Pet & Animal: How to Make a Tie

Saturday 30 August 2014

How to Make a Tie

Ties are gaining popularity as accessories that can be worn outside the traditional office setting. Ties can be made from any type of fabric, and they're lined with interfacing that helps them hold their shape. Learn how to pick out materials and make a tie by hand.

Steps

Getting the Materials Ready

Buy tie fabric. Are you making a fun tie to give your dad on Father's Day, or would you like to make something that can be worn for a formal event? Go to the fabric store and pick out a colorful, heavy fabric to make your tie unique. Silk is a popular choice for ties, since it looks classy and may be worn for any occasion. For a more casual tie, go for patterned cotton, linen or even denim. You'll need about 1 1/2 yards.

Buy interfacing and other supplies. Ties are made with a material called interfacing, which is sewn into the inside of the tie as a liner. It's made to be able to stretch and knot without losing its shape. Buy 1 1/2 yards of interfacing in a color that matches your tie fabric, in addition to the following supplies:
- Fine thread that matches the tie fabric.
- A good pair of fabric scissors.
- Either a needle (if you're sewing the tie by hand) or a sewing machine in working order.
- Straight pins.
- Measuring tape.

Pick out a pattern. There are many tie patterns available online for free. This classic tie pattern is a good place to start. When you find one you like, print it out and cut out the different parts.

Prepare the fabric. Iron the back of the silk on a low setting to remove any wrinkles. Lay it flat on your work surface, wrong side up, and ensure there are no folds or ripples that will cause you to cut unevenly.
- If you're using a fabric other than silk, you should preshrink it by washing and drying it before you iron it. This will ensure it doesn't shrink if you have the tie steamed or washed.
- If the interfacing has not be preshrunk, preshrink it by soaking it in hot water for 10 minutes, then letting it dry and running an iron over it.

Cutting the Fabric

Lay out the pattern. Carefully lay out each part of the pattern on top of the silk. Make sure the centerline of the pattern is exactly on the fabric's bias. If it's not, the finished tie may appear misshapen. Depending on what pattern you use, you'll have six or seven parts to cut out.
- If your fabric is patterned, envision how the pattern will look once you cut the fabric out. Rearrange the layout of the various pieces to make sure the pattern will show up nicely.

Trace the pattern. Weight or pin the various pieces of the pattern down, then use a piece of chalk to carefully trace around them onto the wrong side of the silk.

Cut the silk. Use a sharp pair of fabric scissors to cut the silk along the chalked lines. If you're using a fabric that's more difficult to work with, you might want to use a rotary cutter instead.

Repeat with the interfacing. Lay out the pattern pieces on the interfacing, use chalk or pencil to trace each piece, then carefully cut out the pieces using a scissors or rotary cutter.

Sewing the Tie

Sew the silk pieces together. Using the instructions that came with the pattern you chose, sew the silk pieces together with a needle and thread or a sewing machine. In most patterns, the point is sewn first, then the two main tie pieces are attached and sewn together. Take care to make sure the edges are aligned correctly and your stitches are straight.
- The tie pieces should be sewn with right sides together, so that when the tie is inverted, the seam doesn't show.
- Use an iron to carefully press the tie after sewing each part. this will help you make sure the shape of the tie is coming together correctly.

Insert the interfacing. Once the tie shape is intact, insert the interfacing inside. Slide the interfacing tip into the tip of the tie, making sure it reaches the end and lays flat. Pin the interfacing in place so it doesn't move around when you sew the tie closed.

Make the inside folds. On the underside of the tie, where the interfacing is inserted, fold the two pieces of silk under so that a neat center seam runs down the middle of the tie. Hold the folds in place with pins, then press the edges so that the folds stay in place.

Sew the tie closed. Use a slip stitch to carefully sew along the middle seam of the underside of the tie. Sew the two edges of the folds closed from the top of the tie to the end of the fold. Be sure not to catch all of the layers as you stitch, since you don't want to be able to see the thread on the front of the tie.

Make the carrier. The small loop that holds the thin part of the tie in place once it has been tied is included in most tie patterns. Sew the carrier according to the instructions in your pattern, then attach it by hand to the center of the underside of the tie.