Top Ten Uses for Old Neckties

An abundant selection can lead to an abundance of indecision, particularly when it comes to neckties. The colors, patterns and even textures can leave you wondering where to begin.

Perhaps you’ve begun culling the collection of your significant other. Or if you are very disciplined maybe you’re weeding out ties from your own collection. The question then becomes what to do with those old neckties?

At J&O Fabric Store we’ve taken it upon ourselves to provide you with some ideas of how to recycle old or unwanted neckties without throwing them away. Here are our top ten ideas for giving old ties new life.

When Life Gives You Scraps, Make a Quilt!

Over the years, I have had the pleasure of not only being inspired by a myriad of crafty customers from around the world who have purchased fabrics from us to start, complete, and add-on to various quilts they are creating, but educated on the numerous methods of creating such masterpieces. From politically inspired designs that emerged after Barack Obama made history by becoming our nations first African-American president, to charitable quilts created by individuals and organizations whose hearts are as wide as the sea, the creativity abounds and continues to inspire. And though I never thought much about learning how to quilt in the more conventional sense, seeing just how unique and creative some of the projects turn out that have been shared with us via email, have certainly made me more excited about trying my hand at creating something close to one in my own way.
 
I especially love both the memory and rag quilts that utilize various prints, colors, patterns and even photographs to form the final work of art destined to become a memorable gift to be cherished and maybe even-handed down for generations to come. I can just see it now, for my dad, I can use fabric scraps saved from the numerous textile crafts I made for him in the past to create a quilt that brings back memories of family, nature, and fabric reflecting some of his favorite pastime activities like fishing and hunting. For my son who is a BIG extreme sports fan, I would combine camo, denim, an assortment of biker and skater themed novelty prints, and some solid blue and red broadcloths (his favorite colors…today) to make a quilt he throw on his bed.  As for myself, African prints and eclectic retro fabrics would suite me well.

So, in recognition of quilters everywhere, and for the road that will finally bring me to the starting point of my own quilting project, here are a few really cool quilts I came across that can offer inspiration and even some visual instruction for any novice along their journey. From crazy and rag quilts, to strip and tied quilts, there is a technique for everyone; even those of us who may not necessarily want to sew. Sew ENJOY!      

J&O Featured Crafty Customer of the Week: Ms. Elaine S.

Every once and awhile our wonderfully creative customers will bring a finished project in to show us just what they do with our fabrics once their treasured finds leave the store.

One such customer is Ms. Elaine S. who fashioned these two fabulous quilts using an assortment of 100% cotton novelty prints from both our popular animal/nature and skulls/crossbones fabric collections.

Patchwork Fabric Inspired by Africa’s Baye Fall.

Long before American grandmothers were creating beautiful patchwork quilts and Hippys of the 1970s were making the same fabric construction fashionable, the Baye Fall of Senegambia were donning visually intricate looking yet humbly crafted garments from various patch worked pieces of colorful African fabric as their daily attire.

Born out of necessity, and distinguishable upon first glance, members of the Islamic based movement called Baye Fall dress in colorful yet ragged clothes, and wear their hair in a dreadlock fashion. Dedicated to doing manual work as a form of adoration to God, these men can be seen handling security during pilgrimages to Touba or even roaming the streets in search of financial donations for their religious teacher.

The Journey to the White House Quilt

In June 2008, while watching a history making event on television, Dr Joan Gaither found herself reflecting on the man on her screen standing before millions as he pleaded to the nation to be the change we are all looking for. Inspired by his success, she began stitching a quilt that would one day take us along the long yet triumphant political journey of a young man starting from Honolulu Hawaii and culminating at the steps of the White House less than six months later as the 45th President of the United States.

That man…..Barack Obama.

Boop-oop-a-Doop over to J&O Fabric Store!


When we think about the sex symbols of the 1920’s, images of long legged flappers with short bobbed hair doing the charleston and foxtrot to the latest jazz bands in shapeless shift dresses and plenty of publicly applied makeup come to mind. A fashionista of sorts who epitomized the spirit of a reckless rebel with a boyish physique and a girlish charm dancing the night away in smoky jazz houses around New York consume the memoirs of the era simply known as the “Roaring 20’s”.