How to Make a Recycled Necktie Scrap Cuff

October 3rd, 2008 in sewing, patterns & designs, fashion, restyle

This quick project uses up scraps from your deconstructed silk neckties. If you're starting from scratch, you can take a look at my previous tutorial for deconstructing a necktie. If you already have a pile of necktie-silk scraps, then cut six pieces, each measuring 2 inches x 3 inches. (A rotary cutter and ruler might make this easier.)

What you'll need:

• Assorted silk scraps from deconstructed neckties
• Lightweight fusible interfacing
• Scissors
• Iron
• Sewing machine
• Coordinating thread
• 8-inch oval elastic cord, black
• Scrap of silk (or poly blend) backing fabric
• Interior padding from one necktie
• Double-sided fusible webbing
• Two 1/4-inch buttons
• Hand-sewing needle
  

 

Cut six 2-inch x 3-inch pieces of necktie silk, and fuse lightweight interfacing to the backs.

Using the package instructions, fuse a piece of lightweight interfacing to the back of each silk piece.

Sew along the 3-inch edge, using a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

Sew these pieces together in a row, matching the 3-inch sides. Sew with a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

Wrap the strip around your wrist to check the length. Add more pieces as needed.

Once you've sewn five of the pieces together, take a moment to wrap the strip around your wrist. If the two ends overlap by at least 1 inch, stop sewing and proceed to the next step. If not, then add the remaining piece. If you need to, you can even cut, fuse, and sew on a seventh piece.

Press seam allowances open. Cut a piece of backing fabric.

When the cuff is the right length for you, press all the seam allowances open. Then, cut a piece of backing fabric the same size as the cuff.

Sew the cuff to the backing with a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

Pin the cuff to the backing fabric, right sides together. Sew them together, using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Begin sewing in the middle of one long edge, as shown.

Cut two 4-inch lengths of elastic cord to insert into one end of the cuff.

Sew until you reach the corner. Turn the fabric and stop. Now, cut two 4-inch lengths of oval elastic cord. Fold one in half, as shown.

Insert the folded end of the elastic between the two layers of fabric.

Insert the folded end of the elastic between the two layers of fabric. Position the elastic so that about half of it is inside the fabric and the other half is outside. It should also be about 1 inch from the topmost corner.

Sew back and forth over the elastic several times for extra stability.

Continue sewing, holding the elastic in place. When you've sewn over the elastic, sew back over it in reverse, and then forward back over it a third time. You want it to be extra secure. Sew forward another 1/2 inch, then repeat this process to install the second elastic loop.

Leave a 3-inch gap in the seam along one long edge. You'll use this to turn the cuff right side out.

Finish sewing the two layers together, leaving about a 3-inch gap along one long edge, as shown. Clip all four corners.

Cut a piece of interior padding from one of your deconstructed neckties. Fuse it to the wrong side of the cuff.

Next, cut a strip from the interior padding you removed from one of your neckties. This strip should be just large enough to fit inside the seamline you've just sewn. Use the package directions to fuse this padding strip to the wrong side of the cuff. (If you're unfamiliar with fusible webbing, learn more here.)

Turn the cuff right side out and press.

Once that strip of padding is fused, then use that gap in the seam to turn the whole thing right side out. Gently poke a chopstick or pencil into the corners from the inside so they're nice and sharp. Press the cuff flat.

Sew the gap closed with a tiny slipstitch.

Turn the raw edges of the seam gap under, and sew the gap closed with a tiny slipstitch.

Topstitch around all four sides, 1/8 inch from the edge.

Time to do a little machine-quilting now. I like to stitch around all four sides, 1/8 inch from the edge. This not only finishes the edge, but it also gives you one more chance to sew over those elastic loops.

Stitch along the seamline between each piece of the cuff.

Then, I like to stitch in the ditch at the point where each piece is joined. This gives the patchwork a nice definition.

Sew on two buttons to finish the closure.

Once that's done, determine how much the ends of the cuff need to overlap to fit comfortably on your wrist. Sew two buttons to the opposite end of the cuff from the elastic loops. And you're all set to wear it!

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