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I seem to now be an expert in fashioning bow ties for Derby, weddings, and…dogs?!
Here is the groom’s bowtie from a wedding this summer:
Here is the one for his dog (although I turned it around to get a better picture, so now it looks like a bow):
Here are the bow ties I made for a wedding last year:
And, one for Sy for the holidays!
Since these are so IN right now, thought I would give you a tutorial on how I make them!
Bow Tie Tutorial
First, print out the bow tie template here. Tape them together using the marked overlap. This size seems to fit most people, but its easy to add extra if you need it a bit longer.
1.) Use your pattern piece to cut out 4 bow ties from your fabric. Then, cut out just enough fusible interfacing (my fave is Pellon ES114 or 931TD) to cover the bow tie piece, and NOT the neck piece. It’s way too difficult to turn it inside out like that; plus, all of that is under the shirt collar, and doesn’t need to be super crisp.
2.) Take 2 pieces and put them right sides together. Mark a hole for turning inside out. This is the best place to put it; at the thin end, you smash your bow all up getting it through. Starting at one pin, sew with a 1/4″ seam all the way around, stopping at the other pin.
3.) Clip the curves bowing outward, and pizza-slice the seams turning inward. Grade the corners of the ends of the bow tie as well, as shown. This will give you smooth curves and sharp points!
4.) Turn them inside out, push out all the corners and curves, press the you-know-what out of them, then hand stitch the hole closed. I do this little stitch that runs under the fold of the fabric on one side. Then, right where it comes out of one side, I insert it into the other side, run under that fold for about 1/4″, then pop out, and back over to the other side. This makes your seam invisible. NOTE: No idea what this is called – someone leave me a comment with the name of it!
5.) Hang them on a cute chair and take a photo. I really have no explanation for this photo aside from it is cute. 
6.) Sew about 2 inches of velcro to each end. Yes yes, this is cheating a bit, but the groom does NOT want to fumble with this bow tie 10 minutes before the ceremony. He still has to TIE it, so he gets the full experience, but this way he can do it nicely the night before. And the velcro is under the collar, so no one will ever know!
Yay! Now GIT TO WORK!
8 comments
December 17, 2012 at 10:11 am
It’s called a ladder stitch or an invisible stitch. It’s handy isn’t it. I use it on my monsters and dolls when I close them up. Thank you for the very concise and easy to follow bow tie tutorial. My son just asked for one today so I’m going to make him one for Christmas. Do you have to cut the material on the bias? Or can you cut it with the grain?
January 22, 2013 at 4:08 am
I wish you did youtube tutorials, I really liked how you taught how to make the bag on Sew it All. I TiVo’d the show and can’t wait to make the bag. You taught it so a new sewer could understand what to do.
Thanks!
March 12, 2013 at 5:47 pm
That stich is called a slip-stitch. it is my favorite!
March 17, 2013 at 8:01 am
This was the bet bow tie tutorial and easily printable pattern I found on the internet! Thanks!
May 8, 2013 at 2:23 am
Yay! I am so glad you liked it! Thank you!
April 23, 2013 at 12:11 am
It could be called a slip stitch, but I thought that was a stitch where you go in the top with your needle, come out the back and bring it again to the top to repeat. I thought that the stitch you were describing was called the blind stitch, as you cannot see it, it looks hidden. But no matter what it is called, it is one that I use often.
And I agree, you should have a video tutorial, from the way that you word your instructions here, you would make a great video instructor.
Thanks so much. I will get started right now. My son wants a navy, solid one. Sounds boring, but this is his first bow tie, he might get adventurous later on.
April 23, 2013 at 12:47 am
The tutorial does not specify if the fabric is cut on the bias or with the selv edge.(the fabric grain )?
Thanks
Arlene
May 8, 2013 at 2:22 am
Hey Arlene! Actually, sometimes I cut it on the bias to make the stripes go diagonal, with the grain to make the stripes horizontal, or cross grain to make them vertical. It works any way you do it!