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How to Make a Bow Tie
How to make a traditional bow tie that ties with an adjustable neck strap.
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supplies
- 1 piece Fabric for Bow Tie Front Either 1/4 yard of fabric or 1 Fat Quarter of Fabric.
- 1 piece Fabric for Bow Tie Back Either 1/4 yard of fabric or 1 Fat Quarter of Fabric.
- 1/2 Yard Shape Flex Interfacing
- 1 package 1/2 wide Stitch Witchery
- 2 Tri-Glides
Instructions
Step one
- Cut a piece of Shape Flex interfacing to 10" x 20". Iron it onto the wrong side of your bowtie fabric outside piece. It won't fit the whole fat quarter (a fat quarter is 22" long), don't worry we will fix that later. Just butt the edge of the shape flex up to the edge of the fat quarter on one side.
- A few things to note. If your fabric is directional (i.e. it has an up and a down), make sure you cut out a right bow tie pattern piece and a left bow tie pattern piece. Otherwise half of your bow tie will be upside down. This means that you'll have to flip the pattern piece when you cut out the 2nd piece. Just look at the photo if you get confused.
- Also, the longer of the two tie pieces is exactly 22" long. If your fat quarter is slightly smaller than that it's okay. I included a generous amount of extra length to allow the bow tie to be fully adjustable.
- Trace your two tie pattern pieces onto the fused fabric. (Important: Fuse First, then CUT).
- Cut out. I found it helpful to use a small rotary cutter when I cut out my pieces, do whatever is easier for you. Just make sure you have smooth cuts.
- For the bit of the longer bowtie piece that is not covered by interfacing, cut a scrap of interfacing and fuse it to the bowtie after you cut it out so that the entire piece is fused.
- Cut out the two tie pieces from your tie back fabric (this fabric does not need interfacing).
Step Two
- Place two of your shorter tie pieces together, right sides facing. Pin well.
- Stitch together using a 1/4" seam allowance. Be careful to stitch precisely around the curves and pivot at the corners. On one side of the bowtie leave a 3" opening in the straight part of the bow tie piece right past where the curve meets the straight section of the tie. Don't leave your opening in the curved section of the tie. You also only need one opening, so stitch around the entire perimeter of the piece EXCEPT for that section. (The start of the opening is noted on the pattern piece)
- Carefully clip the curves and corners of the sewn tie piece. Be sure not to cut through your stitching lines. Using a dowel or unsharpened pencil turn the bow tie piece right side out work with the piece until it resumes its shape.
- Press well, making sure to fold the opening flush with the rest of the bowtie as you press.
- Place a piece of stitch witchery in the opening of the tie piece and press to close the opening. Repeat all steps for other tie pieces.
Assembly
- Feed the shorter tie piece through one side the tri-glide one time. Pin in place
- Feed the other tie piece through one side of a second tri-glide, then back through the other side of the same tri-glide. Next, feed the end of the bow tie piece through the 1st tri-glide (on the side not occupied by the 1st bow tie piece). Then feed the end of the 2nd bow tie piece back through the center tri-glide that coming in from underneath. I made the diagram above to help you figure that part out. Just follow the arrows. Pin in place.
- To finish the tie, just hand stitch the ends of the tie in place. Many people like to use contrasting thread or decorative stitches for this part, but just do it as you like!