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I plan to use some silk ties in piecing projects, but I’m not sure if I should rip them apart first and then wash them, or throw them in the washer first. I’m a firm believer in pretreating fabrics, and since I’m planning on making vests and purses with the ties, I don’t want the finished projects to shrink. Any suggestions out there?
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I think that you will achieve the best results by leaving the ties as is and putting them in a commercial dry cleaning machine or using the new product for dry-cleaning called Dry-el, I believe. It is quite inexpensive. I don't spend the time to take any ties apart until I am certain that I will be using them. I think you would have a raveled mess if you washed them.
There are at least 3-4 books published about working with ties. I checked them out from the library and they were most helpful. There were great ideas.
*I love making things from old vintage ties. I also have a problem with washing them. I sometimes get them out of thrift stores or I get a bag for a dollar at a flea market. So they can be pretty dirty. I don't know about the silk ones but when I wash the ties I find that if I don't take apart the seams first they come out of the wash all raggedy and with the lining fabric all bunched up inside so that I end up doing a lot of ironing. I find that after taking apart a tie that the fabric often has a hem around the edge. So I would wash after taking out the back seam and the lining.Some of the really gaudy ties that you wouldn't be caught dead wearing make excellent piping.I would like to hear more about the books you mention.
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