A drawer full of old neckties, whether inherited, outdated, or just never worn anymore, holds genuinely nice fabric that’s a shame to let sit unused. The silk or polyester blend most ties are made from sews beautifully into a whole range of projects that have nothing to do with wearing them around a neck anymore. These 15 diy necktie projects turn that forgotten drawer into necklaces, home decor, and genuinely thoughtful handmade gifts.
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1. Sort and Prep a Necktie Fabric Bundle
Starting with an assorted bundle of necktie fabric gives every other project on this list a solid range of colors and patterns to choose from without needing to already own a closet full of ties. This necktie fabric bundle works especially well for anyone new to necktie crafting, offering enough variety to experiment across several projects at once.
Materials Needed:
- Necktie fabric bundle
- Iron for pressing
- Storage bin for sorting
How to Make It:
- Sort the ties by color, pattern, or fabric weight for easier project planning.
- Press each tie flat with an iron to remove any wrinkles or folds.
- Carefully unpick the back seam if a flat piece of fabric is needed for the project.
- Store sorted ties in labeled bins for quick access during future projects.
- Set aside particularly special patterns for featured spots in bigger projects.
Necktie Fabric Bundle
Assorted necktie fabric bundle for starting a variety of craft projects
Check Price on Amazon2. Hand Sew a Fabric Necklace
Folding and stitching a strip of necktie fabric into a rosette or twisted shape creates a genuinely unique fabric necklace unlike anything found in a jewelry store. This hand sewing needle kit provides the range of needle sizes needed to work with the tie’s thicker fabric layers without struggling through with the wrong tool.
Materials Needed:
- Hand sewing needle kit
- Necktie fabric
- Thread matching the fabric color
- Necklace chain or cord
How to Make It:
- Cut a strip of necktie fabric to the desired necklace pendant size.
- Fold and pleat the fabric into a rosette or preferred decorative shape.
- Stitch the folds in place using a needle and matching thread.
- Attach a small loop of thread or a jump ring to the back for the chain.
- Thread the finished pendant onto a necklace chain or cord.
Hand Sewing Needle Kit
Needle kit for hand stitching necktie fabric into wearable projects
Check Price on Amazon3. Stiffen Fabric for Structured Projects
Necktie fabric is naturally soft and drapey, which works fine for a necklace but genuinely needs reinforcement for anything requiring more structure, like a clutch or a belt. This fusible interfacing fabric irons directly onto the back of the tie material, giving it enough body to hold its shape in more structured projects.
Materials Needed:
- Fusible interfacing fabric
- Necktie fabric
- Iron
- Pressing cloth
How to Make It:
- Cut the interfacing to match the size of the necktie fabric piece being reinforced.
- Place the interfacing adhesive side down against the back of the tie fabric.
- Cover with a pressing cloth and apply a hot iron for the recommended time.
- Let the fabric cool completely before handling to ensure a full bond.
- Trim any excess interfacing along the fabric edges once bonded.
Fusible Interfacing Fabric
Iron on interfacing for stiffening soft necktie fabric projects
Check Price on Amazon4. Attach Pin Backs for a Fabric Brooch
A small folded or rosette shaped piece of necktie fabric turns into a genuinely elegant brooch once a pin back is attached to the reverse side. These brooch pin backs craft pieces glue or sew on securely, giving a finished fabric shape the functional hardware needed to actually wear it on a jacket or bag.
Materials Needed:
- Brooch pin backs craft
- Necktie fabric shaped piece
- Fabric glue or needle and thread
How to Make It:
- Complete the fabric shape or rosette that will become the brooch front.
- Position the pin back centered on the reverse side of the fabric piece.
- Attach the pin back using fabric glue or a few hand stitches for extra security.
- Let the glue dry fully if using adhesive before handling the finished brooch.
- Test the pin mechanism opens and closes smoothly before wearing.
Brooch Pin Backs Craft
Pin back hardware for turning fabric shapes into wearable brooches
Check Price on Amazon5. Sew a Decorative Throw Pillow
A row of ties stitched together into a patchwork pattern makes a genuinely striking throw pillow cover, especially once the different patterns and colors sit side by side. This project uses up several ties at once, making it a good choice for anyone with a larger collection to work through in a single sitting.
6. Create a Table Topper
Ties sewn together edge to edge in a coordinated color scheme form a small decorative table topper or runner, adding a genuinely unexpected texture to a dining or side table. This project pairs well with the mixed pattern styling used in 50 shelf styling ideas for other decor pieces that benefit from a bit of pattern mixing.
7. Craft a Christmas Ornament
A small necktie fabric shape, stuffed lightly and finished with a hanging loop, makes a genuinely sentimental ornament, especially when made from a tie that once belonged to a specific family member. This seasonal project pairs well with the same handmade holiday spirit used in hand sewing projects for other simple stitched decor.
8. Sew a Fabric Angel Decoration
Folding and stitching necktie fabric into a classic angel silhouette, complete with wings and a small head, creates a charming holiday decoration with genuine handmade character. This project works especially well made in a set from several coordinating tie patterns for a cohesive holiday display.
9. Make a Necktie Keychain
A short length of necktie fabric folded and stitched around a key ring makes one of the quickest projects on this entire list, coming together in well under an hour. This small scale project uses only scraps left over from bigger builds, making it a genuinely efficient way to use up remaining fabric.
10. Tie a Fabric Bow Accessory
Folding and gathering a section of tie fabric into a bow shape creates a versatile accessory that works as a hair clip, a gift topper, or a decorative pin depending on how it’s finished. This simple technique forms the basis for several other projects on this list, making it worth practicing early on.
11. Craft Fabric Flowers
Layering cut petal shapes from necktie fabric and gathering them at the center produces genuinely realistic looking fabric flowers, especially when mixing a few different tie patterns within one bloom. This technique pairs well with the petal shaping methods covered in 15 diy abstract canvas art techniques for anyone interested in similar layered composition work.
12. Sew a Small Purse or Clutch
A patchwork of stiffened necktie panels sewn into a small clutch shape creates a genuinely eye catching accessory that puts several favorite tie patterns on display at once. This project requires the interfacing step covered earlier to give the fabric enough structure to hold its shape as a functional bag.
13. Build a Coordinating Belt
Ties sewn end to end into a long strip, reinforced with interfacing, become a genuinely wearable belt once finished with a buckle at one end. This project works especially well using ties in a similar color family for a belt that reads as intentional rather than patchwork random.
14. Style a Necktie Skirt Panel
A skirt panel or waistband accent made from coordinating necktie fabric brings genuine texture and pattern into a garment sewing project, working especially well as a statement waistband on an otherwise simple skirt design. This more advanced project builds on the flat fabric prepping and interfacing techniques covered earlier in this list.
15. Sell Handmade Necktie Crafts
Small necktie projects like brooches, keychains, and fabric flowers consistently do well at craft markets since they combine genuine upcycled appeal with a level of detail that reads as handmade quality. Batching several of the same project type together, similar to the batch approach used in 15 easy sewing gifts, makes preparing inventory for a sale far more efficient.
Final Thoughts on DIY Necktie Projects
Old neckties genuinely deserve a second look before heading to a donation pile, since the fabric quality and pattern variety most ties offer translates beautifully into projects that have nothing to do with formalwear at all. Starting with a simple project like a brooch or keychain builds the exact folding and stitching skills needed to tackle more involved builds like a clutch or belt further down this list.
Amir Ali is the founder and site administrator of HomeDecorEdge, a modern home decor and interior design platform. Since starting the site, he has combined his passion for interior design, practical styling, and color coordination with hands-on content strategy and site management. He guides authors, curates high-quality articles, and ensures readers have access to actionable, visually inspiring, and user-focused home decor advice for apartments, small rooms, and family homes.