How to Make a Necktie From Scratch

Sew your own necktie.

If you are tired of paying a lot of money for neckties, it is time to learn to make your own. Use a older tie from your collection as a pattern to make the process as simple as possible. You will be cutting up the tie, so use one you do not want to wear again. Pick a silk, polyester or lightweight cotton fabric for the tie, depending on the season and where you plan on wearing the tie.

Things You'll Need

• Old necktie
• Scissors
• Seam ripper
• 1 yard fabric
• Straight pins
• Matching thread
• Sewing machine
• 1/2 yard interfacing
• Hand-sewing needle

Instructions

1. Cut the old necktie into three pieces for the pattern. Cut the tie along the seams to make a front, middle and back piece. Use the seam ripper to open the seam on the underside of the front of the tie and flatten out the front piece.

2. Pin the front and back pattern pieces to the exterior fabric chosen, right side facing up. Cut out the front and back pieces.

3. Set the middle piece on the wrong side of the fabric, on a diagonal, pin in place and cut out.

4. Put the front piece of the tie on the work surface, right side facing up. The point of the tie should point down. Set the middle of the tie just above the front piece, then flip the front piece on top of the middle, so that the angled edges line up. The front piece will face right side down. Pin the pieces together, then sew 1/4 inch away from the edge.

5. Line up the other end of the middle piece with the top edge of the back piece of the tie. The right side of the middle piece should face up and the wrong side of the back piece should face up. Pin the pieces together along the angled edge, then sew 1/4 inch from the edge. You should now have one long strip.

6. Cut one long strip of interfacing that matches the fabric strip's shape but is one inch less wide.

7. Cut a small triangle of fabric from the lining on the bottom front of the tie. The triangle should match the size of the triangle on the bottom front of the tie.

8. Pin the triangle of fabric to the bottom front of the tie, right sides together. Sew the triangle to the tie along the two angled sides, 1/4 inch from the edge. Turn the triangle out so that its right side faces out and is on the backside of the front of the tie.

9. Place the interfacing strip on the wrong side of the tie, in the middle. Fold the edges of the tie in 1/4 inch and iron.

10. Fold the sides of the tie in so that they meet in the middle of the tie and conceal the interfacing. Press gently with the iron, then pin in place.

11. Hand sew the tie together along the center seam, using a slip stitch. Bring the needle up through the fabric and catch just a small amount of fabric on the other side, then push it down again. Bring it up a 1/2 inch from where you started and catch only a small amount of fabric to make your stitches nearly invisible. Continue stitching the center seam along the length of the tie.

12. Use a warm iron to remove any creases and flatten the tie.

References

• Purl Bee; Father's Day Tie; Molly; 2009
• Etsy; How-To Tuesdays: DIY Geek Power Tie; Michele Beschen; 2010