How To Make Cool Ties

Our neighborhood group decided to make Cool Ties for our soldiers as our community service project last week. The grand total -- 91!


Juanita had a stamp made for this and our other service sewing projects.


These were easy to make, especially if you do assembly-line style sewing. I could handle it in groups of three.

You'll need:

100% cotton, cut in strips 5" x 39" Or you can just tear across from selvedge to selvedge -- 44" or 45" does not make that much difference.

We had a discussion about the different fabrics -- muslin, camoflauge colors, fun quilting prints (don't you just love the Snoopy comic strip, bluebonnets and the John Deere tractor prints?) I found the washed muslin was a booger bear trying to get the pellets down the tube, but the prints had a nice finish and they just slid right down. If there are any restrictions about the color, the military can sort them. My husband is a former Marine and he said they would all be needed and appreciated...the prints could be used during training in the hot weather.

Root Watering Crystals

One brand is Agrosoke. You can find this at Lowe's, Home Depot, even Wal-Mart. Their 800# is 1-800/880-2476. These little pellets EXPAND into a gel. A little goes a long way. Believe us!

Sewing machine, serger

Thread, scissors, pins

Measuring spoons, specifically - 1/4 teaspoon

Directions:

1. Fold strip lengthwise, wrong sides together. Fold under short ends 1/2"

2. Serge long edge, leaving short ends open for the pellets.

3. Find center of strip and sew down the middle, backstitching beginning and end.

4. Put 1/4 teaspoon of pellets down each side of the tube. Shake 'em down so they are next to the stitching. Sewing machine needles do not like the pellets.

5. Mark and sew 4" away from center




6. Repeat with another 1/4 teaspoon of pellets on each side. Sew another seam 4 inches away from previous stitching so you now have 4 pockets of pellets.

7. Sew or serge ends of tubes closed.

There are other versions and variations of these ties, but we found that having the 4 pockets helped distribute the pellets/gel more evenly.

We all had a good time doing good. I know you will, too, and they will be really, really used and appreciated.