Guest Author - Karen Blakeney

Looking for a fun, funky way to use up those pretty old ties but really don’t want another pillow or bedspread, then try making a skirt. Now relax this is an easy project, just takes a few hours. In the true hippy spirit this one takes no pattern and is probably not the way your home Ec. Teacher would suggest.

Material List
Sewing Machine
Ties
Thread
Scissors
Seam Ripper
Hem Gauge
Tape Measure
3/4”elastic
Pins

First thing you need to do is take your hip measurement. Now no one need to know this measurement and to get this shirt if fit right you have to be honest. Add 10 to 12 inches to this measurement and save this you will need it in a little while. Also take a measurement from your waist down to your hips. Save this measurement as well. Also at this time you will need to decide if you want the skirt to be short or long.
You will also need to take a measurement of the length that you want.

Hip ________________
Waist to hip _____________________
Waist to finished length of skirt______

These measurements will be used to determine how much fabric to make.
Hip +10-12 inches_____________________________
Waist to finished length of skirt measurement + 1 1/4 inch if ties are left lined_______________
Waist to finished length of skirt measurement + 1 ½ inch if ties are unlined_________________

Next step is gathering up your ties. This step is important. When choosing your ties, check the fabric content labels. Choose all of you ties in the same fabric, example all ties in silk all ties in wool or all ties in a polly or polly blend. This is important in the after care. Each of these fabrics have a different shrink rate and will draw up differently and will also hand differently

Second step….Preparing the ties.
You will need a seam ripper and a sharp pointed pair of scissors.
You want to open your ties so that that are flat and most ties are folded and whipped stitched to give them shape. Starting at the small end of the tie, clip the thread to allow this to lay flat. You will probably find a smaller piece of fabric inside this fold (this is usually an open weave woolly looking piece of fabric), Discard this piece, this is an interfacing and not needed in our skirt. Now is the time to clean you ties, but check the washing instructions first. Once you have cleaned your ties you will have to decide weather to leave the lining in them or not (this is strictly a personal thing). If you choose to remove the lining do so with your seam ripper or scissors. With a pressing cloth and an Iron press your ties to flatten the old seam lines. Ties are cut on the bias so press, do not drag the iron across the tie, you could distort the shape.

Third step…..Making the fabric
You will be making your fabric. Start at the large end of the ties, points down, lay out your ties in a pleasing color pattern. The bottom of your fabric will be larger than the top. On the first tie, if you left the linings in the ties, you will need to mark the Once you are happy with your design start sewing the seams together. Pick up the first two ties and stitch them together with a quarter inch seam. Continue stitching the ties together till you have the Hip+10 to 12 inches measurement at the small end of the ties. The 10 to 12 inches measurement does not have to be a definite if you only have 9 or if you have 15 it’s ok. This measurement is just to give you ease to slip the skirt on. Measure the finished length from the bottom (large points) using one of the above measurements. Mark this measurement with pins and cut the ties off. Stitch the ties together to make a tube.

Fourth Finishing
If you left the lining finished you do not have to hem you skirt. If you did not leave the lining in you need to turn up a ¼ in seam press and then turn up ¼ in again and stitch the hem.
For the waist, at the smaller end of the tube, turn under ¼ in, press then turn under 1in and press and stitch along the edge. You have just made a casing. Leave about a 2in opening in this seam to allow stringing the elastic.
To determine the length of the elastic simply measure your waist and cut (no I do not add or subtract any length. Attach a large safety pin to one end of the elastic and thread through the casing being careful not to let the other end pull through and not to let the elastic twist. Once threaded lay one end of the elastic on top of the other end of elastic and stitch them together, let them slip into the casing and whip stitch the casing closed. Adjust the gather created by the elastic and you are ready to wear your skirt.