For those that have made quilts using neckties, did you combine polyester/silk ties with 100% silk ties? Or should I just stick with silk?

I combined mine.....

That is on my to-do list...my dad didn't wear neckties but I still want to make a necktie quilt!

I did a combination - some were silk, doubleknit polyster, cotton and different blends. Of all of the the silks I think were the most difficult. The like to slide and they can stretch on you. Good luck and we want to see pics.

goosepoint, did you take the lining out of the neckties before using them? Or did you use them "as is"? Did you wash them first? Enquiring minds want to know.....

I only used silk ties. I took them completely apart. Once you get the hang of it they disassemble in just a few minutes. Maybe I was just lucky, but many of these still had price tags on them, so had probably never been worn so I didn't feel the need to launder. I pressed the fabric flat with the silk setting, no steam. Then I used light-weight fuseable interfacing. After that, I treated them like a cotton while sewing, except keeping the silk setting on the iron. Since they were now stabilized, I did not pay attention to bias. There is a lot of silk in one single tie. I did save the linings if they came apart easily with the tie. Used that to make pin-cushions.

Beautiful quilt!!

Will have to watch this thread for a while as I have a necktie project planned. I bet I learn a lot from ya'll. :thumbup:

Yes - most came from Goodwill and The Salvation Army. Even though they were in extremely good - like new condition I did wash everyone in very warm - hot water. The reason was to shrink if they were going to and to make sure none would 'bleed' in the future. I used snow white cotton to applique the ties on and I just wanted to make sure. Once washed and dried, I used a seam ripper to pick the back of the tie open and then removed the linings. I then cut each on to a specific size - I got a pattern from the web, cut each according to the pattern and then started sewing the star together. I did have to make adjustments to get it to lay flat before I could applique it to the white cotton. You can tell the ties that did not go through the wash so good and if they did not make the wash they did not make my quilt.

What a Manly Quilt! I love it!