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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!)
I LOVE THIS! Thank you so much for the tutorial. Can't wait to make one for my 4 month old nephew. :)
ReplyDeleteHe is so adorable! :)
ReplyDeleteI made one of these for my son tonight (nothin' like a deadline, right?) Thanks for the great tutorial!
ReplyDelete@ Tara: Hooray! I want to see pictures!
ReplyDeleteSo sweet!
ReplyDeleteThank 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!
ReplyDeleteThanks 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!
ReplyDeletePERFECT! Just made a candy cane one for my son's school Christmas show tomorrow night! :) Thanks
ReplyDeleteI just made these for my boys ages 4 and 1. They turned out so cute! Great tutorial!
ReplyDeleteWhat are the end measurements of this bow tie?
ReplyDeletemade my first of what I'm sure will turn into many many ;) thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI just used this tutorial to make a bowtie for my little guy and it is stinking adorable!
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ReplyDelete" Boy bow tie"
This will look great on my son. I'll be making this for him. Thanks for the idea.
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