Does anyone else love men's ties? I don't go in the men's department of big stores often, but when I do, I'm drawn to the beautiful display of ties: the rainbow of colors, the rich silky textures, the patterns. Yesterday I went to buy my son the dress shirt which he had requested for Christmas. He hadn't asked for a tie, but I had to buy one--couldn't pass up the ties any more than some people can pass up the new lines of fabric. This combination is actually rather dull. My first choice was a grayed yellow-green that really popped with this shirt; but that combination would never pass, so this is second choice--bland, but tasteful.
Beautiful quilts can be made out from ties, but I've never wanted to do that, I think because there are so many other things ahead of that idea on the "maybe someday" list. I've never made a tie either, though I know people who have. I'll just look, and sometimes buy.
As I was debating which to choose, two young girls walked by. I heard one say to the other, "I just love ties! I don't know why, but I do!" I know why. She's a quilter in the making.
I connect so much of what I see around me to quilts. That lovely tie looks like so many of the square-surrounded-by-a-square quilts we see lately. LOVE the comment you made in response to the young lady who also likes ties.
ReplyDeleteLet us know how your son likes his shirt + tie combination.
One of the books I got recently shows how to make a bag out of men's ties. I'm thinking of getting some from the thrift shop and trying it. My husband never wears ties so I can't rob his collection. My granddaughter wants a bean bag chair and I was wondering if they would work for that..
ReplyDeleteBeautiful colors in that tie.
ReplyDeleteI am drawn to the ones by Jerry Garcia and Rush Limbaugh. I love their wild use of color. Not that I would wear one, but they are something to see.
Ties make use of some very nice fabric. They're perfect for crazy quilting because they're shiny and textured, and have small amounts of fabric.
ReplyDeleteWith all the beautiful ties out there, it is frustrating that some men have such conservative taste in clothes. They should have lots of fancy ties...and give them to quilters after they wear them once or twice.
I love ties also. I made several for my Dad when I was a teenager. He actually wore them out. I still have one, a deep marroon brocade silk. It was $25 a yard back in 1973 when I(Mom) bought 5 yards for me to make Dad a bathrobe. I had enough for a tie also. My 15 year old son now wears that tie. Dad even wore the bathrobe out. Must have loved it. I made son a new tie for his very first date back in October. Not hard to do. I also not a new pattern for what is called a 7-fold tie. I am looking forward to making ties for my men this year.
ReplyDeleteI only use worn out ties from the guys for other sewing projects. some day a tie quilt will be made.
I was always the big tie buyer in my family because I seemed to have the best taste in ties. I bought one for a man I dated (just before Wes) and he got more compliments on it than he had ever gotten in his life on a tie. I love ties!
ReplyDeleteIt probably won't surprise you that I have 2 file boxes full of ties (without the interfacing) just ready to be pressed into service for a quilt (or 2). Once a tie is open there is a surprisingly large amount of fabric in them-on the bias-which could produce some very nice quilt blocks. I could never find that variety of silk at the fabric store.
When my son recently attended a Homecoming dance at school, we had to buy him some new dress clothes for the occasion. Some of the ties at the store we went to were just fantastic. My favorite was a very tropical looking one, though I knew my son would never wear that one. I think I had "tie envy" that whole day. It was wearable art.
ReplyDeleteI always buy a matching tie when buying a dress shirt... simply because colors come and go in styles (yes, even in men's) and if you don't get the tie at the same time as the shirt, you might never find something to match! I think that your son will love the extra addition of the tie! Cheers! Evelyn
ReplyDeleteoh- I love ties!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is the men in neckties that I like. LOL!
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful little pieces of art. My gilfriend is making a piece right now using the ties from the men in her family. I will try and show it when she finishes.
I too love men's ties. When I worked at LS Ayres, I filled in occasionally in the mens department and I loved helping guys pick out ties. I always wanted to buy some for my Dad, but even when he wore ties, he wore bland boring blah ties.
ReplyDeleteYay a quilter in the making & Ditto to all of the other points in your post. I too love to look at them, will never work with them, etc.
ReplyDeleteI've got several bags I got from the thrift store full of ties. For my someday project.
ReplyDeleteMy DH is a tie fanatic! and there are so many to choose.
ReplyDeleteI see you are hoping on the Hoffman Challenge train again. This fabric isn't my cup of tea but I'm sure you will come up with an interesting way to use it.