Thank you all for your suggestions! I've started breaking down the shirts and it's going well - much easier than expected thanks to your post Renata. Is there any specific interfacing anyone recommends? I really don't want it to be noticeably stiff in the final quilt.

You bet ! And they are beautiful ! I've seen several over the years ! I have to admit I have a bx of
ties waiting to become something !!

Great advice from all! I also liked the necktie quilt in the URL you passed on, Marilyn---that would be one way for me to learn how to do a Dresden plate, wouldn't it?

Search google for necktie quilts and lots of sites come up. This one looked very interesting and informative...

http://www.ludlowquiltandsew.co.uk/free-quilt-and-sew-patterns/free-quilt-patterns/silk-necktie-quilt-pattern/

Ritzi's plan worked for me yrs ago !!

Just to add to Rosemary's great advice(just what I would have said); after you take them apart--wash, dry and press them before putting the iron-on interfacing. I found when I did the tee-shirt quilts that I did that once the interfacing was on them I didn't have to worry about straight of grain--test it--you might get lucky.

Your details are a good reminder, Rosemary, thank you. Carole, the weaving idea sounds intriguing--will definitely keep it in my hip-pocket!

For ties, you just need to remove the label on the back and then open up the back seam and point tips, easy-peasy. However they are usually made of a soft silk, so I would recommend that you use some iron-on interfacing to help stabalise the fabric. Also they are cut on the bias so you will have to take that into account when you start cutting them - you might need to piece them 'sideways' to get lengthways on grain strips - just knowing this will probably make it easier to work out how to incorporate them.

I saw something this week on ties on the bulletin board at my local thrift shop. This woman took ties and somehow wove them & sewed them that way. She had made a pillow out of them. I can't share since it wasn't on-line, but you could try googling it.

Jdeluka wrote:
Let us know if you do find something for ties... I've convinced my husband to thin down his silk tie collection and have plenty for a quilt!

Thank you so much! That's exactly what I needed! Just need to find something for the ties now

Bonnie Hunter has a segment on her website on "Deboning a Shirt" http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/04/deboning-shirt-movie.html.

I know I've seen an episode or two on how to cut apart dress shirts and men's ties for string/strip piecing but for the life of me I can't find the shows! I want to make a quilt for my father using his old dress shirts and ties as a retirement gift but I can't remember how they recommended cutting everything apart to get the most fabric from each piece. I know I could wing it but I was hoping someone out there may have a suggestion or two about which shows to watch/websites to visit. I was hoping to make a log cabin or barn building block, but I don't know if I'll have enough fabric to make it the size I want if I don't do it right! I'd love for the entire quilt top to be made of his clothes rather than store bought fabric (or extra shirts/ties from good will).

Thank you all for your help!