Modifying Ties?

[tiecollector]

Anyone have any good links on how to modify ties? I have some ties I bought last year that I really don't like anymore so I want to try and salvage them by turning them into skinny or more narrow ties.

 

[aph999]

http://tiecrafters.com

 

[Matt]

i dont think it can be that complex

My maid put one of my Nickys in the washing machine (argh), it dissolved whatever it is that holds the lining together.

Took it into the shirtless sweaty shirtmaker who pulled it to bits, pressed it flat and had it relined and back around my neck in a couple of hours. 10000 dong well spent.

Im pretty sure he could have found a way to change its shape etc while he had it in bits if I had wanted him to (new narrower lining, refold, repress, restitch)

(disclaimer - but what the hell do i know?)

edit - oops misread the OP and thought you wanted narrow ties wider, edited to reflect the reread

 

[LARon]

Tiecrafters gets my vote. I've had them narrow probably two dozen ties over the years. They do about as good a job as anyone, or as good as can be hoped for.

 

[tiecollector]

tiecrafters seems like a good deal if you pay $100+ for your ties. I only pay $30 max for mine. The ties I am thinking about altering cost me about $20 I think. I could just go out and buy new ties for the cost of altering almost. I'm doing this more for fun anyways.

It can't be that difficult really. I have some basic textile tools that I can use. I'll take before and after pics. I just worry about getting them symmetrical.

 

[j]

I've done it myself. It's really not that hard. The most difficult thing is doing it without either smashing the new edges flat or snagging the silk. I suggest cutting out a piece of cardboard in the shape you want the tie to be (probably just the wide end would be fine) and using that as a template to cut the lining. If you had one of those rolling cutters it would be a lot easier.

 

[Jared]

Just out of curiousity: some fashion writers claim that ties go out of fashion faster than any other piece of menswear. Whether that's exactly true or not, it seems in my limited experience that old ties look old not only in shape but also in pattern. Do you guys feel that your reshaped ties are wardrobe stalwarts or just passable?

 

[tiecollector]

The patterns can go out of style and they are probably unsalvagable unless they somehow come back in style. My tie is only about a year old and I think the pattern is fine. I'll post pics. I just did it and it looks fine even though the back is kinda shady.

For a basic solid or classic print though I think they can last a while.

 

[tiecollector]

Alright, took me about 3 hours on and off but I modified it. I basically wanted to do it without having to mess with the already finished wide tip here is basically what I did and it looks decent. Worried that I didn't stitch it well enough. They are a little too far apart and too loose but we'll see, if worse comes to worse then I'll just have to restitch it. The tie:

Deconstruction begins:

Mark off 1cm in from the corners:

Remove padding and connect the dots:

Cut along the line:

Press out the creases in the silk but remember to turn down your iron settings!

Stitch padding back to where it was:

Fold silk over on the left side. After trial and error I actually had to approximate some silk to cut off:

Stitch from the bottom up. Make sure that the tip is symmetrical. I measured 5cm up each diagonal and then creased it with an iron. As you go up, fold the silk as close to the padding as possible.

Not pretty, but it works:

Took out a little too much silk up top, have to use some superglue on the edge to make sure it doesn't fray:

I like the small argyle print much better on the narrow version of the tie. That is a FIH knot. I'd tuck in the shirt but I'm wearing my pajamas.

 

[Master Shake]

Originally Posted by Jared

Just out of curiousity: some fashion writers claim that ties go out of fashion faster than any other piece of menswear.
This is probably true. As Mortimer Levitt wrote, this is another reason to maintain classic style. Widths and patterns go in and out of fashion, but classic style does not.

 

[tiecollector]

Originally Posted by Master Shake

This is probably true. As Mortimer Levitt wrote, this is another reason to maintain classic style. Widths and patterns go in and out of fashion, but classic style does not.

Shopping is too fun though.

 

[Master Shake]

Originally Posted by tiecollector

Shopping is too fun though.
Heh, true, although I find now I'm drawn only to classically styled items. In any event, I neglected to say, nice job on the tie.

 

[tiecollector]

Originally Posted by Master Shake

Heh, true, although I find now I'm drawn only to classically styled items. In any event, I neglected to say, nice job on the tie.

I like to have a mix. Need the classic stuff to wear on any occasion. The fashiony stuff for when yer feelin' sassy.

 

[LARon]

It's true: no matter how classic the style, they all tend to grow stale after a while. And, like anything else, we tend to take even the most classic of ties for granted and feel the need, from time to time, to update our look. Add to this the fact that silk manufacturers and designers are constantly improving their textures and colorations and our general desire to shop -- to move around in stores filled with the look and feel of shiny new things -- and it becomes clear why no tie lasts forever.

 

[j]

Pretty good process, but to be picky, the result leaves a few things to be desired, all of which I'm sure you will improve on next time. The major issue I have is that the pattern is now off-axis and still off-center (granted, it was off center to begin with, so it wasn't the easiest one to work on).