Final touch on the tie was to add the holding loop on the back. I tried to make one out of satin, but the edges frayed way too much. A quick trip to John Lewis to pick up some ribbon and this was the result.
Really finished!
Here it is, modeled in inimitable fashion by yours truly.
Don’t worry, this isn’t the shirt for the wedding…
I think I have cracked it 🙂
Attempt number 3. This time I used the proper fabric and took my time over it all, took about 5-6 hours in total I expect. Same pattern I cut out from my skinny tie last time, but I added on about a centimetre extra one each side, and cut the fabric with the bias this time. Much easier to work with if you do that, there is a reason they tell you to it seems…
Finished!
The finished article, not too bad at all 🙂
Look how neat it is…
The lining was much neater this time, I had the genius idea of turning the tie inside out and sewing it, then reversing it afterwards, which was a lot easier thas the slip stitching I was doing before, especially as satin is a nightmare to work with.
X marks the spot
I even managed to put a little X shaped holding stitch at each end, to give it a little more of a “finished” look.
Seems a good seam
Plus, I managed to do an invisible ladder stitch up the centre line, which I’m very proud of. In fact I very proud of the finished article, not bad for my third ever tie, or even my third ever hand-sewn thing at all!
Ties. Attempt number 2
Pattern? We don’t need no stinkin’ pattern.
Last tie was definitely tie shaped but needed a lot of work for me to be happy with it, onto tie number 2.
This time I threw away the pattern and made my own. I traced round a skinny tie I already own, added on a bit to the sides for the hem, and then half of the tie width again for the fold.
I also cut out the sew in interfacing to the same length and width of the skinny tie.
Also, I just cut it out in one big piece, but against the bias this time…
It’s a tie, just thinner
Lining was a bit better, on the smaller end of the tie I tried a slip stitch, but didn’t hide it enough. On the larger end I managed to run it further under the lining so it is invisible, but couldn’t get it tight enough. Next plan is to practice just this bit on a few fabric ends, but with the revelation of why don’t I just invert the tie and machine stitch it in! Let’s see how that goes, I fear it will leave the front puckered when I turn it the right way out, but i’ll have to have a play to see. This does mean I need to buy a new sewing machine, John Lewis here I come!
Inside every thin tie, there is a fat tie trying to get out
You can see that the pattern wasn’t ideal, I need it a little bit wider, as the combination of being very skinny and working against the bias meant that the ladder stitches are gaping a bit on the reverse of the tie. Next attempt will be a single piece of fabric, a bit wider but cut with the bias, that should fix that, I hope. Plus I have a better technique for the ladder stitch, in theory anyway.
Skinny tie!
This tie was much quicker to make, about 3 hours start to finish I think, maybe a bit more.
Skinny tie!
Modelled by yours truly, doesn’t look too bad, even with glue stains and a short sleeve shirt.
An Amateur Sews 