How to Make a Fleece-lined Scarf Out of Neckties

I am obsessed with neckties. I love to loop one in the belt loops of my jeans. I've always wanted to make a skirt out of them...haven't quite finished that project yet.

I've found the best way to obtain a lot of neckties for not a lot of money is through e-bay. I have a collection (2 storage bins) of neckties! All waiting to be crafted into something special.

For this project, I used three neckties from my collection and turned them into a unique scarf.

I hope you like this project and definitely let me know if you try it. I'd like to see pics! :)

Materials

3 neckties (try to pick 3 neck ties that are close to the same length)
Seam ripper
Pins (sewing, quilting, stray…)
Fleece (if you buy 1 yard or 1/2 yard you should have plenty, you’ll being using approximately 13” by 5’ depending on the neckties you use)
Thread
Sewing machine
Hand sewing needle
Embroidery floss to match the neckties (may need more than one color)
Scissors
Cutting mat
Rotary cutter
Iron
Ironing board

Take Your Ties Apart

Once you have obtained/gathered your materials, you are ready to start construction.

Put the necktie face down. Use the seam ripper to remove the seam that’s running down the back center of the tie. Remove any material from within the tie, such as gauze, that was originally assembled to make the tie stiff. There is no need to remove the nylon material.

Lay your ties out on a table. Match the widest ends of the neckties together and pin. Use the creases in the neckties for guidance. Before pinning the rest of the ties, go to the center of the tie and determine how narrow you want the scarf to be at its narrowest point and pin the ties. For this project it is best to use your pins as a seam marker. Evenly pin the ties together working your way to the front points and to the other end of the ties.

Start Sewing

Sew the ties together using a sewing machine. Be sure to remove the pins before they reach the presser foot of the machine as you’re sewing the ties together.

Now that you have your ties sewn together, iron the ties to remove any wrinkles and ironing the seams flat that you sewn in Step 4. Keep the creases on the top and bottom of the scarf and adjust the crease in the center and through the narrow end of the scarf to mark where you’re going to attach the fleece in Step 6.

Attaching the Fleece

Lay a cutting mat on top of a table. Lay your fleece material, topside up, on top of the cutting mat. Place your scarf, finished side down, parallel with the grain of the fleece fabric (this will keep your scarf from twisting later on). Pin the scarf to the fleece along the crease on the edge of the fleece (this will be the right side if you’re right handed and vice versa if you’re a lefty). Remember you want to keep the grain parallel, so you will have excess material as the scarf narrows. Pin both sides.

Trim the Fleece

Trim the fleece with a rotary cutter using a large ruler with grid as a guide.

Sew the Fleece to the Necktie Scarf

Machine sew the fleece to each end of the scarf. Remember to remove pins as you sew.

Flipping It

Once it’s sewn together, it’s time to turn it out. Put your right hand and arm through the scarf, between the neckties and the fleece material, until your hand comes out the other end. Hold the scarf with your right hand that is poking through as your left hand takes hold of the end of the scarf, which is closest to your elbow. Now, with your hands holding opposite ends of the scarf back your right arm out until the scarf is right side out.

Prepping the Scarf for the Finishing Touches

It’s time for the finishing touches.

Pin both sides of the scarf, from one end to the other, so that the edges of the scarf and fleece lay flat. Now, work your way in and tack the fleece and the neckties along the seams between the ties

Tacking the Fleece to the Scarf

This is the most labor-intensive step.

Thread your hand-sewing needle with two strands of your embroidery floss. You can use a French knot stitch or just an invisible tack with only the knot on the fleece side visible. Start tacking the fleece and neckties, using the pattern of the neckties as guidance for where to place the tacks. Tack the bottom side, length wise, about every 2 inches. Then move up, tacking between the first row of ties and move length wise. After completing that row, move up to the next row and tack between the last row of ties every two inches lengthwise. Finally, tack the top edge of the scarf, length wise, every two inches.

Remove the pins.

You have now completed your scarf made out of neckties.

Enjoy and Keep Warm!