how to make a tie

Tutorial: how to make a tie

 I heart ties, but I have yet to find a cool one that actually fits. 

Men's ties are either too wide, too long or too 'ugh'. Boy's ties are too short and the fabric is always too 'blah'. It is never small enough, long enough, pretty or flattering enough. Traditional tie making is a total drag. You have to cut one length on the bias and the other length on the grain of the fabric. Then you have to cut interfacing and the lining. By the time I was done cutting, I couldn't tell what was what. 

So, here is a colorful and easy alternative.

I know I am not the only one out there dying to get her tie fix on. So for all you tie-loving gals out there.

This one is for you.

Make it and Rock it.

Any color, any size, any design you want.

TO MAKE THE TIE

Draw a tie shape. Any length or width.

cut the paper pattern out.

pin and trace the paper pattern on to a piece of felt.

Place the felt on the wrong-side of a piece of fabric and pin  

Until it looks something like this.

Iron it to define the shape.

set it aside.

TO MAKE THE LINING

Pin the paper pattern on a different piece of fabric.

Cut the fabric about 1/2 an inch larger than the pattern.

Turn it over and use the paper pattern as a guide.

Shape the fabric into a slightly smaller tie form.

Pin.

 

Iron the lining while the pattern is pinned to it.

Ironing will help define the shape.

 

Pin the lining to the back of the tie.

Then hand sew it.

  

TO MAKE THE KNOT

  Cut a triangular piece of fabric, and a small triangular piece of felt.

Assemble the tie as shown. 

     

Hand sew the back of the knot.

   

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

cut two strips of fabric about 18 inches long (fig.1)

fold it in half, and then in half again (fig.2) 

 

Fold over the raw edge, pin and stitch it to the back of the knot,

like so.

ROCK IT