Somewhere in this city lives a man who once possessed
hundreds of fine silk ties. Why he had so many, I don't really know.
Nor do I know why he donated all those beautiful ties to the Dallas Area Fiber Artists. When I joined the organization last October, the
ties were being sold in color-coordinated packages of nine for $5.
Their purpose was to be used in the 2019 Tie One On members'
challenge. The main requirement was that the ties compose 80% of the objet
created using them.
For only $5 I couldn't pass up a pack of ties even
though I didn't think I would be entering the challenge, having a
line-up of other projects that claimed priority. And, indeed, it
wasn't until July, the very month that the entries had to be turned
in, that I decided to participate. A search of Pinterest will show
you a mind-boggling array of creations using men's ties, but in the
end I decided to do what I know best: make a garment. Specifically, a
vest, since that uses a minimal amount of fabric.
For my pattern I simply changed the neckline on Vogue
9478 (from the 1990s) which has side panels joining the fronts and
back. Beginning with the fronts, I moved my selected ties around on
each pattern piece until I felt that the fabric from each tie was
being used optimally, then cut the tie fabric apart. Originally I had
intended to piece and sew them onto some very lightweight non-woven
interfacing, but after having pieced the entire vest, it seemed to
need more structure, so I removed and pieced them onto iron-on
interfacing. Exposed edges on each piece were turned under and
stitched with metallic thread. A button was found in my button box,
with three little blue glass beans added to pick up the pattern in
the foulard of the neckband. The biggest expense was gray silk
lining from Dharma, which I felt the lovely silk of the ties
themselves deserved. 
While I didn't win any of the challenge prizes, I did
enjoy the project, although I'm not sure I can envision actually
wearing the vest. It has joined the Texas road map vest which I made
also as a DAFA project. Now there's a recycled fashion show coming up
for October; wonder what I could make for that...
