How to Make a Tie Into a Breakaway Velcro Tie

Transform your necktie into a breakaway tie so that you can get ready for work in seconds.

Make a breakaway tie that attaches with Velcro. Use a regular tie and transform it by adding a Velcro strip at the back. This will enable you to remove the tie or get dressed in seconds. You don't need to tie a knot each time, nor will you have to use a clip-on tie. Nobody will know that you are wearing a breakaway tie, as the Velcro strap will be concealed by your shirt collar.

Things You'll Need

• Tie
• Marker
• Pins
• Needle and thread
• Scissors
• 2-inch-wide Velcro strip

Instructions

1. Tie your tie as you normally would. Use the marker to make a small dot on the tie at the spot where it rests on the back of your neck. The dot should be made on the top part of the tie and should be in line with your spine.

2. Untie the tie and cut it into two pieces on the marker dot you made. Fold the cut ends over to make a 1-inch hem. Fold them over again 1 inch to make a double hem. Pin in place.

3. Thread the needle and tie it off. Sew along the hems that you folded to prevent the two pieces of the tie from fraying. Tie the thread off at the end and trim.

4. Cut two 4-inch lengths of 2-inch-wide Velcro. One piece should have the Velcro hooks, and the other piece should have the loops.

5. Place the wide side of the tie on your work surface, with the front part of the tie facing down. Sew the loop strip of Velcro on the underside of the tie's wide section. The Velcro should be positioned in the middle of the wide side, with one edge on the hem you sewed earlier. Sew the Velcro to the underside of the tie so that it doesn't show through on the top.

6. Place the narrow side of the tie on the work surface, with the front part of the tie facing up. Position the hook strip of Velcro in the middle of the narrow side's front, with one edge touching the hem you sewed earlier. Stick the two pieces of the tie together so that the tie is in one piece again.

7. Tie the tie as you normally would. Take care to do a good job and make sure that the knot is perfect. Check that the tie is the perfect length and that it is neither too tight nor too loose. Undo the Velcro strips and take off the tie.

8. Thread the needle and tie it off. Push the needle through the back of the tie knot. Push it all the way through and then sew a very small stitch on the top that is not visible. You can sew a couple of tiny stitches to keep the knot in place. Make sure that the stitches are strong enough so that you can pull the knot and it won't come undone.

Tips & Warnings

• Pushing the needle through the knot may hurt your fingers so use a thimble.

• You can use any kind of tie; it doesn't matter if the stripes on striped ties don't match up after you have cut and hemmed the edges, as this portion of the tie will be hidden by your shirt collar.

• This tie is an excellent choice to wear when safety is a concern in the workplace.