True North Quilted Tie

The other day I was talking with Trisha about the upcoming Project QUILTING Challenges.  Now – if you remember – I have no idea what the challenges are until a day or so before they are posted.  I don’t want an unfair advantage even though I can’t win any prizes.  (oh – and I can’t keep a secret).  Anyway – I was saying how I really wanted to make a long and skinny project and Trish just started laughing.  She knew the next challenge was going to be “well-dressed man” and what fits that challenge that could be long and skinny?  A tie of course!  She didn’t say this to me though until after the challenge was posted and reminded me of her laughter.

Of course – I had to do a tie and I wanted to make it so it could actually be tied.  I took one of my husbands ties for reference and pulled out my copy of Chris Lynn Kirsh’s book “Compass Capers.”  I was inspired by my husband for this challenge – he rarely wears a tie but when he does – damn! He is a land surveyor so the mariner’s compass block always reminds me of him.  And orange is his favorite color so that was an obvious color choice. 

For the first attempt I drew out a really long and skinny compass – but I drew it on shiny, slippery paper and when I tried to sew all the skinny pieces I kept sliding around on the paper and things were just not fitting as perfectly as I wanted.

So – I decided to start over and modify my design. This time I drew out the main sketch on Therm O Web’s StitchNSew paper.  I taped three sheets together to make it long enough.  This paper is great for paper piecing with and it tears away really nicely. 

Using this paper I was able to piece the mariner’s compasses much more precisely.  I chose a navy blue fabric with a thin gold stripe as my background.  I love how it contrasts with the orange and it also really makes it look like a proper tie.  

It wasn’t long until I had my tie finished.  I finished it by facing the binding so it looks sharp.  It’s a bit thicker than a normal tie.

My sister-in-law’s fiance was here yesterday and he tied it for me so I could show you that it can be tied!  I guess it was too thick for a half windsor but he made it look decent.

And here is my husband modelling the tie!  LOL!  I said he rarely wears them!

And the best well-dressed man has his daughter in his lap.

and the other two by his side. What a fun project!  I’m thinking I might make some sort of series with these tie quilts … we’ll just have to see!