Bow Tie Tutorial

     

I'm finally ready to post the bowtie tutorial I've been talking about.  Hooray hooray!  Here's Hyrum sporting his Mickey Mouse version.

To begin, you'll need some 1.5" wide ribbon (or around 1" wide if you're making one for an infant), a bit of twill tape or grosgrain ribbon for the part that wraps around the neck, a little piece of velcro, and a needle and thread.

 

1) Cut the ribbon into an 8" piece and another piece that is a little over 2".  If making a tie for an infant or a grown-up, you'll want to decrease or increase the lengths, respectively.

 

2) Form a loop with the long piece of ribbon, overlapping the edges about 1/4" in the exact middle of the loop, as shown above.

 

3) Using your needle and thread, make large stitches where the ribbon ends overlap across the width of the ribbon and back again.  Make sure your needle passes through all layers of ribbon.

 

4)  Pull thread gently to form gathers in center.  Set aside, without finishing off thread.

          

5)  Take the little piece of ribbon and press under the edges to create a strip that is about 1" wide.

 

6)  Work the needle and thread back toward middle of gathers, then sew the center piece of narrow ribbon onto the back of the large ribbon.  Make sure the narrow ribbon is facing right-side-out, with the pressed-under edges hidden underneath.

 

7) Wrap the narrow ribbon around the front of the bowtie, bring it around back and stitch the ends together.  As you can see, I'm really not worried about how neat and tidy it looks from the back, as it will be glued to the ribbon that goes around the neck and "no-one will ever know..."  (must be said in a whisper for the proper effect) 

Just be sure that this final bunch of stitches doesn't accidently show through on the front.  Because then they will know.  :-)

This is what it should look like from the front. 

8)  Measure your boy's neck WITH a collared shirt on for proper fit.  Cut a piece of twill tape/grosgrain ribbon that is about an inch longer than that measurement.

 Now, take the glue (I have found this Quick Grip to be very effective - can be purchased at Walmart - but hot glue works too) and your twill or grosgrain ribbon and glue the bowtie to the middle of the twill tape/ribbon.  Don't fiddle with it for about 5 minutes or so if you're using a non-hot glue product.

 

9) Cut a little piece of velcro for the closure.  I like to cut the sharp corners of the pieces off at an angle, as shown.

10)  Attach, either with glue or a sewing machine, the little pieces of velcro to twill tape.  I like to put the fuzzy piece on the underside of the tape (the side that will face his neck).

 

11)  Attach the "pokey" side of the velcro to the other side of the twill tape, facing up as shown on the left.  If using glue, be sure to let glue dry completely before wearing.

 

And there you have it, folks!  Your very own adorable, custom-made bowtie.

Comments

[Anjuli Fry]

Thank you Thank you!! Those are so cute and look a lot easier to make then the fabric ones I have made in the past. Can't wait to try it out!!!

[Heffalump]

Wow, you make it look so EASY! I'll have to try this one of these days...

[Anjuli Fry]

By the way I featured this tutorial on my craft blog. sanityformoms.blogspot.com

[Aubree]

HI! I really want to make and sell bow ties at my local flea market. would you allow me to use your pattern? thanks!

[michelle johnnie]

Those will look great on my son!

[Alice Sparks]

Thank you so much for this tutorial.it saved my life. I'm a puppeteer and i spend an entirer day looking for bowties for my puppet quartet their called the "Senior Saints" and they were singing for Easter. I finally found one at a tux shop but was very expense. my husband asked if i could make them. i googled "how to make bowties and got u. U did a wonderful job with this tutorial, the pic are great and the instructions are easy to follow, thank-u thank-u
BibleBetty

[Ann Mulvany]

This is fantastic! I'm making a bow tie-themed baby shower gift and this saved my life. Thank you!

[Shelley]

Thanks! So glad these little bow ties are useful to you!

[Erika Francisco]

Where do you buy the velcro thingy and the white thingy that you attached the velcro and twill to.. was it like a headband or something? please email me at francisco.rika@yahoo.com... i really need it THANK YOU

[Juliet]

Thank you for this simple, yet beautiful tutorial! I have been looking all over for an easy way to create a custom bowtie for my son's first birthday! It's going to be terrific!

[DKNY Jackets]

Thanks for sharing this, I'm gonna make one for my son.