By Karen Middleton
ATHENS — Through decades of men’s fashion, neckties have been known as “chokers” and are the first thing that guys shed at the end of the workday.
But to Joan Laxson a necktie is a thing of lasting beauty that should be preserved. So when it came to assembling a family quilt, Laxson used 94 ties collected over 40 years.
“As a teen, I remember seeing a quilt made of neckties and I thought it was beautiful,” said Laxson. “I started saving ties 30 or 40 years ago from all the men in my family.
“Early this year, I decided it was time to do something with all those ties. Starting in the middle with one of my Dad’s ties, I began adding to it.”
Laxson, the daughter of Robert and Vazelle Laxson, retired from a civil service job on Redstone Arsenal after 27 years and began in earnest to indulge her quilting hobby. In intervening years, the quilting has become somewhat of a cottage industry for her, having worked on some 136 quilts for herself, family members and the public.
“They bring me the pieced top and I quilt it all by hand,” said Laxson of her work for the public.
She said quilts she has worked on have been sent all over the country. “I enjoy quilting and helping other families create treasures,” she said.
She said the collection of neckties in her family quilt show the changing styles over the past 40 years, some wide and some narrow.
“Neckties are made out of the most beautiful material,” she said. “These ties are from my Dad, my two brothers, nephews and nephews-in-law.”
She said the necktie quilt is “a gift to the whole family.”
“I made my first tie quilt for a friend in 2005 and this year I made a wall hanging for my nephew from his ties,” she said. “So don’t destroy those ties — do something to keep them together.”
