Crafting The Perfect Bow Tie For Your Wedding

Bow ties are a fun and creative way to add a unique touch to your outfit. They are also a great way to showcase your personality and style. Making your own bow tie can be a rewarding experience, as it allows you to choose the perfect fabric, colour, and pattern to suit your taste and the occasion. In this guide, we will teach you how to make a bow tie with a step-by-step process, so you can create a stylish accessory that reflects your individual flair.

Choosing the right fabric

The fabric you choose for your bow tie is important as it will determine the texture of your look and place your outfit in the right season and formality level. Silk is the most popular fabric for bow ties, followed by grosgrain and barathea wool. However, you can make a bow tie out of any fabric that strikes your fancy. The key to a tie that will tie up well is good stiff interfacing.

Silk is the go-to fabric for a tuxedo or dinner jacket. If your event is formal, a silk bow tie will elevate your look. Silk’s light sheen works well with the usually silk satin lapels of your tuxedo or dinner jacket, bringing together your entire look. A satin silk bow tie would be an excellent choice for any evening event, especially weddings.

If you're looking for a matte finish, barathea should be your go-to fabric. Barathea is a twill hopsack weave that creates a lightly ribbed bow tie. It is great for gentlemen who prefer English-style Baratheon tuxedos. A barathea bow tie would also be a perfect accomplishment for any black-tie look.

For a casual look, linen and cotton bow ties are a good choice. They are lightweight and breathable, making them suitable for summer and hot weather. Linen bow ties pair well with tan, blue, or light grey suits. Cotton works well for making a bow tie, but you can use any fabric as long as it is flexible enough to shape.

If you're looking for something more versatile, velvet bow ties are a good option. They are popular for their smoothness and can be worn with tuxedos, formal suits, and festive occasions like proms, wedding parties, and holiday events. They are a natural match with modern dinner jackets in colours like burgundy, ivory, and navy.

When choosing a fabric, it is important to consider the formality of the event and the season. You want to choose a fabric that will complement the rest of your outfit and be appropriate for the occasion.

Getting the right tools

Making a bow tie is a fun project that can be done with or without sewing. If you're going to sew your own bow tie, you'll need access to a sewing machine and some basic understanding of how to use it. If you don't have a sewing machine, you can always hand-sew your bow tie or try a no-sew method. Here are the tools and materials you'll need to make a bow tie:

• Fabric: You'll need about 1/4 yard of fabric for your bow tie. Cotton is a good choice, but you can use any flexible fabric that can be shaped into a bow tie. You can also get creative and use different fabrics for the inner and outer pieces of the bow tie.
• Interfacing: You'll need about 1/4 yard of medium-weight interfacing. The interfacing will be fused to the "wrong" side of your fabric to give it some structure.
• Thread: Make sure you have matching thread for sewing your bow tie.
• Sewing Pattern: You can find free bow tie patterns online or make your own by tracing an existing bow tie.
• Scissors: A sharp pair of fabric scissors is essential for cutting out your fabric and interfacing accurately.
• Iron and Ironing Board: You'll need an iron and ironing board to fuse the interfacing to your fabric.
• Chopstick: A chopstick or similar tool will come in handy when turning your bow tie right side out.
• Ruler or Measuring Tape: These tools will help you measure and cut your fabric accurately.
• Hot Glue Gun (optional): If you're making a no-sew bow tie, you'll need a hot glue gun to secure the fabric.

Once you have gathered all your tools and materials, you can start crafting your bow tie! Remember to take your time, especially when cutting and sewing. With the right tools and some patience, you'll be well on your way to creating a dapper bow tie.

Cutting the fabric

Now that you've gathered your materials, it's time to start cutting the fabric. This part is crucial, as it will determine the final look and size of your bow tie. Here are the steps you need to follow:

Step 1: Cut the Fabric and Interfacing

Using your chosen pattern, carefully cut out the pieces from your fabric. You will need four pieces of fabric in total, two for each side of the bow tie. Cut the fabric according to the pattern, making sure to add a seam allowance if it's not already included. Place the pattern piece on your fabric, pin it in place, and cut along the edges. You can also cut the fabric on the fold to avoid having a seam down the middle of the tie, but this may require more fabric.

Similarly, cut out the interfacing pieces. You will need four pieces of interfacing, two for each side of the bow tie. The interfacing will add structure and stability to your bow tie, so it's important to cut it accurately.

Step 2: Fuse the Interfacing to the Fabric

Take one of your fabric pieces and place it wrong-side up. Then, place the interfacing piece on top, with the adhesive side facing down. Follow the instructions on your interfacing for fusing, usually involving a damp press cloth and an iron. This step will ensure that the interfacing adheres properly to the fabric. Repeat this process for the remaining fabric and interfacing pieces.

Step 3: Sew the Short Ends Together

Take two of your fabric pieces and place them right sides together, matching the short, skinny ends. Sew along this edge using a seam allowance of approximately 1/4 inch (0.6 cm). Repeat this step for the other two fabric pieces. You should now have two long pieces, each consisting of two fabric pieces sewn together.

Step 4: Pin and Sew the Long Pieces Together

Lay the two long pieces right sides together, pinning them in place along the length of the bow tie. Starting from one end, sew around the perimeter of the tie, using a seam allowance of about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm). Leave a gap of 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) in the middle to turn the tie right-side out. This gap will be used to turn the tie and will be closed later.

Step 5: Trim and Clip the Corners and Curves

Before turning the tie, trim the excess fabric at the corners and clip the curves. This step will help the fabric lay flat and reduce bulk when you turn the tie. Be careful not to cut too close to the stitching, as you don't want to accidentally snip through your seams.

Step 6: Turn the Tie Right-Side Out

This step can be a bit tricky, but with patience and the right tools, you'll get it done. Using a chopstick or a similar tool, gently push the fabric through the gap you left in the middle. Work your way around the tie, being careful not to pop any stitches. Once you've turned the tie right-side out, give it a good press with your iron to smooth out any wrinkles.

Step 7: Close the Opening

Now, it's time to close the opening you left for turning. You can hand-sew this closed with a blind stitch for a neat finish. Alternatively, you can use a contrast colour thread and sew it closed by machine, adding a bit of character to your bow tie.

Sewing the fabric together

Now it's time to sew!

Start by pinning the two 'short' pieces together, with the interfacing-bonded front to the soft back, right sides facing in. Leave a seam allowance of about 1/4 inch and carefully sew the curves of the bowtie. Leave the 'tail' of this side open, placing the opening into the straight section, not too near the curve.

Turn this section right side out. You can use a dowel or the back of a pen to help with this. Bond the raw edges of the opening with your bonding tape. Repeat this process with the other side of the bow tie.

Now, carefully press the bow tie for crisp, clean edges.

If you're using a patterned fabric, be sure to check that you have a 'right side up' for the left and right sections of the bow tie, otherwise, half your pattern will be upside down!

Feed each tail carefully into the tri-glide to join them together. You can skip this part if it's too confusing or if you know the pattern is the right size for your neck, and simply join the two ends together like a classic shop-bought bow tie.

Tying the bow tie

Now that you've made your bow tie, it's time to learn how to tie it!

Step-by-Step Guide to Tying a Bow Tie:

• Start with the bow tie lying face up. Adjust the bow tie so that the right side is shorter than the left.
• Move the right side to the left, across the left side.
• Bring the right side under and up through the neck loop.
• At the joint, fold the left side towards the right and then towards the left to create a bow shape.
• Bring the right side straight down over the middle of the bow shape.
• Fold the right side back towards the chest and pinch the fold.
• Push the pinched end (right side) through the loop behind the left side.
• Pull on the folded parts of the bow to tighten.
• Adjust until balanced on both sides.

Frequently asked questions