Little Man Tie Tutorial (shared from Very Homemade Blog)
Okay, so here's a tutorial on how to make a fabulous tie for your little man. So if you have 30 minutes and some basic sewing skills, this project is for you. Oh, and please...if something doesn't make sense to you, let me know and I'll try and clarify! (OH, and Click on the photos to see the image bigger and a few additional notes I made.)
First, download the pattern. (If you try and print direct from adobe it will print just a corner of the pattern. Also, be sure that view on one page is selected.)
So if you are making a tie for a newborn, download patterns A and B for newborn.
If you are making a tie for size 2-5 T download patterns A, B for 2-5T, and C
Print them out and tape together. If you are making one for any sizes in between just add extra inches to the skinny end of the newborn tie. I know, I know.. I'm not being very precise.. but you have to remember I'm simply not an expert pattern maker. : ) You can also customize this pattern by making it an oh-so-chic skinny tie or an oh-so-fun wide tie if you want by simply narrowing or widening the pattern.
A
B Newborn
B for 2-5 T
C for 2-5 T
*** Always check to see that the 1 inch by 1 inch square is just that. If it doesn't you can always try enlarging/shrinking. Or you could just get the basic shape (from the photo below) and draw it out yourself.****
Then.. gather your supplies..
You will need
1/4 yard of studly-print fabric (prewashed). I used cotton. I'll call this the main fabric from here on.
1/4 yard of lining fabric (prewashed). I used cotton.
OPTIONAL: 1/4 yard of light weight Iron on interfacing (Some people said the interfacing made their tie too thick, I personally have had no problems with the Pellon brand light weight interfacing. But if you want to skip this part, by all means save yourself the time and money!)
3 1/2 - 4 inches of sewable velcro
pins
thread to match
scissors
large safety pin (this will make your life much easier!)
Iron, ironing board
and don't forget a sewing machine!
Ready. Let's go.
1. First, cut out your paper pattern pieces (A, B, and C)and tape together. Pin and cut or trace and cut the tie pattern from the interfacing.
2. Pin pattern onto your main fabric and cut across the grain. Do the same for your lining fabric. Optional: Iron on the interfacing onto your now cut main fabric (not the lining) according to product directions .
3. From your main fabric, cut a 2 1/2 inch by 17 inch rectangle for the neck band. (We'll use this later)
4. With right sides together, sew only the two v shaped corners at each end of the tie using 1/4 inch seam allowance. Clip corners.
5. Flip tie so that the right side of the fabric is facing out. Make sure the two end points are nice and pointy! Iron.
6. Fold your tie lengthwise with the lining fabric facing out. Line up all four layers of fabric. You can pin them together if you want. (I'm a bit lazy and skip that part!)
7. Sew along the length of the tie. You will probably need more than a 1/4 seam allowance here.. just make sure to get all four layers!
8. Iron the seam open.
9. Turn your tie right side out. Iron again. You're almost done sewing! Yeah!
10. Take the neck strap piece you cut earlier (2 1/2 inch by 17 inch rectangle) and fold in half length-wise (you know the drill, right sides together). Sew down the length of the fabric.
11. Turn the neck piece right side out. Here is where the safety pin comes in handy. Safety-pin one side of the fabric and then insert the safety pin through the fabric casing. Push the pin through to the other end pulling the fabric as you go. (Clear as mud, yeah?!?). Iron with the seam at the bottom (don't center the seam here.)
12. Now you will will simply tuck in the two ends of fabric into the casing of the neck piece. (I suggest folding a good 1/2- 1 inch into the casing.)
13. Pin the rough side of the velcro at one end of the neck piece. Flip the neck piece over and pin the soft side of the velcro at the opposite end of the neck piece (Make sure you have one piece of velcro pinned to the front and one pinned to the back.)
14. Sew along the velcro pieces as shown below.
That good old neck strap should look like this:
Horray! You're done sewing.. Now for the tricky part. Tying the tie.
Place the two pieces as shown below. The neck piece should be above the tie. The wide part of the tie should be to your right.
Wide part of the tie goes up and behind the neck piece like so...
Now bring it down and in front of the neck piece.
Tighten. Note where the knot will be. Now is when you should check the length of the tie and adjust accordingly.
Take the narrow part of the tie and bring it up and behind the neck piece.
Now bring it down and in front of the neck piece (Thank goodness for photos!)
Tighten. You will want to pull the tie down and the neck pieces out to tighten everything up. (This takes a little practice.. but you can do it!)
This is what the back of the knot should look like. I often (but some times I'm just lazy!) will tack the back together. Just hand sew a few stitches on the bottom of the knot to keep it in place.
Now find your own little stud and try it on!
Okay, so all I ask is if you use the pattern, let me know what I should change/clarify on this tutorial. And one additional favor, show me your handsome creations!
