Easy DIY - Vintage Tie Belt

I haven't posted anything in a looong time.  I've been busy with family, business...life in general and more specifically, this little life.

Ooooh!  Isn't she the cutest?  This is my little granddaughter Elizabeth Mae.  We call her Mae.  She is almost seven weeks old and I can't get enough of her!  I could sit and stare at her, smell her and nibble on her cheeks all day long. 


Ok, enough staring, smelling and nibbling.  I will post more pictures later (you've been warned!), but the purpose of my post today is a DIY.  This is one that I have been asked to post several times.  This DIY is easy-peasy!  Years ago, I sold these tie belts at a local craft fair.

Now, I know that some male member of your family has a load of ties gathering dust in the back of their closet.  If not, your local thrift store has racks and racks of them, in every color, pattern and style imaginable.  I love this belt because it's adjustable, colorful and has vintage appeal with a twist.  Menswear is definitely making a comeback this fall and this is a great way to incorporate menswear into your everyday look.

Okay, let's get to it.  Here's what you will need.

• a tie
• a buckle
• scissors
• needle and thread
• a straight pin
• measuring tape

Before you do anything, take your measurements.  Measure around your waist or hips, wherever the belt will sit.  Add 4.5" to allow for the knot and the end you are sewing onto the buckle.  Add another several inches for the drop.  That is how far you want the end to hang down.  I usually prefer 8" but you can make it shorter or longer.  Confused?  It's simple.

Waist - 30" (or your waist size)
Knot - 4.5"
Drop - 8"
TOTAL - 42.5" (and yes, I used my fingers to add that up)

This is how much necktie you will need.  They come in varying lengths so make sure there's enough material to work.

1.  Snip off the end of the tie at the desired length.  I love the colors in this vintage Lanvin tie.  Too pretty not to be seen!

2.  Fold the fabric through the buckle.  I took the buckle off of an old belt and then used pliers to yank off that little metal thingy that goes through the hole in the belt, but you can buy a simple D-ring or a more elaborate buckle at your local fabric shop.

3.  Fold the fabric under itself and pin it in place.  Make sure the back of the buckle lines up with the back of the tie before you start sewing!

4.  With your handy-dandy needle and thread, stitch along the sides and end of the fabric, as shown.  To make it more secure you will want your stitches closer together than shown in the picture.

Voila!  You are done!  Want to know how to tie it in the knot as shown above?  Read on.

Put the belt around your waist

Place the end of the tie into the buckle and pull it up, with the wrong side facing out.  Tighten it on your waist.

Bring the tie back over and into the buckle, pulling straight down.

Adjust the knot.  Ta Da!

Make one (or two or three) for yourself and a few for your friends!

LOVE VINTAGE?  Check out the Jenny and Pearl etsy shop here.

LOVE T-SHIRTS?  Check out the Jenny and Pearl Copious shop here.

LOVE DIY?  Check out this simple jewelry storage solution.

DIY 1 Hour Project - Yardstick Jewelry Peg Rack

I recently moved my office/studio into our daughter's old bedroom.  I gave it a fresh coat of paint and have been slowly organizing my supplies and product to make it my own little perfect getaway.  I love it!

One of the things I really needed was a place to hang chains so they would be accessible and untangled for my jewelry making.  As I was scouring the garage for inspiration (yes, I find inspiration in odd places), I came across an old yard stick that had just the right amount of wear and vintage appeal.

I've taken that yardstick and made myself the perfect peg rack for my chains.  So, if you are looking for a fun and easy project (won't take you more than an hour, I promise), find an old yard stick or, if you don't need quite as much space, use a ruler, and follow my step-by-step instructions.

Step 1 - Assemble all your tools.  For this project you will need a hammer, a yardstick, a small nail, cup hooks or eye hooks.  You can buy cup hooks at the grocery store, hardware store, Wal Mart, etc.  I started with eye hooks but switched them out for cup hooks further on, since I felt they would hold more.

Make sure your hooks have a small screw, to avoid splitting the wood.

Step 2 - Every two inches, nail a hole into the wood to make it easier to screw in your hooks.  NOTE:  Do not try to put a hook too close to the edge or the wood will split.

My first attempt, with an old ruler.  Too close to the edge.

Step 3 - Screw your hooks into the nail holes.  I used a drill bit to help hold the small hook and give leverage.

By now, your yardstick should look something like this.

Step 4 - Make sure your yardstick is level.  Trust me, if it's not, it will irritate you every time you glance at it.

Step 4 - Use screws to attach it to the wall. Again, do not screw to close to the edge.  Do I sound like a broken record here?  Go in at least one inch.  You may need drywall anchors if you want it to hold a lot of weight.

Here's the finished project hanging on the wall by my work table.  I love the way the sun shines into my room and the beautiful aqua paint on the walls.  

Next week I will show you the rest of my space, where I work, dream and create!

I would love to see your version of this fun project.  What would you use this for?  A towel rack, key rack.  Be creative!  Post it on my Facebook page to show your craftiness!