How to Make a Knit Bow Tie

For a unique and fun look, knit a bow tie for each groomsman in a wedding party.

Theodore Roosevelt, Fred Astaire, Pee-wee Herman, Dr. Who: The bow tie has had many famous (and infamous) adherents. Wearing a bow tie is more than a fashion statement; it also is a declaration of individuality and nonconformity, and a knit bow tie makes an even bolder statement. A knit bow tie is a thoughtful, handmade gift for Father's Day or a fun project you can make at any time. Knitting a bow tie is an intermediate to advanced knitting project and not suitable for beginners.

Things You'll Need

• Sport-weight yarn
• Size 2 knitting needles
• Cable needle
• Tapestry needle

Instructions

Decrease Shaping

1. Cast on 40 stitches. This part of the pattern is the first part of the bow tie proper and resembles the shape of half a bow tie; that is, it is larger at the outside edge and gets smaller as it approaches the center.

2. Repeat the following pattern 20 times: Knit one stitch; move the yarn to the front of the project; slip one stitch purl-wise; move yarn to the back of the project. To slip one stitch purl-wise, insert your working needle into the stitch as if you are going to purl the stitch. Instead of making a stitch, however, just slide the stitch off the first needle and onto the working needle. This is row one.

3. Repeat row one 29 times, making 30 rows in all.

4. Knit one stitch. Move your yarn to the front of the project; slip the next stitch purl-wise; then move the yarn to the back of the project. Slip the next stitch knit-wise. Place the next stitch onto a cable needle, and hold it toward the back of your project. Slip the next stitch knit-wise. With the two stitches you have just slipped knit-wise, do a slip-stitch knit stitch. Bring the yarn forward. Slip the stitch off the cable needle onto the right-hand needle purl-wise. Slip the next stitch purl-wise. Move the yarn to the back. Repeat the following pattern until only six stitches remain: Knit one; move the yarn forward; slip the next stitch purl-wise; move the yarn back. For the last six stitches, slip the next stitch knit-wise. Place the next stitch on the cable needle and hold to the back; move the slipped stitch back to the left-hand needle. Knit two together. Move the yarn forward; slip the stitch off the cable needle purl-wise. Slip the next stitch purl-wise. Move the yarn to the back. Knit one stitch. Move the yarn to the front. Slip the last stitch purl-wise. This is row 31.

5. Knit one. Move the yarn forward. Slip the next stitch purl-wise. Move the yarn back. Do a slip-stitch knit stitch (this uses the next two stitches). Move the yarn forward. Slip the next stitch purl-wise. Move the yarn back. Repeat the following pattern until five stitches remain: Knit one stitch; move the yarn forward; slip the next stitch purl-wise; move the yarn back. For the last five stitches, knit two together; move the yarn forward; slip the next stitch purl-wise; move the yarn back; knit the next stitch; move the yarn forward; and slip the last stitch purl-wise. This is row 32.

6. Repeat the following pattern across all stitches: Knit one; move yarn forward; slip the next stitch purl-wise; move the yarn back. This is row 33.

7. Repeat row 33 five more times. These are rows 34 through 38.

8. Repeat rows 31 and 32. These are rows 39 and 40.

9. Repeat the following pattern across all stitches: Knit one; move yarn forward; slip the next stitch purl-wise; move the yarn back. This is row 41. Repeat this row five more times. These are rows 42 through 46.

10. Repeat rows 31 and 32. These are rows 47 and 48.

11. Repeat the following pattern across all stitches: Knit one; move yarn forward; slip the next stitch purl-wise; move the yarn back. This is row 49.

12. Repeat row 49 three more times. These are rows 50 through 52.

13. Repeat rows 31 and 32. These are rows 53 and 54.

14. Repeat row 49 six times. These are rows 55 through 60.

Increase Shaping

1. Repeat the following pattern across all stitches: Knit one; move the yarn forward; slip the next stitch purl-wise; move the yarn back. This is row one. This part of the pattern looks like half a bow tie, starting at the narrow edge and becoming wider as it progresses.

2. Repeat row one five more times. These are rows two through six.

3. Knit one. Move the yarn forward. Slip the next stitch purl-wise. Move the yarn back. Knit one. Make one left by inserting the left needle into the space between stitches from the front to the back and make a knit stitch in the back side of the loop you've created. Repeat the following pattern until there are three stitches left: Move the yarn forward; slip the next stitch purl-wise; move the yarn back; knit one. Make one right by inserting the left needle in the space between stitches from the back to the front. Make a knit stitch in the front side of the loop. Move the yarn forward. Slip the next stitch purl-wise. Move the yarn back. Knit one. Move the yarn forward. Slip the last stitch purl-wise. This is row seven.

4. Knit one. Move the yarn forward. Slip the next stitch purl-wise. Move the yarn back. Knit one. Move the yarn forward. Slip the next stitch purl-wise. Move the yarn back. Make one left. Repeat the following pattern until four stitches remain: Move the yarn forward; slip the next stitch purl-wise; move the yarn back; knit one. Move the yarn forward. Slip the next stitch purl-wise. Move the yarn back. Make one right. Move the yarn forward. Slip the next stitch purl-wise. Move the yarn back. Knit one. Move the yarn forward, slip the last stitch purl-wise. This is row eight.

5. Repeat row one four times. These are rows nine through 12.

6. Repeat rows seven and eight. These are rows 13 and 14.

7. Repeat row one six times. These are rows 15 through 20.

8. Repeat rows seven and eight. These are rows 21 and 22.

9. Repeat row one six times. These are rows 23 through 28.

10. Repeat rows seven and eight. These are rows 29 and 30.

11. Repeat row one 30 times. These are rows 31 through 60.

Second Decrease Shaping and Neckband

1. Repeat the first 60 rows of the pattern (rows one through 60 of the first decrease section). This part of the pattern is the final part of the bow tie proper, which looks just like the first section, and the neckband, which goes around the shirt collar.

2. Knit two together across all stitches. You should now have 12 stitches on your needle.

3. Purl one. Purl two together. Purl six. Purl two together. Purl one. You should now have 10 stitches on your needle.

4. Knit one. Slip stitch knit. Knit four. Knit two together. Knit one. You should now have eight stitches on your needle.

5. Continue in garter stitch, which means knitting every row, until the neckband reaches half the desired length. Bow ties are meant to fit like standard ties and correspond to men's shirt neck sizes. For a bow tie with a neck size of 16 inches, the finished length would be 31 inches, so each half of the pattern should measure roughly 15.5 inches. For each additional inch in neck size, increase the finished length of the project by one inch as well.

6. Bind off all stitches with a knit bind off.

Finishing

1. Make another half bow tie by repeating the entire pattern once more.

2. Weave in all loose ends.

3. Sew the two pieces together, lining up the stitch pattern. The seam should be in the center back of the neckband.

Tips & Warnings

• Always check your gauge before starting a project by knitting a swatch with the same weight yarn and the same size needles. For this pattern, 30 rows of 40 stitches (knitted, as in the pattern) should make a 1.5-by-3-inch swatch. Use a larger needle if the swatch is too small.

• Sport-weight yarn is also called baby yarn. It is rated No. 2 on the yarn weight chart. Choose yarn with a pattern, such as tweed, for a multicolored bow tie, or a solid color for a more traditional look.

References

• Knit Picks: Bow Tie Pattern
• The New York Times: A Red Flag That Comes in Many Colors; Warren St. John; June 2005

Resources

• Knitting Help.com: Home Page