Tie Coffee Cup Cozies

Here it is folks, part two of my tie tutorials.  I think once I am done making tie related items for this baby shower I might be over my obsession with ties.  While I still love the colors, patterns and fabrics they come in I am also learning that they can be a bit hard to work with.  I am in no sense of the word an expert seamstress, so I am sure there are much easier ways to sew ties than how I am doing it.  But, even if it's a little frustrating I am still able to sew them.

A couple of years ago a friend of mine gave me a fabric cozy to use on my daily coffee run.  In those days I would go get a cup of fancy schmancy coffee every morning (large mocha, no whip cream, soy milk).  It always seemed like a waste to have the coffee cup, lid and the paper wrap around it to keep your hands from getting too hot.  My friend found this cozy at a craft sale and I faithfully used it for several years.  Now, we have a Keurig in the office and I use that for my morning coffee.  It's not quite as good but the cash it saves me is worth a little sacrifice on the taste.  Every once in a while I still go get my fancy coffee because some days you just need that pick me up.  Upon contemplating what to do with all of the ties I have and how to make them into baby shower favors I decided that they would make excellent coffee cozy's.  So, here is my little tutorial on how I made these little guys.

P.S. if anyone knows the official name of what these are called I would love to know.  I think I just made the name up myself!

The Inspiration

What to avoid

You will need:

Tie (shocking, I know)

Button that corresponds with your tie

Ponytail holder

Cut off approximately 14" of the tie, using the larger end of the tie. 

Fold the unfinished edge of the tie over two times and pin in place.  I folded over about 3/4 of an inch and then folded that over again. 

Folded once

Folded twice

Pin in place

Next, sew up the folded over, pinned edge.

I am going to just tell you right now that I had a bit of trouble getting this to sew smoothly, for some reason the material did not want to move through the machine so I had to pull and prod it through a bit.  Not sure if this was the material, the machine or my sewing skills.  It was probably my sewing skills!  But, I wanted to throw that in there so in case you have the same issue you know it's not just you!

I sewed this edge 2-3 times to make sure it was really closed and solid

Next, sew the ponytail holder onto the tip end of the tie.  I did this part by hand and did not sew right on the tip but a tiny bit in so that it would be secure. 

Next, grab your button and measure about 7" from the tip of the tie.  Sew the button between 7-8" from the tip of the tie.  I also sewed mine towards the top of tie so that the opening was smaller at the bottom and would form a cone around the cup. 

Lastly, wrap around a coffee cup, secure ponytail holder around button and sip your favorite hot beverage!

This cup is not the best example since it is so short, but you get the idea, right?

Here are a couple I have done, only 12 more to go before the shower!

This could also be a fun addition to a coffee lovers Christmas gift!  Grab a basket, a coffee gift card, some actual coffee and throw in one of these babies and you will have one happy coffee drinker!

Hint, Hint, Hint - Another new tutorial!

Yep, I am still working on favors for my friends baby shower.  Yep, I am still on the tie theme.  I am really excited about this next one.  Here is a little hint.

Tie Key Chain

Ok - the teasing is over, here is the tutorial for the tie key chains.  Anyone who has been in my craft area in the basement knows that I have a thing for ties (not a 50 shades thing, I just love the colors and patterns).  I have had a bin of ties sitting around for awhile.  I have experimented with various uses for them, purses, jewelry, etc. but I have never quite found the perfect thing to make out of them.  Then, a friend of mine became pregnant with a little baby boy and my genius friend Adrea suggested that we do a tie theme for the shower.  The perfect opportunity to force me to find a use for the ties I had been hording for the last couple of years.  After thinking long and hard about what to make I decided that the first tie project would be tie key chains as favors for all the guests.  Once I sat down to start making them I was very pleasantly surprised to find that they were relatively easy to make (a double bonus!). 

You will need:

Handbag Hardware Latch (I got mine at Joann's)
Tie

 First, cut eleven inches off the skinnier end of the tie. 

Then, if there is one, cut off the little tag on the opposite side of the tie.

Next, pin the edge of the tie that you cut.

Sew up that end.  It doesn't need to be beautiful since this part will get folded over.

Thread the handbag latch onto the tie.

Fold so that the straight edge of the tie (the edge you have cut and sewn) is as close to the bottom without showing when the piece is flipped over.

Pin the two pieces together.

Sew up one edge, across the top (where the hardware is) and down the other side.  I do not recommend sewing up the bottom.  I tried this and it made the tie get a little lumpy.

Cut off any extra thread and you are done-so!

I have made several of these for my friend's shower.  Expect a couple more tie tutorials before the big day, I have lots of ideas in my head!

I think these could also be very fun for anyone who is a fan of the Fifty Shades of Grey series!!!

Hint, Hint, Hint!

I know, I know, I promised a new tutorial last week, but what's a girl to do when she gets insanely busy.  On Saturday we had a kids day at the shop (crafts and cooking) and I thought that I was pretty organized for it but as the week went on I became less and less confident that I had all of my i's dotted and t's crossed so I was totally focused on that project.  So - my next tutorial had to go on the back burner.  But, for those of you dying for a hint of what it is here are a few visuals:

I've been on vacay!

Wow - it's been a long time since I have gotten a chance to post anything.  I do have a good excuse though, we were on vacation and it was so great that I seem to have extended it further to other parts of my life i.e. this blog!  I am hoping to have a new post this week.  I have been working on some things for my friends baby shower that are turning out super cute and I can't wait to share them with you!  In the meantime here are a couple of pictures from our vacay just to make you jealous!  The hubby and I go to the same place every year, but we love it.  We love the people, the food and we love knowing where everything is so we can just concentrate on relaxing and each other.