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Hi I’m Pauline, this blog is where I share all the latest Funky Friends Factory News, Giveaways, Competitions plus LOTS of toy-making tips & tutorials to help you sew the cutest soft toys EVER!

Neck Tie Memory – Part TWO (includes 2 FREE Tiny Tie Patterns!)

Jun 20, 2023 | Blog, Toy-making TIPS & TUTORIALS

Terrific Tie Toys: Part Two!

Last year’s Father’s Day post about how to turn neck ties into keepsakes was one of our most popular posts ever! So this year we’ve gathered up more fun feedback photos for you.

 

Scroll down now for even more fun examples…plus TWO FREE PATTERNS (a neck tie and a bow tie) for your Funky Friends. (You can check out the original Photo Tutorial on HOW TO TURN NECK TIES INTO A SOFT TOY HERE, and see lots more Tie Toy examples!)

 

Keepsakes made from neck ties are NOT just for Father’s Day.  

This “tie retirement” toy is one of my favorites. Each pattern piece has been placed on a different tie to create this effect. You can also sew the ties together into a patchwork fabric if you prefer (see examples of both types in our Toy Tie blog post from last year HERE)

Look how sweet Butch the Bulldog looks sewn from neck ties by Carla Swinburn.

Click HERE to purchase the Bulldog pattern.

 

Dress your toys for special occasions with our FREE Toy Neck Tie Pattern!

Looking for a *FREE* neck tie sewing pattern for your toys?

 

CLICK HERE for
my FREE toy-sized
neck tie pattern!

 

Free tie pattern

 

 

Don’t have any neck ties? Just add a toy-sized toy neck tie or bow tie… for a snazzy look!

Here’s bear that Buttons the BEST DRESSED Bear wearing a shortened version of the free neck tie, sewn by Lindsey Mortimer. Lindsey say it’s proper waistcoat/tie etiquette that the neck tie never goes beyond the length of the vest, so she shortened the free neck tie a little bit to fit. (Tip: Buttons the Best Dressed Bear comes with pattern pieces for a collar, bow tie, cuffs, and felt waistcoat. So if you want the ultimate in bear fashion, he’s the pattern for you!)

Click HERE to purchase the BEST DRESSED Bear pattern.

 

Ben the BEGINNER Memory Bear likes dressing up, too! Here he is with the free neck tie, as sewn by Donna Taylor.

Click HERE to purchase the BEGINNER Bear pattern.

 

 

You can use neck ties AND the FREE toy neck tie pattern TOGETHER – why hold back?

Check out this fun version of the Calico Signature Bear pattern sewn using ties AND dressed in the Funky Friends Factory free Neck Tie Pattern, as sewn by Sam Griffiths of The Seaside Sewist.

Click HERE to purchase the Signature Bear pattern.

 

 

If you’ve got even more clothing items to work with, you can make an extra dapper bear.

Don’t be afraid to mix different types of fabrics as long as you have applied interfacing like Pellon SF101 to eliminate any stretch. Here’s Melody Memory Bear made from a tweed suit, neck ties, and hankies, wearing a neck tie! Sewn by Sue Richardson.

 

 

Melody Memory Bear is also happy wearing just a tie, as you can see from this example sewn by Andrea Peters. Andrea enlarged the free neck tie pattern a little on her home printer to achieve this look.

Click HERE to purchase the Melody Memory Bear Pattern.

 

 

Don’t leave out all the non-bear Funky Friends!

Everybody likes to get dressed up, even Lloyd Llama, as seen here wearing the free neck in a fun photo by by Stephanie Wells.

Click HERE to purchase the Llama & Alpaca Pattern.

 

 

Don’t forget the free bow tie for Calico Bear works for the other Funky Friends, too!

Looking for a *FREE* bow tie sewing pattern for your toys?

Calico loves a good bow tie, so why not make him one with this FREE Bow Tie pattern and video?  

 

Calico Signature Bears sewn from neck ties by Susan Hunter,
and they are ALL wearing bow ties!  

Memory Bear pattern sewn by Susan Hunter

 

 

Wow, what a vibrant bear! This keepsake version of the Melody Memory Bear Pattern was sewn from clothing and topped off with a bow tie sewn by Wendy Cockburn

Click HERE to purchase the Melody Memory Bear Pattern.

 

A bow tie can also be a hair bow!

Kelly Beck Praska used the free bow tie pattern as a hair bow AND bow tie on Ben the BEGINNER Memory Bear.

These bears were upcycled from a dressing gown!

Click HERE to purchase the BEGINNER Bear pattern.

 

So whether you want to make a toy out of ties or wearing a tie, you’ve got tons of fun options with Funky Friends Factory patterns!

 

Want to win a
FREE toy pattern?

 

It’s so EASY to enter the Pattern GIVEAWAY!

 

Facebook badge - Pauline McArthur

ALL you need to do is post a photo of a FUNKY FRIENDS FACTORY toy that you have made on the Funky Friends Factory Facebook Page .

At the end of each month I draw a winner and post the winner’s name on the Blog the following MONTH. I have an Album on Facebook for all the MAKEROFTHEMONTH winners. You can check it out HERE!

 

 

NOT on Facebook? ENTER by email! 😀

*** You can send me your photos by email too!

 

So come on! Share your photos  ~> The next winner could be YOU!!!

Pauline McArthur
Till next time, happy sewing,

Pauline
xxx

2 Comments

  1. Sorcha

    Hi Pauline, I was wondering how to add a button to a bow. I have been trying to add it to the bow tie I made, but nothing seems to work. any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Pauline

      Hey, Sorcha, I would use velcro myself as I can’t sew a button hole. 🙃

      Reply

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