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How to Make a Zip Bag from Old Ties

My husband was about to give away a bunch of stained and old neckties, sensing a creative project I snagged them before they were donated.

I turned the old ties into these DIY Necktie Zip Pouches. A very very simple sewing project that would make great DIY gifts for your favorite guy!

Upcycled neck tie zip pouch on brown table

What Can I do with Old Ties?

I first posted this tutorial several years ago. Today I’m giving it a refresh and updating and clarifying the content and descriptions.

In the years since I’ve posted this Upcycled Neck Tie project, I’ve heard from many readers who were searching for something to do with old ties. Most of the time, it was because a special someone passed away, and they didn’t want to get rid of all of their precious items.

Upcycled neck tie zip pouch on brown table

A friend of mine had a father-in-law pass away who had 12 grandchildren. They made one of these necktie zip pouches for each of the grandchildren (boys and girls). I thought it was such a touching way to remember their loved ones.

Upcycled neck tie zip pouch on brown table

Important Details for the Neck Tie Zip Bag Tutorial

Each pouch is made from 2 ties, one for the front of the pouch and one for the back.

You will also need other supplies like interfacing and zippers. Those supplies will be listed below.

Are you surprised you can get so much fabric from a tie? So was I!

Upcycled neck tie zip pouch on brown table

I had so much fun making these that I just kept going and made more. I think that this would be a great handmade gift for a man for Christmas but would work equally for a girl.

Upcycled neck tie zip pouch on brown table

For one of the pouches I added a contrast stripe to the center (the fabric that’s on the back of the pouch). You could have a lot of fun mixing and matching the patterns of the ties.

I even reused the tag from the back of the tie, a fun little touch especially if the ties are sentimental.

Upcycled neck tie zip pouch on brown table

Want to make one? Here’s how!

DIY Necktie Zip Pouch Sewing Tutorial

necktie-zip-pouch-1

Supplies

  • 2 neckties
  • 7” metal zipper
  • Shape-Flex Fusible Interfacing
  • Fusible Fleece
  • 1 fat quarter for lining
  • Zipper foot for sewing machine

Construction Steps

necktie-zip-pouch-2

Step One: Pick the Tie Apart

Begin by carefully pulling the stitches out of the back of the necktie. Most ties are basted together and the stitches should come out easily. Open up and continue unpicking the tie down to the point.

necktie-zip-pouch-3

Next remove all of the interfacing and press the fabric from the front of the tie well. You’ll need some steam to get it to lay flat again.

Step Two: Cut your pieces and apply the interfacing

necktie-zip-pouch-5

Cutting Directions:

From the tie, cut a piece that is 10” wide and 7” tall. Start measuring 10” from the widest part of the fabric.  You can adjust the size if you need to based on the size of your tie, but this is pretty standard.

Cut a second tie piece from your other Tie fabric.

From Fusible Fleece Cut:

2 Pieces 7″ x 10″

From Shape Flex Interfacing Cut:

2 pieces 7″ x 10″

From Lining Fabric Cut:

2 pieces 7″ x 10″

necktie-zip-pouch-4

Iron the Shape-Flex interfacing onto the back of the 2 pieces cut from the tie.

Iron fusible fleece onto the back of two fabric lining pieces.

necktie-zip-pouch-6

Step Three: Create Zipper Tabs

Cut from the tie another piece of fabric that is 3” x 5”. Fold the fabric in half lengthwise and press. Open up and turn under each long end 1/4” and press.

Cut this piece in half lengthwise so that you have 2 folded pieces.

diy-christmas-gift-ideas

Pin one folded piece over the end of each end of the zipper so that 1/2” of the zipper is covered by the fabric. Top stitch in place. Trim fabric to width of zipper.

gift-idea-for-teenage-boys

Step Four: Attach the Tie Tag (optional)

Fold the tag of the tie in half and stitch to the right side of one of the cut tie pieces.

free-sewing-pattern

Step Five: Construct the Bag

Next make a “sandwich” with the zipper in the middle.

The right side of the zipper will be facing the right side of the tie fabric, the wrong side of the zipper will be facing the right side of the lining fabric.

necktie-zip-pouch-tutorial

Using a zipper foot stitch this seam, I recommend a 1/4” – 3/8” seam allowance.

diy-zip-pouch

Repeat for the other side of the zipper.

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Press the seams away from the zipper and top stitch along both sides of the zipper. This will help keep your lining out of your zipper and you zip and unzip the pouch.

how-to-sew-a-necktie-pouch

Unzip the zipper.

Finishing:

Pin the pouch with outside pieces matching and lining pieces matching. Pin zipper towards lining pieces. Stitch with a 1/2” seam allowance round the entire pouch leaving a 4” opening in the lining to turn the pouch right side out.

Clip the corners and trim the seam allowances on the lining down to 1/8”. Turn the pouch right side out. Slip stitch opening closed and press well!

Upcycled neck tie zip pouch on brown table

Have fun making zip pouches!

Upcycled neck tie zip pouch on brown table

More Sewing Projects for Men:

(or anyone for that matter! It doesn’t have to be just guys!)

How to Sew a Bow Tie (with free PDF Pattern)

Dad’s Travel Bag Sewing Pattern

Leather Trimmed Dopp Case Tutorial

Upcycled neck tie zip pouch on brown table

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49 Comments

  1. These are awesome. Thank you. A few years ago I had seen a super cute skirt made from men’s ties. The next time I went to the Salvation Army store I checked to see if they had any ties for sale and they had a ton of them. I bought a bunch of them so I’d have them when my Granddaughter was older so I could make some skirts. But, I think I might want to make some of these instead with those ties if I get time.

  2. These are such a great idea! I am always in need of little pouches to store things in, and ties at the thrift store are inexpensive which makes this a super budget friendly way of achieving them!

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  4. My husband worked at Brooks Brothers while we were dating
    These pouches will be the perfect stocking stuffer–manly, but great for travel. Thanks for the tutorial!

  5. I love this pouch! I collected a bunch of my Dad’s ties after he passed away and would love to make some of these. But what is Shape Flex fusible interfacing? I know what fusible interfacing is but I’m not familiar with Shape Flex. Is it just a brand name and any fusible would do? Thank you for sharing your tutorial.

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  7. This is such a cool idea! I love so many tie prints but didn’t know how I could use them…now I do. 🙂 Thank you!

  8. Was looking for a “guy” pouch idea and found this! Now annoyed my dad got rid of all his ties 10 years ago when he moved… guess I’ll head to the thrift store! Btw, why use interfacing + fusible fleece?? Could it work with just the fusible fleece?

  9. Have you tried expanding the sides to form a dopp kit, maybe using laminate instead of fat squares for lining? I like the idea of this zipper pouch, but my guy could use a little more room to store a razor and creams.

    1. The size of the bag is controlled by the size of the tie- since a tie is in the shape of a triangle you could make it longer but not wider. I would not recommend laminate for the interior- if you press the bag, the laminate will melt and stick together on the inside making it so you couldn’t open it. You could use laminate as long as you never ironed the pouch.

  10. I always feel the need to rescue ties at garage sales. I have a box of them and now have a great new project to try. Great tute. Thanks so much for sharing.

  11. Melissa, Thank you so much for this tutorial. I found it on Pinterest and I’m making a bunch as gifts for my quilt group. Here’s one thing I learned that helped immensely:
    When I used the older real silk ties, I found the fabric slid around and stretched out of shape so I thought I had a nice square cornered rectangle and then when I moved it, I did not…and then it didn’t match the other one I cut. So I finally got smart and cut the shape and flex FIRST, then ironed it onto the tie and cut. MUCH easier. Also, I could plan placement of pattern better that way too.

  12. Hello my family member! I want to say that this article is awesome, great written and come
    with almost all significant infos. I would like to look more posts like this .

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  14. Brilliant idea! Being a male on the older side & a sewer, I have a wardrobe of old ties I no longer use, but I will now!

  15. I can’t seem to turn pouch right so lineing is inside pouch….am I laying pieces together wrong.is there
    a utube demo….

  16. These are so adorable! However, I don’t think I can pull this off! Any chance you sell these?
    Thanks for your time and Happy Holidays!

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  18. A few years ago, upon his passing, my Nan gave me a bag of my Gramps’ ties. One includes his Royal Canadian Air Force tie. I’m going to do this with the ties and give them to my Nan, mom and sisters. I think they’ll love the keepsake of him. Thank you for such a wonderful idea.

  19. Melissa, thank you so, I love this idea! I have a box my uncle’s, my fathers’ oldest brother, and my fathers ties (both long past), this would be a very special gift to make all my cousins, siblings and nieces and nephews.

  20. Melissa, this looks like a great project. My husband has so many ties that he never wears now that he is retired. For almost 40 years he wore a tied almost every day so he has quite an assortment and almost never wears one. Question: I notice you said to use a metal zipper. I have lots of zippers from years of making clothing plus a stash recently acquired from my mother’s sewing stuff, now that she no longer sews. Is there a reason for using a metal zipper over the plastic one before I set out to make a bunch of these for the kids and the grand kids?

  21. Thank you so much for sharing this pattern and idea with everyone. I have kept a lot of ties from my father-in-law who passed a few years ago. My two daughters were very close to him and this will be a great project for me to make for them so that they will have a little something more from him. I know that they will appreciate this thoughtful pattern.

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