How to turn neckties into a ruffled scarf

Nancy Gamon, who makes hats, lampshades, checkbook covers and just about anything else out of neckties, shares her instructions for a good beginner's project, a scarf:

Necktie Ruffle Scarf

Supplies

Four neckties in coordinating colors

Seam ripper

Scissors

Thread

Sewing machine

Preparing the neckties

Use a seam ripper or sharp scissors to take apart the neckties by snipping and removing the threads in the long seam running on the back of each tie. Take out the lining (it won't be used). Hand wash the ties in mild detergent and hang them overnight to drip dry. Iron them flat, using the wool/silk setting. Some of the creases may not press out completely. When the scarf is made, the ruffles will hide any creases.

Making the scarf

Note: It's not necessary for the ties to be the same length. Matching their centers will get them close enough.

1. Lay one necktie face up and another on top of it face down, matching centers and overall shape. Line up the long edges on one side as best you can (they won't meet perfectly) and pin them together every 4 or 5 inches. Sew them together, using a straight stitch and a ½-inch seam. Do the same with the remaining two neckties.

2. Sew the two sets of ties in a tube: Lay one pair face up, with the wide tips of the ties to the left, and lay the other pair on top of them face down, with the wide tips to the right, matching centers. Line up the long edges on one side as best you can (they won't meet perfectly) and pin them together every 4 or 5 inches. Do the same with the long edges on the other side. Sew the pieces together along each side using a straight stitch and a ½-inch seam. (Do not sew across the short ends.)

3. Turn the necktie tube right-side out. Sew across the short ends to close the ends of the tube by positioning the tube so that on each end, the large tips are over each other and the small tips are also over each other. The tips won't line up perfectly. Let them be how they fall naturally, and use a few pins to hold them in place. Topstitch the ends closed, following the natural zig-zag shape of the tips (sew as close as you can to the edge).

4. The tube needs ruffles: Starting at one short end, sew down the middle of the tube, ending at the other side, gently scrunching the fabric under the machine's presser foot as you go. (Scrunch a little for a lightly ruffled, longer scarf. Scrunch a lot for a shorter scarf with heavier ruffles.)

See Gamon's creations at www.etsy.com/shop/nancygamon and www.flickr.com/photos/8027875@N06/4686480967

More ties: To see what others are creating with neckties, visit the following websites:

• www.etsy.com/shop/glamarita

• peppermintpinwheels.com

• rickrackruby.blogspot.com

• sewingwithneckties.blogspot.com

• woofnanny.blogspot.com