4.22.2011

diy little boy bowtie:just in time for easter!

Hi friends! Am hoping your weekend is rich with candy-filled baskets, springtime cheer, and that your heart is blessed by the joy of Jesus living!! His love for the world, his death & resurrection is the reason we celebrate this awesome holiday. Thanks to his grace, there is nothing you can do to make God love you less! Happy Easter!!I have just one more tutorial to get out of my system this week! Do you have time for a last-minute Easter project? Because today I am recapping how to make a snazzy little boy bowtie. {Plus I could not resist sharing a few of these G pics again!} These are so fun to make with your small scraps of fabric! And although this tutorial focuses on a small, kid-friendly version with velcro in the back, this pattern could easily be adapted for even the most manly-man’s neck…Or turned into a hairbow for the most girly-girl! But right now I absolutely love the bow tie look on little boys. I feel like the simplest bow tie could make even the most spoiled brat look like a perfect gentleman. This tutorial requires a bit of sewing know-how, so I’d classify it as intermediate level--however I promise it makes for a quick project that you can squeeze in between your housecleaning and Easter egg hunt. Now dig in!
Little Boy Bowtie Tutorial:

Supplies:

must have
fabric (6x20" strip)
interfacing (medium/heavy) (4x15" strip) although not 100% vital, this provides great structure to the bow tie
Velcro (1")
scissors
sewing machine
needle + thread
iron
measuring tape

nice to have:
pins
pencil
fabric marker
rotary cutter + mat
Before we begin, just a note on sizing: I found that 15" of fabric for the band created ample room to go around my 2-year-old's neck and shirt collar. If you are making this for an older child or adult, simply measure the circumference of his shirt collar (preferably while he is wearing it!), and add 2 inches of length for velcro overlap. The strap could further be modified to create a more adjustable grown-up finish, but that's a different lesson. :)
Step 1: Cut your fabric into the following dimensions:
2 1/2 x 15" for band
3 1/2 x 3" for center
3 x 20" for bow
Cut your interfacing into the following dimensions:
1 x 14" for band
3 x 10" for bow

Step 2: Begin your bow!
Fold your 3x20" piece of fabric in half the short way (wrong sides facing out) and place 3x10" piece of interfacing on top. Pin these three layers together as shown. Next straight stitch along three edges of the rectangle. Leave one of the short ends open for turning.

Step 3: Turn your bow inside out; don't worry about the unfinished edge. Press flat. Using your measuring tape and fabric marker, mark the center of the rectangle. Then fold both ends in toward the middle.

Step 4: Pin the edges together, then make one big fat zig-zag stitch down the center. You may need to adjust your machine's tension, as this is a little chunky.Step 5: Now fold your rectangle in half again the long way. Make a 1" straight seam perpendicular to your zig-zag stitch (I used my fabric marker to draw a guideline for myself).Step 6: It's time to make the band!
Take your 2.5x15" strip of fabric, fold it in half the long way (to make the strip even narrower, wrong sides facing out) and place the 1x14" piece on top. Pin the three layers together. Sew a 3/8" seam along the long unfolded side of fabric and along one short end. (I.e. just sew 2 sides!) You're ready to flip your fabric into a tube. This can be a little bit tedious, but trust me, it's worth it in the end! Use a pencil with a good eraser to help prod your fabric along. Press flat.
Step 7: Sewing velcro to the edges:
To address that pesky unfinished edge, we will simply hide it underneath the Velcro: Tuck in 2 sides of fabric and fold the edge down into a point (like an envelope). Simply pin a piece of velcro to the top and sew around its border. Do the same thing on the opposite end (and on the opposite side of band). No need to get fancy with the envelope technique on this side, as it is already finished off nicely.
Step 8: Now for the center piece of the bow:
Fold your 3.5x3" fabric in half the long way. (No interfacing necessary for this one!) Pin and sew a seam along 2 unfolded edges. Turn & press. It's ok to leave the open edge unfinished. We will tuck it in and sew it in the next step.
Step 9: Putting it all together:
The moment we've all been waiting for! Use your fabric marker to draw a mark at the center of your band, then line it up with the center of your bow. Next wrap the center piece around the middle of the bow. Turn all 3 pieces upside down, pull the center piece to your desired tightness, and fold in its unfinished edge. Use your needle and thread to manually whip stitch this piece in place. (Or for instant gratification: whip out your hot glue gun!)
Hooray! You've done it. Now stick it on your little guy and party!

14 comments:

Emily said...

I LOVE THIS! Thank you so much for the tutorial. Can't wait to make one for my 4 month old nephew. :)

Melinda said...

He is so adorable! :)

Tara said...

I made one of these for my son tonight (nothin' like a deadline, right?) Thanks for the great tutorial!

swell.life said...

@ Tara: Hooray! I want to see pictures!

emily-kallista said...

So sweet!

Packet of Seeds said...

Thank you for this tutorial. Just in time for my daughter's wedding where I am hoping to make bowties for the little nephews of the bride and groom. So adorable!

Amy Hackworth said...

Thanks so much for this tutorial! I made my first set of bow ties last year, and pulled it up again for my niece's wedding. All the little boys had orange bow ties--it was so cute. Thanks, thanks, thanks!

Just G and Me said...

PERFECT! Just made a candy cane one for my son's school Christmas show tomorrow night! :) Thanks

Unknown said...

I just made these for my boys ages 4 and 1. They turned out so cute! Great tutorial!

HITSMAN said...

What are the end measurements of this bow tie?

Unknown said...

made my first of what I'm sure will turn into many many ;) thanks for sharing

Hyacinth Marius said...

I just used this tutorial to make a bowtie for my little guy and it is stinking adorable!

Hyacinth,
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Gennie said...

It's really beautiful,.i like it,.
" Boy bow tie"

Cath Brookes said...

This will look great on my son. I'll be making this for him. Thanks for the idea.

Cath Brookes
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