Last year we did a column on kitsch crafts, and one of the featured projects was an apron made of men’s ties.
We presented the apron to a friend on her birthday, and she advised us during the holiday season that a tradition had been born in her family: The person hosting a holiday dinner will, henceforth, wear the ceremonial apron.
It’s always fun to be involved in the birth of a tradition.
Our tie apron also generated a letter and photographs from Karen Charnell, Executive Director of Snohomish Seniors. Her group had made a quilt of ties to raffle off during the annual fall bazaar.
The queen-size quilt was designed by Mikki Fulcher and constructed by the Seniors Quilting Group of colorful blocks framed by black fabric, giving the quilt a stained-glass-window appearance.
We spoke with Charnell last week to ask her how the raffle had gone and she was pleased to report that the group had raised quite a tidy sum from the sale of raffle tickets, and that the seniors are already working on this year’s quilt.
For more information on the Snohomish Seniors, their quilting group and other activities, you can write to P.O. Box 1426, Snohomish, WA 98291 or call 360-568-0934. The group is temporarily located in the lower level small hall at St. Michael’s Church, 1514 Pine Ave., Snohomish, pending the completion of their new facility later this year.
Although we haven’t made a quilt of ties, we were so impressed with the seniors’ creation that we felt it would make a good suggestion for Craft Corner readers.
Browsing the Web, we found a number of online sites that offer instructions and designs for tie quilts, along with tips from quilters who have actually worked on the projects.
The tips are very helpful as they cover issues one might not think of when beginning a quilt, such as the fact that ties are cut on the bias, making stretching a potential problem.
When we made our apron, we didn’t remove the interfacing from the ties, so stretching wasn’t an issue, but once the stabilizing fabric is gone, the lightweight fabric is free to follow its own path, so to speak.
We’ve put together a list of the best sites we found, but you can find even more by doing a search of your own using keywords and phrases such as “tie quilts,” “quilt of ties,” “men’s tie crafts” and so on.
Another quick online browse turned up a wonderful book on projects using men’s ties: “Daddy’s Ties: Quilts, Keepsakes &Projects to Make from Ties,” by Shirley Botsford.
In addition to quilt and pillow designs, you’ll find an array of projects ranging from lamp shades to Teddy bears, plus a number of beguiling wearable art pieces.
We were also very pleased with the beginning of the book, which covers preparation of the ties for use – with anecdotal accounts of the author’s sometimes disastrous first attempts – and offers general construction tips for making new items out of old ties.
For the price and originality of ideas, this book is one of the best we’ve seen in a while.
If you give a tie project a whirl and would like to share the finished product with Craft Corner readers, send a good photo of your creation to us and we’ll run it in a future column. We’d be particularly interested in seeing some original designs or project ideas.
Send digital photos by e-mail to jrocoffin@aol.com; prints to Jonetta Coffin, c/o Features, The Herald, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206. If you send prints, please give us a call at 425-238-4985 to let us know so that we’ll be sure to pick them up.
Learn more
Web sites featuring patterns and tips on making tie quilts: www.huntsville.about.com/od/tips/a/silktiequilt.htm
www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_quilting_occasions/article/0,1789,HGTV_3304_1376695,00.html
www.unioneagle.com/2004/august/24quilt.html
www.quiltbug.com/tie.htm
www.cqmagonline.com/vol06iss02/articles/683/index.shtml
www.mspong.org/quilts.html
www.flickr.com/photos/daciaray/87579703
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