A bow tie can be made with or without sewing.You can make a no-sew bow tie in a hurry for a costume, a traditional fabric bowtie to wear with a suit, or a cute little bow Tie for the baby.Make your bow tie by choosing your fabric and option that best suits you.
Step 1: Cut a 9 by 3 in piece of stiff fabric.
A stiff fabric could be felt, wool, linen, faux leather, or quilted cotton.The bow tie will be about 4.5 by 3 in.Measure and mark the fabric with a ruler.Use a pair of scissors to cut your fabric.If you want a bigger bow tie, cut a larger piece of fabric.If you want the length of the bow tie to be twice the width, use a 3 to 1 ratio.If you want your bow tie to be 6 by 4 in (15 by 10 cm), you need to cut out a fabric rectangle that is 30 by 30 cm.
Step 2: A 3 by 1 in strip of fabric is needed for the center of the bow.
You only need to wrap it around the center of the bow tie to use this length.Start with these dimensions as a base for a bow tie that is larger than 4.5 by 3 in.Then, add 1 in to the length and the width.If you want to make a bow tie that is 6 by 4 in (15 by 10 cm), you can cut a strip of fabric that's 1.5 by four in.You can trim the strip to fit your tie, but you can't add fabric back on.
Step 3: The short edges of the rectangle should be lined up.
If you lay the rectangle out on a flat surface, you can fold one end over to the other.If you want to hold it in this position, line up the edges of the rectangle with one hand.If you need to do something else before you continue, you can place a weight on the tie.Do not use pins.You won't be able to complete the bow tie with a pin in place if they damage the fabric.
Step 4: The bow is at the center.
Pick up the rectangle at the center and squeeze it in to make 3 even folds.When you do this, the center should look like an accordion.There should be 3 distinct folds in the center of the tie.Hold the tie at the center with one hand to keep it folded.
Step 5: The bow should be glue between the folds.
It's a good idea to heat up the hot glue gun before you use it.When the glue gun is warm, loosen your grip on the center of the tie to expose the folds.Put a dot of hot glue between the folds.Continue to apply hot glue to the folds to secure the center of the bow tie.
Step 6: Attach the strip of fabric to the bow with hot glue.
Wrap the strip of fabric around the bow tie so that the short ends overlap.Attach the 2 ends to the back of the bow tie with a couple of dots of hot glue.To get a better fit, you can cut off some of the excess material.This is the final part of your bow tie.Attach it to your shirt collar with a safety pin.
Step 7: You can choose a fabric for your bow tie.
Cotton works well for making a bow tie, but you can use any fabric you want as long as it's flexible enough to shape into a tie.Pick something in the color, texture, and weight of your choice.You will need about 14 of a yard of fabric.There are online fabric stores and local craft stores where you can purchase fabric.An old, cotton dress shirt or skirt can be upcycled from your closet.
Step 8: Print a bow tie pattern.
A pattern can be purchased from a craft store or downloaded from the internet.To assess the pattern's quality, read reviews.Make sure the pattern is in line with your skill level.After you cut it out, the pattern will look like a long strip with a couple of wider, rounded spots.This will allow you to make a bow tie that you can actually tie.You can use an existing tie to create a pattern if you can't find a tie you want.Place the fabric on the paper.To trace the outline of the tie onto the paper, use a pen or pencil.Extra space is left around the edges of the tie when you trace around it.This is the seam allowance.
Step 9: Cut the fabric to make a bow tie.
Place the pattern piece on your folded fabric and put a few pins through it to secure it.The fabric should be cut along the outer edges of the pattern.Don't cut through the pattern too far outside of the edges.The pattern piece is folded.4 pieces of fabric should be the same size and shape.
Step 10: Attach the fabric to the iron.
Place the bow tie pieces on the wrong side of the fabric to face up.Place 1 of the pieces over the fabric piece.Line up the edges of the fabrics.Run the iron over the fabric.This will repeat for the other pieces.
Step 11: Take the long edges of the fabric pieces and sew them together.
To align the edges of the 2 pieces, line them up so that the right side is facing each other.You can leave a 3 in opening in the center of the tie if you sew a straight stitch from the raw edges.On the other side of the tie, sew around the short end.After sewing the pieces together, you will invert them.
Step 12: The excess fabric should be at the corners of the tie.
To cut the excess fabric at the corners of the bow tie, use a pair of scissors.Cut the fabric along the curved part of the tie.It will be easier to push the fabric out of the tie.Make sure you don't cut through the stitches.
Step 13: Take the bow tie out.
It can be difficult to pull the whole tie through the small opening you left in the tie.The material must be pushed through the opening in the center of the tie.To make it easier, you can use the end of a pencil to push the tie through the opening on the other side.
Step 14: Take the short edge of the tie and sew it.
flip the raw edges inward on the remaining open part of the tie.If you want to hand sew the opening, use a needle and thread to sew a straight stitch from the folded edge.The open end of the bow tie will be secured with this.If you want the ends of the tie to match, you can sew a straight stitch across the other short end.
Step 15: You need to iron your bow tie.
After the tie is tied, ironing will make it look neat.Place the bow tie on a flat surface, such as an ironing board or over a towel.Run the iron over the fabric to flatten it out.When you are done, make sure the tie is not wrinkled.If your tie is made from a delicate fabric, you may want to place a t-shirt or thin towel over it before ironing it.Put your iron on the lowest setting.
Step 16: A square and a rectangle can be cut from a piece of fabric.
The square is 13 by 13 cm and the rectangle is 2.5 by 7.6 cm.You can use any lightweight fabric you want.Measure the fabric and mark where you want to cut it with a piece of chalk using your ruler.Cut along the chalk lines to get the pieces.To avoid jagged edges, cut the fabric carefully.
Step 17: The square piece should be folded in half.
Add a line of hot glue on the right side of the fabric.To create a seam, press the edges together.You can sew a straight stitch from the raw edge of the fabric to secure the edges together.Don't touch the hot glue with your bare fingers.The ruler can be used to press down on the edges of the fabric.
Step 18: To expose the right sides, Invert the tube of fabric.
Once the glue is cool and the edges are secured, turn the tube of fabric so that the right sides are facing out.Next, flatten the tube and position the seam so that it is in the center of the rectangle, not on the edge.
Step 19: To hide the edges, fold the ends in by 0.25 in (0.64 cm).
The ends should be even.Add a line of hot glue to the inside of the tube.Use your fingers or a ruler to press the edges together.You can use an iron to press the tube and the folded ends before adding glue.It might help to keep the tube flat.
Step 20: Attach the edges with glue when you fold the strip.
Attach a line of hot glue to the center of the small strip if the right side is facing down.Attach another line of hot glue over the edge of the strip after folding the long sides over.Press it down to secure it if you fold the other side over.You can iron the folded strip before you glue it.It might help to keep it flat.
Step 21: To create an accordion, pinch and fold the middle of the fabric.
To expose the area between the folds, loosen your grip on the center slightly.Apply hot glue to the areas between the folds and press them back together.To secure the folds in the center, repeat this on both sides of the bow.There are folds in the center of the bow that you can experiment with.
Step 22: Wrap the fabric around the bow.
Wrap the strip of fabric around the bow.Wrap one end of the fabric strip over the bow with a few drops of hot glue.Apply more glue to the strip at the back of the bow and press the other end into the glue.If there is excess fabric left, you can cut it to avoid having it on the bow tie.
Step 23: Attach a clip to the bow tie using hot glue.
Attach a line of glue to the back of the bow tie.Hold them together tightly for a minute to allow the glue to cool and bond with the fabric.You can clip the bow onto the baby's shirt or use it as a cute hair clip.You can sew the bow onto a baby onesie or shirt with a needle and thread.The safety pin may poke the baby if it comes undone.This could result in injury if the baby tries to put it in their mouth.