White Layered Bow Tie

Here’s the next installment for Bow Tie Friday! 

Materials needed include two types of ribbon, scissors, needle and thread, sew on Velcro, and a pendant (not pictured below; see on finished product.)  

I found a decorative 3/8” ribbon that I really liked but it was too narrow for the bow tie, so I searched for a larger size to pair it with.  As shown below, I layered the 3/8” ribbon and a 5/8” inch ribbon selection and stitched them together.

I cut a strip, looped it as pictured, and stitched it in place to create the left side of the bow.  Then I made a matching piece for the right side. 

Next, I cut a long strip to go down the center of the tie with about ¾” excess length and stitched all three pieces together at the top center.  For the neck band, I cut out a 16” piece of the 5/8” ribbon by itself.  (It will fit under the shirt collar and not be seen.)  I flipped the excess length over to the back and stitched it over the neck band onto the back of the tie. The back of the tie is shown below.

I sewed Velcro on the ends of the neck band so it can be easily put on and taken off.  Lastly, I stitched on the pendant.  It brings the piece together and also helps cover some of the stitching.

Note: I later added a little Fray Check to the cut ends of the ribbon to prevent them from fraying.

Black and Silver Bow Tie

When it’s Bow Tie Friday but there’s not much of a market for women’s neckwear, sometimes it's easier to make your own accessories.  This particular bow tie combines a more formal look with a touch of a western feel.  It is most definitely the easiest project I have made in the past year! 

Materials needed include ribbon, scissors, needle and thread, sew on Velcro, and a little bling (in this case, a jeweled pendant).  I also used a sewing machine for speed but you could easily do without.

The first step is to loop the ribbon, starting with the two shortest loops at what will be the top of the bow tie.

I added two middle loops and then one long loop at the bottom (which will be cut in half as shown.)

After the loops were finished, I stitched them together at the top.  I started with thread and needle to hold them in place and then added more stitching with my sewing machine for reinforcement.  You could easily do this all by hand.

Next, I put on a collared shirt and measured around the neck.  I used the measurement (with a little additional length for overlap) to cut out a piece of ribbon and stitched it onto the back of the tie.  As shown below, I stitched Velcro on the ends for ease of attachment.  (One piece needs to go on the top side and the other on the bottom side of the ribbon.)  I know there are fancier fastening options, but let’s be realistic- I need to be able to actually get this off after a day at work!

The last step was to stitch the sparkly pendant on the front with needle and thread.  It covers the stitching and adds a little flair.  That’s it!  You could experiment with different ribbon sizes and colors.  This turned out pretty formal, so I paired it with a white shirt and black vest.