Charlie's Tie Quilt

Margaret E
by Margaret E
Last fall a close friend who knows I recycle/upcycle thrift store finds into new useful things gave me a bag of her late father's neckties. I already had a copier-paper box full of thrift store ties; I wasn't sure what I'd do with more. Then I went to a local antiques market and found a crazy-quilt top made of neckties and knew exactly what that bag of neckties would turn into. The ties in the antique market quilt had been taken apart and ironed flat. The blocks were 18-inch squares which looked like they'd been sheets or thin curtains before being cut up for this quilt, a total of 20 large squares.
Back of sample quilt - the backing fabric was an assortment of faded prints and several colors. Each square measured 18 1/2 inches.
As you can see from this close-up of a block from the antique market quilt top, the center of each block is the "large end" of an opened-up tie, and the block is built up by sewing pieces of other ties around it. My friend gave me about 25 ties, several of which were solid colors. I picked patterned ones for the 20 block centers.


I did not take pictures during construction of this quilt. At the time, I had no thought of posting this project. As each strip of tie was stitched to a block, I pinned it flat and added another piece to a different side of the center. I didn't build a block at a time; I added a section to every block, stitched the strip, then cut the string of blocks apart, carried them to my work table and pinned on new strips.


I tried not to use more than one piece of each tie in every block, but as I neared the end of my friend's assortment of ties, there were some small bits that had to be stitched together to make bigger strips, or used to fill out ends I finally realized I'd have to dip into my stash of ties to finish the project.


Amazing! I had not one single tie in the dozens in my box that matched the batch my friend had given me! I chose about a dozen with similar colors and patterns to keep a cohesive look. While I was working on this project, my friend's mother passed away, and I felt like a ghoul asking for a piece of her clothing, begging my friend not to ask why I wanted it. A piece of Mom's light blue shirt is in all but three squares.


When all the blocks were done, I laid them all out on my queen-sized bed and arranged and re-arranged them till I was satisfied with the color patterns. They're laid in five rows of four block each. I had a king-sized sheet for the backing in my fabric stash - remember, I'm all about using recycled materials. I picked up this almost-new sheet for a couple bucks at a thrift store. However, I never use recycled quilt batts; I used a new queen-sized one I had on hand.


All three sections (top, batting, backing) were spread out, smoothed out and safety-pinned (LOTS of safety pins!) together. I stitched-in-the ditch of just about every seam of every strip of tie in each of the 20 blocks. The quilt is bound in bias-cut strips of Mom's blue shirt.
Here's the finished quilt, draped over a beautiful antique chair I'm lucky to own. After taking pictures, I signed and dated one corner of the quilt, then folded it up and gift-wrapped it to deliver to my friend.


When she opened just a bit of the wrapping paper the next morning, she immediately teared up "Oh, my god, my daddy's ties! And mom's blouse!"
Charlie's house is full of antiques and primitives. I knew this quilt would be right at home on one of her antique beds, and she sent me a photo once she had it home. (after showing it off to just about everyone at work, and sending photos to her sons!)


This was a special gift for a dear friend who appreciates hand-made things. I couldn't begin to estimate how long this project took, but since all the materials were recycled, all I had to purchase to complete the project was the thread to put it together. Charlie says she may have to bring this quilt back to me some time in the future to separate it into pieces so each son may have a share.


(A suggestion for someone who wants to make memory pieces for multiple family members is to make up the 18 inch squares, then make throw pillows of each square.)


Happy up-cycling!
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  • The quilt is beautiful! I'd like to try making one, but I don't understand this instruction from your post: " I didn't build a block at a time; I added a section to every block, stitched the strip, then cut the string of blocks apart, carried them to my work table and pinned on new strips.". Can you elaborate? Thanks!
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  • Laurel Bracey Laurel Bracey on Oct 13, 2016
    Ah, hard decisions; you are a trooper; hope she appreciates your sacrifice and you are rewarded in keeping peace and harmony. Seriously, your love is priceless.
  • Margaret E Margaret E on Oct 30, 2016
    Thank you, Laurel.
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