Actually I have received more info since posting. You're right though, I was just feeling my way around trying to sort through the options. I'd never even heard of necktie pillow before.

I think I'll be opening them up, adding interfacing and making a strip diagonal pattern. I can handle that!!

Thank you.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]576206[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]576207[/ATTACH]I took out the "guts" but kept the tie shape and made this for a friend. Her husband had passed, and he loved hot air balloons. I put a tiny teddy bear in the 3D basket, and she loved it! I did echo quilting around the balloon.

My daughter was involved in a "Trash"ion Show where clothes were made from recycled items. I made her and my granddaughter skirts and vests from old mens ties. I did open them, used a stabilizer, ironed on low with a press cloth, and used elastic in the waists. Turned out cute!

I wash ties in the machine on gentle,cool setting to get rid of neck cooties. Then,I take them apart and fuse( a low setting on the iron works)...then just carry on. Dresden plate,grandmothers fan patterns take advantage of the tie concept.

I am enjoying reading this topic. It has reminded me of a skirt I made for a preteen G-daughter some time ago. I had a bag of ties and some of the family girls were looking through them. We came up with this idea of a skirt. It wasn't the conventional way to make a skirt but kept them whole and lapped and sewed them up to the waist. can't remember how I finished up at the waist but it was cute. She was very tiny and short. It was more like a vintage look. She is now grown and a school teacher. Fun memories.

I have a dresden Christmas tree hanging that I want to make with Christmas ties. Thanks for reminding me to start haunting the resale stores.

Ties are Really, Really long! I would think for a pillow you would cut them at least in half, maybe thirds. I deconstructed the silk ties I see for these pillows, laundered them then used a lightweight fusible stabilizer. The ties were cut 14" long for these

You all made such nice things with neckties!!

I have dear friend who made a beautiful throw from old neck ties using a fan shape. It is beautiful. I have a lot of men's ties- some were my dad's that I have saved and were given a few. I want to make something in the future, probably for my son, since some were his granddad's but too many irons in the fire at present. I have a lot of handkerchiefs that were my grandmother's her mother's my g-grandmother, however I don't want to cut the hankies up.
Be sure to show us what you do.

I collected neckties from garage and estate sales a few years ago. I took them apart and washed a few of them (delicate cycle) at a time inside a mesh laundry bag and put them (still inside the mesh bag) into the dryer. I washed them all....silks, polyesters, cottons, etc. They ironed beautifully afterwards. If there were stains or snags, I worked around them. There are some books on working with neckties, and do look at the more recent books. Once a stabilizer (I used Pellon 44) is used, the ties are a dream to use. I did learn that if I wanted to use decorative stitches or FMQ, it was best to use a Teflon sewing foot. Some fabrics are smooth and slippery, so it helped to use a Teflon sewing foot.