 7:00 am 16 Comments

If you’re a thrift store junkie like me, surely you’ve spent some time ogling the lovely old necktie selection at your local Goodwill. They can feature patterns from the classy to the hilarious, and they all have beautiful textures to work with. Here are some project ideas that make use of those lovely vintage neckties.

Whether you combine them with other fabrics, like in the photo above, or stitch them together in a quilt formation, neckties make for lovely purses. If you run across a pattern that you really love, you can carefully disassemble the tie so the fabric will cover more of the bag. If you go this route, you’ll want to use a sturdy lining, like organic cotton or hemp, since most tie fabrics are quite thin.

A necktie also works well as a strap for a tote or messenger bag. You can either tuck the ends into the bag’s lining, or stitch the strap on the outside to show off all of its glory.

You can use similar techniques to the tote bag ideas and turn a stash of old neckties into an awesome quilt or throw pillow. How fancy would your couch or favorite chair look with a colorful necktie accessory of its own?

Of course, there’s always the popular necktie skirt. Again, you can quilt the ties together for an eclectic look. A necktie would make a really cool waistband, if you’re feeling a bit more funky. You could even add the tie as a detail, almost like an applique.

Have you done necktie related crafts? We’d love to hear all about them!

[Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by pineblossoms]

Written by Becky Striepe

My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”), and I am a crafts and food writer from Atlanta, Georgia with a passion for making our planet a healthier, happier, and more compassionate place to live. My mission is to make vegan food and crafts accessible to everyone!. If you like my work, you can also find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.