DIY Baby Tie
I worked my way through college waiting tables. In addition to being able to stack an abnormal amount of plates on my arms, I also learned how to make ties during my 5 year restaurant stint. The restaurant I worked at mandated ties as apart of the server dress code. While waiting tables I learned that if I had a great conversation piece for a tie, I got a bigger tip (hey a girl's gotta pay her bills). Since ties are expensive, either weird or boring, and silk must be dry cleaned (college girl does not care to afford dry cleaning...I still don't), I started making my own out of fun and funky washable fabrics. I had no clue how to make a tie so I simply dissected an ugly one from my stash and used that as my pattern and how-to guide.
Now the proud momma of a baby boy, I can put my tie-making skills to good use!
This project is fairly easy and fast. The only time consuming part is the blind hand stitching up the whole back of the tie. But... the rewards of putting your handsome little man in a rock-star tie that happens to match his big sister's flower hair piece definitely outweigh the time spent!
Baby Tie:
Fabric: 1 yd. (You will not use anywhere to close to all of it, but because it is cut on the bias you need almost 1 yd. to not have to sew on extra length... you could use less fabric though if you don't mind sewing on added length.)
Interfacing, Medium weight: about 2"x33"
Scissors
Paper
Pencil
Pins
Needle and Thread
Sewing Machine
Note: It took me a little while to remember how I had made ties before, so I made a few mistakes, but you have the benefit of learning from them so that I am the only one that makes them. I may have pictures in this tutorial of what I did even though occasionally they are pictures of what I did wrong.
Make your pattern. I wanted a "skinny" tie so here's my measurements: It's 1 1/2" at the widest part of the tie and 1" at the thinnest part. I figured on my son about 9 inches would be the visible front part of the tie. See pattern drawing to see how I made pattern. I used the super official method of taking my measuring tape and making a mock tie with it on my son to see how long it should be. I actually ended up being short and had to later sew on some length. It ended up being 32" long. My son wears size 6 to 9 mos.
I added 3/4" to either side of tie to be able to fold it over the back side. I should have made one side of tie 3/4" and the other side 1" so I would have had more fabric to work with for my fold.
Lay out your fabric on a flat surface. It is really important that you cut your fabric on the bias. If you aren't familiar with what bias means: Fabric threads are woven so that they run vertically or horizontally. Cutting along this line is called cutting "on the grain." Cutting diagonally, opposite to the grain, is called cutting on the bias. One easy way to do this is to find your corner in the fabric and put the tip of your tie pointing to the corner so that the tie ends up perfectly between either side of fabric.
Use the tip of the tie pattern to cut out a piece for the back of the tie. You can be quirky like me and use a fun accent fabric or you could just use your tie fabric. My dotted line is where I made my cut (don't cut through paper though, you aren't done with your pattern yet).
Use your the "inside" lines of your tie pattern to cut out your piece of interfacing. Time saver: line up your pattern so that one side lines up with edge of interfacing so that you only have to cut on one side.
Follow instruction on interfacing and iron interfacing to backside of tie. Place interfacing where the tie will be after folds are made.
Pin accent fabric to tie so that the "right" sides are facing each other.
Using the interfacing as a guide, sew a straight stitch where the tie begins to come to a point to the tip of the interfacing and to the other side. Straight lines are important or your tie will look funny.
Flip your accent fabric to the other side and use a pencil tip to gently push the tip of the tie out.
Fold side of 3/4" side over the interfacing and iron into place. 1/4 to 1/2 inch of other side and iron. Then fold remainder of side over interfacing (interfacing should not show) and iron into place.
Find a chair, get comfy, get yourself a cup of coffee, for you will now start doing the most time consuming part of this project.
Blind stitch the back of the tie.
A blind stitch is simply a stitch you cannot (or can barely) see. I made a stitch every 1/2" and kept my thread on the inside of the fabric coming up only to make my stitch.
I forgot to take a picture (oops!) but to finish the other end of the tie, I folded 1/4" of fabric over and ironed it in place. Then I pulled the 2 corners together so that the tip is a triangle. I ironed that in place and then stitched it in placed.
Can I just say, that accent fabric is making me very happy. I know that no one can see it; it's only on the underside of the tie, but still... COWPRINT!
Baby Tie is now done!
I can't wait to show you pictures of my handsome little man sporting his tie. :)
Because not everything is perfect in a crafting world, my notes from the project:
 |
| I dug out a picture of me in my tie-making/tie-wearing days. I am cheesing it with one of my favorite co-workers. I think I was 20ish at the time. This is probably my least exciting tie. My homemade stash also included 2 retro prints, a shocking pink solid, a funky paisley print, and a Christmas print. I even made some as gifts for co-workers. When you work around food and come home smelling of chicken fried steak and whipped cream, nothing beats a tie that can be easily washed! |
This project is fairly easy and fast. The only time consuming part is the blind hand stitching up the whole back of the tie. But... the rewards of putting your handsome little man in a rock-star tie that happens to match his big sister's flower hair piece definitely outweigh the time spent!
Baby Tie:
Fabric: 1 yd. (You will not use anywhere to close to all of it, but because it is cut on the bias you need almost 1 yd. to not have to sew on extra length... you could use less fabric though if you don't mind sewing on added length.)
Interfacing, Medium weight: about 2"x33"
Scissors
Paper
Pencil
Pins
Needle and Thread
Sewing Machine
Note: It took me a little while to remember how I had made ties before, so I made a few mistakes, but you have the benefit of learning from them so that I am the only one that makes them. I may have pictures in this tutorial of what I did even though occasionally they are pictures of what I did wrong.
Make your pattern. I wanted a "skinny" tie so here's my measurements: It's 1 1/2" at the widest part of the tie and 1" at the thinnest part. I figured on my son about 9 inches would be the visible front part of the tie. See pattern drawing to see how I made pattern. I used the super official method of taking my measuring tape and making a mock tie with it on my son to see how long it should be. I actually ended up being short and had to later sew on some length. It ended up being 32" long. My son wears size 6 to 9 mos.
I added 3/4" to either side of tie to be able to fold it over the back side. I should have made one side of tie 3/4" and the other side 1" so I would have had more fabric to work with for my fold.
Fold side of 3/4" side over the interfacing and iron into place. 1/4 to 1/2 inch of other side and iron. Then fold remainder of side over interfacing (interfacing should not show) and iron into place.
Find a chair, get comfy, get yourself a cup of coffee, for you will now start doing the most time consuming part of this project.
Blind stitch the back of the tie.
Can I just say, that accent fabric is making me very happy. I know that no one can see it; it's only on the underside of the tie, but still... COWPRINT!
Baby Tie is now done!
I can't wait to show you pictures of my handsome little man sporting his tie. :)
Because not everything is perfect in a crafting world, my notes from the project:
- I remember it taking a little while to get the hang of it years ago. And though I made a few mistakes this time, it all seemed to come back to me. It ended up being easy. The stitching up the back took me 30-40 minutes (and I am SLOW)... I forgot to watch the time, but it was 2 feedings. It took me a little time to figure out the pattern and then I had to add some fabric to the end. I have a feeling I could make a tie in 30 minutes plus the time to blind stitch the back if I was to do it again.
- While this project may look complicated, it really isn't. Most of your work is done with scissors and an iron. If you have never done a blind stitch before, it's easy! I would be happy to explain it better if someone needs it!
- I feel like maybe my instructions were not the best; my brain feels a bit foggy. So, feel free to inbox me questions or leave them in comment box. Hopefully the coffee will have kicked in by then and I will do a better job explaining.