Here's a great way to spruce up your necktie.. turn it into a vertical garden!

What you’ll need…

Scissors
Thread, needle
Potting soil
Plastic bags
Metal hanger(s)
Felt swatches
Tie(s)
Pieces of flair (buttons, pins, brooches, cuff links, etc.)
Plants (preferably succulents, since they need little water)

The best plants to use will be plants that don’t need much water and are pretty small. Succulents and air plants can work very well.

Step 1: Get Your Ties

Lay out the ties you’d like to pair together along metal hanger, and vary their lengths to give your hanging garden a undone look. You can either knot the ties around the wire hanger, or simply fold them over hanger’s bottom bar.

Step 2: Fold the Ties

Fold the end of the tie downward a few inches from its tip, and use scissors to pinch and cut slit. You only want to cut the outermost layer, so you have a pouch for your plant. Repeat with all ties.

Step 3: Cutting

Fold the felt square in half and line it up with the pointed tip of the tie. Cut triangular piece to fit. Use your best judgment with sizing, as you want to make sure you have enough room to fill the pocket with both loose soil and the plant.

Step 4: Sewing

Once felt is cut, use needle and thread to sew bottom and sides of pocket together, allowing its top to remain open for filling. Repeat as needed so you have one pocket per tie. Then insert pointed bottom of felt pocket into corner of plastic bag. Cut the bag to size around pocket.

Step 5: Planting

Secure the plastic and felt pocket in place with several stitches. Then fill pocket with soil and add the small plant, pushing it firmly into place within the pocket. Pack in additional soil if needed, but try not to reach the top rim of the pocket.

Step 6: Finished

7. Slip the planter pocket into the end of the tie, and secure the plant upright by pinning or buttoning together the tie’s fabric on either side of the slit. This will hold your plant in place.

Six steps to succulent success! On Father’s Day, hang your vertical garden in a sunny spot to surprise the dad (acceptable hanging places include anywhere but his closet).

Credit: ModCloth

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