How to Make Bow Ties & Kids Crafts

Bowties for your kids are stylish and easy to make.

Crafting by yourself can be relaxing and creatively stimulating, but crafting with your kids can make for great bonding time together. On your own you can do a sewing project, the stylish bow tie, and with your little one, the two of you could make some easy beanbag balls to play catch.

Things You'll Need

• Bow Tie:
• 4 rectangles, about 3"x5"
• 1 long strip, 15"x2.5"
• 1 small rectangle, 1.5"x3"
• Velcro or snaps
• Beanbag Balls:
• 9 (11-inch) balloons (for 3 balls)
• Funnel
• 2 1/4 cups of dried lentils
• Scissors

Instructions

Child Bow Tie

1. Take two 3x5 rectangles, wrong side out, and sew them together, leaving some room to turn it inside out. Repeat this to the other 3x5 pieces.

2. Turn them inside out and fold in the fabric where the openings are. Top-stitch along the edges of each rectangle.

3. Fold the long strip of fabric in half, lengthwise, making sure that both edges are turned inwards. If you were to look at one of the ends it should look like you are making a tiny heart. Sew all the way around the strip. Repeat this with your smallest rectangle.

4. Place your 3x5 rectangles on top of each other, in the middle of the long strip. Then lay the smallest rectangle over the rectangles, wrap it around tightly and pin it. Finally, sew it closed.

5. Measure around the child's neck so you know where to put the fasteners. Then stitch on your fasteners, either the velcro or snaps. You can add extra fasteners so that the child can wear it longer, until they grow out of it.

Kids Craft: Beanbag Balls

1. 

   These easy-to-make easy beanbag balls are great to catch, juggle, kick and throw.

   Inflate the first balloon halfway so that it will stretch out a little. Keep it inflated for about 30 seconds and let the air out. Put the funnel in the neck of the balloon and pour out 3/4 cup of lentils into it. The balloon should be full but still squeezable.

2. Cut off the thick part of the neck on the full balloon. Get another balloon and cut its neck completely off. Stretch it out a bit and ease it over the full balloon, making sure it covers the opening so the lentils do not spill out.

3. Snip off the third balloon's neck and stretch it over the other two balloons. Your first ball is now finished. Use the remaining balloons and lentils to make two more.

References

• Little Bow Tie Tutorial; September 2009
• Family Fun: Beanbag Balls