Friday 6 March 2009

More Ties

This afternoon I had a few minutes to spare so I had a play. In the latest issue of Stitch magazine Margaret Beal has a project on using a soldering iron to make buttons. I've been wanting to try this.








I had already prepared a heap of ties. I heated up the iron and started cutting out. The first one I tried was too thick. The article says 4 - 5 underlayers before placing the top layer on. I ended up using only 2 layers for the brown buttons. It was a very thick tie.








I gently ran around the edge with the iron to smooth the edges.







I eyeballed the placement of the button holes.







I tried a number of different polyester ties and decided that not all polyester is created equal. Some just would not burn easily.













With these I deliberately placed the template over creases. I want to see if they will press out or if I have to do this first.












I've burned the hole toward the top of the shape. I'm going to see how the sit as earrings. The brown Button will be listed on Etsy tomorrow.

5 comments:

bubbachenille said...

This is so unusual, although I dont get what the soldring iron is for, does that cut around the fabric and seal it??
The fabric is great though....anything in pink ?

Trish Goodfield said...

Yes, the Soldering Iron seals the layers together. I haven't got any pink polyester ties but I will keep my eye out. I can't believe that ties that colour exist.

Chrisy said...

This is very interesting...have never heard of it before...tie fabrics tho are exquisite...I'm a third of the way through making a queensize crazy quilt from old silk ties and have a big stockpile...

Trish Goodfield said...

I love Crazy Patchwork, can't wait to see the bedspread.

Judy Scott said...

fab buttons, I did this with Margaret a couple of years ago in a fabulous workshop with sheers and scarfs and all manner of things ~ have a lovely week ~ Judy xx