How to Repurpose Ugly Neckties Into Beautiful Christmas Ornaments

We all have them: those loud, outdated, “what-were-we-thinking” neckties lurking in the back of a closet.
Maybe they’re relics from ’90s office parties, thrift-store impulse buys, or cherished pieces from a loved one
who never met a pattern he didn’t like. Instead of letting those ties gather dust, why not turn them into
showstopping DIY Christmas ornaments?

Repurposing ugly neckties into Christmas ornaments is the perfect mix of sentimental, sustainable, and just
the right amount of ridiculous. You’ll get unique handmade ornaments, give new life to old textiles, and
create memory-filled decor that looks like it came from a high-end craft boutique rather than the clearance
rack at a department store.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to transform ties into beautiful baubles, angels, reindeer, and more. We’ll
walk step-by-step through several easy necktie ornament projects, share practical tips from experienced crafters,
and wrap up with real-life ideas for making these upcycled ornaments part of your family’s holiday traditions.

Why “Ugly” Neckties Make Perfect Christmas Ornaments

The word “ugly” is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. Those bold stripes, paisleys, and novelty prints might
not work with a modern blazer, but on a Christmas tree? They’re pure magic.

• Color and pattern: Neckties are designed to be eye-catching. When wrapped around ornaments, those patterns give instant texture and interest.
• Quality fabric: Many ties are made from silk or high-quality polyester blends that drape beautifully around foam balls, embroidery hoops, or stuffed shapes.
• Sentimental value: Using ties from a late grandparent, a retired career, or a big life chapter turns each ornament into a tiny story hanging on the tree.
• Eco-friendly crafting: Upcycling old ties instead of buying new decor keeps textiles out of landfills and makes your holiday decorating more sustainable.

In short, the same tie that made everyone cringe at the office Christmas party might become the star of your
Christmas tree this year.

Supplies You’ll Need for Necktie Christmas Ornaments

You don’t need a fully stocked craft room to get started. For most necktie ornament projects, a small toolkit goes a long way.

Basic materials

• Old neckties (silk, polyester, cottonthey all work)
• Sharp fabric scissors
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks, or strong fabric glue
• Needle and thread (optional but helpful)
• Foam balls or plastic ornament blanks
• Small wooden beads or buttons (for faces or embellishments)
• Ribbon, twine, or narrow cord for hanging loops

Optional embellishments

• Felt sheets (for ears, wings, or backing)
• Pipe cleaners/chenille stems (great for antlers or halos)
• Mini pom-poms (rudolph noses, hat tips, or accents)
• Sequins, beads, rhinestones, or faux gems
• Mini embroidery hoops for framed tie art ornaments

Start with what you have on hand: a few ties, some glue, and basic ornament forms. You can always add more
decorative details as you go along.

Step One: Prep Your Neckties for Crafting

Before you dive into ornament-making, give your ties a little spa day. Clean, smooth fabric is easier to work with
and looks much more polished on the tree.

1. Choose the right ties. Look for ties with strong color and pattern. Stripes, plaids, and geometric prints
   show especially well when wrapped around round ornaments.
2. Freshen them up. If the ties are dusty or musty, gently steam them or press with a warm iron on a low setting.
   Spot-clean any visible stains according to the fabric type.
3. Deconstruct the tie. Many ornaments are easier to make if you open the tie up. Cut along the back seam,
   remove the lining and stiff inner interfacing, and press the fabric flat.
4. Cut into sections. For wrapping ornaments, work with long strips. For stuffed shapes, cut tie fabric into
   hearts, stars, or leaf-like pieces.

Once your ties are prepped, you’re ready to transform them into ornaments that will make your tree look curatednot cluttered.

Project 1: Classic Necktie Bauble Ornaments

These are the easiest entry-level project and a great way to use up ties with bold patterns. You’ll wrap ornament blanks
or foam balls with tie fabric to create custom baubles.

How to make wrapped necktie baubles

1. Cut your fabric. From a deconstructed tie, cut a strip long enough to wrap around your foam ball or ornament.
   On larger ornaments, you may need two or three overlapping strips.
2. Secure the starting point. Add a dab of hot glue to the top of the ornament, attach one end of the tie strip, and press firmly.
3. Wrap the ornament. Spiral the fabric around the ball, smoothing as you go. Add small dots of glue to keep the fabric tight and wrinkle-free.
4. Finish the back. Tuck the final edge neatly and secure with glue. If the back looks messy, don’t panicthat side can face the tree.
5. Add a hanging loop. Glue or thread a ribbon or twine loop at the top. You can also tie a small bow from leftover tie fabric for extra flair.

These wrapped baubles are perfect for showcasing classic stripes or plaid neckties. Group ornaments in similar color
palettesnavy and silver, red and gold, green and creamto create a cohesive look on your tree.

Project 2: Necktie Angel Ornaments

Angel ornaments made from neckties are especially popular as memorial keepsakes. They’re sweet, symbolic, and surprisingly
simple to construct.

Basic necktie angel construction

1. Create the body. Cut the wider end of the tie about 8–10 inches long. Fold the cut edge toward the back and
   glue it down to create a clean hem. This triangle becomes the angel’s gown.
2. Add a head. Glue a small wooden bead or round button at the top point of the triangle. If the print is very bold,
   choose a simple neutral bead to keep the face from getting lost.
3. Make the wings. Cut two small pieces of ribbon, felt, or additional tie fabric and shape them into loops or
   soft triangles. Attach them to the back of the “gown” so they peek out from both sides.
4. Top with a halo. Form a small circle from gold or silver pipe cleaner and glue it above the bead head.
   A tiny bit of hot glue goes a long way here.
5. Attach a hanger. Glue a loop of thin ribbon to the back of the head or top of the gown so the angel can hang on the tree.

For memory ornaments, consider writing a name or year on the back of the angel with a fine-tip fabric pen. The result is a
keepsake that feels personal and heartfelt, not mass-produced.

Project 3: Reindeer Tie Ornaments

If your family leans more “festive and funny” than “formal and angelic,” reindeer ornaments made from neckties will be a hit.
The tapered shape of a tie naturally mimics a reindeer’s face, making this project both adorable and beginner-friendly.

How to make a reindeer tie ornament

1. Cut the tie. Use the wide end of the tie, trimming about 8 inches from the tip so you have a long triangle.
   Fold and glue the cut edge under to neaten it.
2. Add structure (optional). If the tie is flimsy, glue a trimmed craft stick or strip of cardboard to the back to help it hang flat.
3. Create antlers. Twist two pipe cleaners into antler shapes and glue them to the top back of the tie.
4. Make ears. Cut two small ovals from felt, pinch and glue one end to give a 3D fold, then attach on either side of the antlers.
5. Decorate the face. Glue on googly eyes or buttons, and add a red pom-pom nose at the tip of the tie for a Rudolph-inspired look.
6. Attach a hanger. Add a loop of ribbon behind the antlers so your reindeer can hang proudly on the tree.

Reindeer tie ornaments are especially fun for kids to help with. Let them pick the eyes, nose color, and bow tie for each reindeer,
and suddenly you’ve got a whole quirky herd galloping across your tree.

Project 4: Stuffed Necktie Stars and Hearts

For a softer, more polished look, try turning neckties into stuffed ornaments. Stars and hearts work especially well and
showcase the tie’s pattern beautifully.

1. Make a template. Cut a star or heart shape from cardstock. Keep it small enough to fit several shapes on one tie.
2. Cut the fabric. Fold the tie fabric right sides together and trace your template twice. Cut out the shapes, leaving a small seam allowance.
3. Sew or glue. With right sides together, sew around the edge leaving a small opening. No-sew option: glue carefully around the edges instead, leaving an opening to stuff.
4. Stuff lightly. Turn the shape right-side out, then gently stuff with fiberfill or fabric scraps until plump but not overstuffed.
5. Close and finish. Stitch or glue the opening closed, then add a ribbon loop and any embellishments like buttons or beads.

These stuffed ornaments look especially charming in coordinated color schemes. Think navy-and-gold hearts, red-and-green stars,
or all-silk shapes that shimmer under the tree lights.

Turning Necktie Ornaments into Memory Keepsakes

One of the most meaningful ways to use old neckties is as memory ornaments. Whether you’re honoring a loved one who has passed
away or celebrating a big life milestone, these ornaments can become tangible reminders of important moments.

• Use ties from one person. Create a mini collection of ornaments all made from the same set of tiesa whole branch of the tree dedicated to a grandparent, parent, or partner.
• Add labels or tags. Attach small tags with names, dates, or short messages to the hanger loops so future generations know the story behind each piece.
• Combine with photos. Slip a small photo into a clear pocket on the back of a stuffed ornament or pair a tie ornament with a framed picture nearby on the mantel.
• Create annual traditions. Each year, make one new ornament from remaining ties, documenting the date and a short note about the year.

These ornaments don’t just decorate your treethey help keep stories and personalities alive in a warm, tactile, visible way.

Display and Decorating Ideas for Necktie Ornaments

Once you start making necktie ornaments, it’s easy to get hooked. You may end up with more pieces than your tree can handleand
that’s a good problem to have.

• Themed tree: Dedicate an entire tree to upcycled ornamentsneckties, fabric scraps, buttons, and other textile crafts.
• Mixed-media tree: Combine your necktie ornaments with classic glass balls, wooden stars, and twinkle lights for a layered look.
• Garlands: String small stuffed stars or hearts along a ribbon or length of twine and drape it across a mantel, stair railing, or headboard.
• Gift toppers: Tie a necktie ornament onto a wrapped present as a built-in “bonus gift” that the recipient can hang on their tree.
• Table decor: Nestle a few ornaments into bowls, trays, or greenery on your holiday table or bookshelf displays.

Troubleshooting and Pro Tips

Even simple projects have their quirks. Here are a few common issues and easy fixes when working with neckties.

• Problem: Fabric frays easily.
  Fix: Use a small amount of fabric glue or clear fray-stop on raw edges before wrapping or sewing. You can also fold edges under for a cleaner finish.
• Problem: Silk ties are slippery.
  Fix: Work slowly and use pins or clips to hold the fabric in place before gluing. A light mist of spray starch can also help.
• Problem: Ornaments feel too heavy.
  Fix: Choose lightweight cores like foam balls and avoid excessive embellishments on a single ornament.
• Problem: Patterns look chaotic.
  Fix: Group ornaments by color family on the tree, and pair busy patterns with calmer, solid-colored decor for balance.
• Safety note: If you’re crafting with kids, let adults handle hot glue and scissors. Children can help with decorating, stuffing, and placing ornaments on the tree.

Real-Life Experiences with Necktie Christmas Ornaments

Crafters who repurpose neckties into Christmas ornaments often talk about something unexpected: the feeling that these little
projects are more about memory and meaning than decor. Once you start cutting and stitching, you’re not just working with fabricyou’re working with stories.

Many people begin with a box of ties from a parent or grandparent. Maybe he wore that navy striped tie to every job interview,
or the bright red one to every Christmas dinner. When those same fabrics show up as angels or reindeer on the tree, it becomes
easy to say, “That’s Grandpa’s tie,” and suddenly the room feels a little fuller.

One popular approach is hosting a family ornament-making afternoon. Someone brings the ties, someone else brings foam balls and
hot glue, and everyone contributescutting fabric, choosing patterns, and designing their own ornament. Kids tend to gravitate
to the goofiest patterns and turn them into wild reindeer or over-the-top angels. Adults might choose subtler designs, or pair
a special tie with understated ribbon and a single button as a simple, elegant keepsake.

People also find that necktie ornaments are a gentle way to work through grief. Instead of leaving a loved one’s clothing folded
away in a drawer, turning ties into ornaments lets you interact with those memories every year in a positive, celebratory context.
You might hang a tie angel near the top of the tree, or place a small cluster of tie baubles in a glass bowl on the mantel. Each
time you walk by, you get a quiet reminder of the person who wore them.

Practical lessons emerge, too. Crafters quickly discover that not all ties behave the same waysome fabrics glide neatly around
a foam ball, while others require more coaxing and glue. The good news is that Christmas ornaments are forgiving. A wrinkle here
or a slightly crooked antler there just adds charm. In fact, many people end up preferring the slightly imperfect ornaments
because they reflect real hands, real laughter, and real time spent together.

Over time, a tree decorated with necktie ornaments can evolve into a visual timeline. You can spot the year you tried angel
ornaments for the first time, the season when the kids insisted on adding googly eyes to everything, and the year you finally
figured out how to make perfectly wrapped baubles. Unlike store-bought ornaments that blur together, each upcycled tie ornament
keeps its own personality.

That’s the quiet power of this craft: it’s not just about repurposing something “ugly.” It’s about taking everyday fabric that
once lived in closets and dresser drawers and giving it a new jobshining, quite literally, in the center of your holiday home.

Final Thoughts: From “Ugly” Tie to Tree Treasure

Repurposing ugly neckties into beautiful Christmas ornaments is one of those rare DIY projects that checks every box: creative,
budget-friendly, eco-conscious, and emotionally meaningful. With a few simple tools and a little imagination, you can turn
forgotten fashion into a collection of one-of-a-kind ornaments that your family will look forward to unpacking year after year.

Whether you prefer elegant angels, whimsical reindeer, classic wrapped baubles, or stuffed hearts and stars, necktie ornaments
prove that you don’t need perfect materials to create something beautiful. You just need a willingness to cut, glue, experiment,
and maybe laugh a little when your first reindeer turns out more “derpy” than dignified.

So go aheadraid the back of the closet, call dibs on those wild vintage ties, and start crafting. By the time you’re done,
the ugliest neckties in the house might just become the most beautiful decorations on your Christmas tree.