neck tie (+ free pattern!)

Hello, my dapper readers! You know what you need in your wardrobe? A new necktie. You know what's easy to make? A new necktie. 

Seriously, I have no idea why ties are so expensive to buy - it's literally just fabric & thread.  I had made some ties in the past as Christmas gifts & this year I sewed up a few for my sharply-dressed brother. I forgot how easy they were to make until I sat down to do them. It took no time at all, so I whipped up a couple more for myself & Heather. I'm generally not the type of person to wear a necktie, but dang it does seem to bump up the suave-factor. 

To make this necktie, you'll need:

• Fabric, 8" x 58" (cotton or polyester)*
• Needle & thread
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Pins
• Iron & ironing board (make note of the fabric type you are using; if cotton, use a hot iron with steam. If polyester, use a cooler iron with no steam)
• Necktie pattern (Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 )

* If you are unable to find a fabric you like that is at least a 58" width, you can piece two smaller lengths together.

Step 1 // Print out pattern & piece together with tape. Your pattern will end up as two pieces: the main body & the loop. Before you pin your pattern, iron your fabric to remove any wrinkles.

Step 2 // Pin the pattern to fabric. If you're using fabric with a print, make note of the direction of the print. The fatter end (7 inch width) of the pattern will be the front tip of the tie, & the slimmer end (4 inch width) will be the smaller back tip. Cut both pattern shapes.

Step 3 // Lay the main body fabric piece right side down. Fold the seam of the fatter end up 1/2 inch, as seen in the photo above. Iron flat.

Step 4 // Fold the fatter end as you would a paper airplane, as seen above. Iron flat to create the arrow shape.

Step 5 // By hand, baste the base of the arrow shape together. You will only need to stitch 2-3 times; do not stitch all the way down to the tip. Make sure that you are only basting at the base of the arrow & not through to the other side of the fabric.

Step 6 // Repeat steps 3-5 for slimmer end.

Step 7 // Fold your fabric in half longwise, wrong side out. Pin.

Step 8 // With a straight stitch, sew up the entire length of the fabric, starting with the base of the arrow shape on one end, & ending on the base of the arrow shape at the other end.

Step 9 // Lay your tie on the ironing board seam-side up with the seam in the middle. Open up the seam & iron it flat.

Step 10 // Turn your tie right side out. This will take some time, be patient! As with the bow tie tutorial, you may need to use a long blunt object to help this process along.

Step 11 // Iron your tie flat.

Step 12 // Onto the loop! You can sew by hand or by machine, whichever you feel is easier for you; I sewed my piece by hand. Hem both of the shorter (1.5 inch) sides.

Step 13 // Fold the loop in half longwise & sew along the long side. Turn the loop inside out.

Step 14 // With the edges of the loop curved under, sew (by hand) onto the back of the tie about 9 inches from the tip of the fatter arrow. Make sure that you are only sewing through the back & not through the front of the tie. Iron flat.

[Note: You could alternatively use a piece of ribbon in place of the loop]

Look at you all professional in your new necktie! Now go strut your stuff.

xoxo,
-m.e.

Related // More of a bow tie person? No problem.