Tree skirt from 24 thrift store neckties. I was inspired by a design I saw online for $1200. Naturally, I thought I could make it myself for a lot less ! Ha ha ha I now know why they cost $1200. It was a ton of work.
I drafted the pattern in CorelDRAW and then cut the pattern pieces from acetate. If you want to buy a pattern that’s similar, try a “Dahlia quilt.”
To get the ties from “tie” to “fabric,” I unpicked the long back seam of each, and ripped out the interfacing. Because ties are cut on the bias, I stabilized the tie fabric with iron-on interfacing before cutting.
I sewed together each set of pieces into a long curved section, then sewed 6 of those sections together. Six sections was 1/4 of the skirt. Then I sewed 2 quarters together, and the other two quarters together to have 2 half skirts. Then I basted the last two seams, adjusted the seam to make the skirt lie flat, and sewed the seam for real.
The backing fabric is a neutral plaid that reminded me of suit fabric. I bound the center circle and outside points with continuous bias binding that I made from burgundy fabric.
I thought sewing the curved seams, and matching up the pieces at the seam lines was going to be the biggest challenge (I’m not a quilter). But no, in fact, it was sewing the inside points of the binding that was the WORST.
Also, arranging the pieces in a pleasing pattern without…too many stripes together! Too many RED together! and so forth was a whole day of hmmmm…nope. How about this?
This is magnificent! All you tedious steps and patience really paid off. I can imagine that all the features of the material that make a neck tie work would make it a real bear to work with!
I have about that much neckties in my Room of Requirement, but I’m not going to follow your lead. This looks like way too much work for me.
You did an amazing job!
This is a daunting fiddly project and your result is fantastic!!! I have made a few small items from ties & I just found them slippery enough that I never could get a straight seam!
The iron-on stabilizer took care of that. Not only did it stop the fabric from stretching, but it gave the feed dog something to grip, and it kept the edges from raveling.
You could total still use it with a real tree! Awkward maybe, but doable & so worth it. It’s simply gorgeous, I’ve come back for another look so many times!.
Hi, I am the designer of the original for this tree skirt pattern.
There were only a dozen or less made and these were made and sold for a charitable organization about 20 years ago, published in the Paula Deen magazine.
When the project was completed, I destroyed the original draft. I am so pleased you were inspired and recreated it. (…and now understand the price lol)
I still have the first one made (which is the one most published - search Kaleidoscope Tree Skirt.
Happy sewing everyone!
I am delighted to know who designed the original. It’s fantastic! The pleasing palette of colors that you were able to pull together was something I did not manage to duplicate.
And as to the price, goodness, yes, it took absolutely hours. I really enjoyed the process, however.
Rest assured, I have not distributed my version of the pattern, nor will I. (There was a woman in one of my Facebook groups who called me every name in the book because I refused to share it with her. I TOLD her it was not my design to share, and she was unrelenting. The nerve.)
Equally delighted to read your message! I did search for “Kaleidoscope Tree Skirt” but didn’t find yours. Maybe you’d share a link or photos?
Such a marvelous project & work of art.
