Sew It Yourself: Easy DIY Bow Tie Tutorial

Here’s a super-easy sewing project that you’ll enjoy making as much as he enjoys wearing – bow ties! And whether it’s your little man, or your big man, who digs bow ties, this sewing tutorial will work. Just adapt the fabric prints and the elastic styles and colors for the neck to make them age appropriate.  Heck, your little gal might enjoy one, too, because that ruffled elastic is pretty darn cute!

Materials needed per bow tie

• Dritz® 5/8” ruffled or fold-over elastic, about 15” long
• Dritz® swim suit bra hook
• 3/8 yard fabric or 1 fat quarter
• Rotary cutter
• Ruler
• Needle and thread
• Dritz® hem gauge
• Iron and ironing surface
• Straight pins

Directions

1. Cut one piece of fabric to approximately 11” x 6” and a second piece to 3-1/2″ x 1-1/2″.

HINT: You can adjust measurements to cut along a plaid or check line

2. Press the long edges of the larger piece of fabric about 1” toward the wrong side. Press the long edges of the smaller piece of fabric about 1/4″ toward the wrong side. Use a hem gauge for accuracy.

3. Press the short ends of the larger fabric piece toward the wrong side so that they overlap by about 1” in the center; this piece should measure about 5” x 4” when both ends are pressed in. Next, press it in half lengthwise; then press in accordion folds, one on each side of, and parallel to, the center fold.

4. Use a thread and needle to stitch through all the pleats at the center of the bow.

5. Cut a piece of elastic to approximately 15” long. Stitch it to the center of the back of the bow.

Hook end: Thread one end of the elastic through the closed side of the bra hook. Test the fit of the bow around your neck. Handstitch the elastic close to the hook.

Loop end: Fold the remaining elastic end so it meets the hook end comfortably. Test fit. Pin. Fold the cut edge of the elastic under ½”. Stitch leaving a ¼” – 3/8” loop at this end to catch the hook

6. Now you’ll finish off your bow tie with the smaller strip of fabric. Wrap it around the center of the bow and the elastic. Fold ends under and stitch at the back of the tie.

Are you ready to tie one on? Tell us who is wearing the bow ties you made! And tell us about your fabric and elastic choices – we’d really love to hear from you.

Hancock Fabrics

Founded in 1957, Hancock Fabrics is committed to nurturing consumers’ creativity. We are the inspirational authority in fabric and sewing with a complete selection of fashion and home decorating textiles, crafts, sewing accessories, needlecraft supplies and sewing machines. Hancock Fabrics currently operates 263 retail stores in 37 states, along with our web site, HancockFabrics.com.