Design & Style

How to Sew a Tie in 5 Steps

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: May 6, 2022 • 2 min read

Making a tie is a straightforward project for beginners and veteran sewists alike. Learn how to sew a tie with this step-by-step tutorial.

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Materials Needed to Sew a Tie

Making a necktie is an easy DIY sewing project that sewists of all levels can execute. Here are the materials you will need to get started:

  1. 1. Fabric: Select any fabric you like (cotton fabric or silk are common choices) and purchase lining fabric from a fabric store for your DIY tie project.
  2. 2. Interfacing: You will sew a panel of interfacing (also known as interlining) into the inside of the tie to give it structure and shape.
  3. 3. Sewing supplies: This basic sewing project requires thread, sharp needles, tailor’s chalk, pins, an iron, and fabric scissors (or a rotary cutter). Ensure that you have an extra needle on hand for any hand stitching. Learn how to sew by hand.
  4. 4. Sewing machine: A sewing machine will help you quickly sew in a straight line, resulting in a polished finished product. Learn how to use a sewing machine.
  5. 5. Tie pattern: Choose a sewing pattern to use as the guideline for making your tie. Find a free pattern online or purchase one from your local fabric store to work from. Alternatively, create your own pattern by tracing an old tie on paper and cutting it out.

How to Sew a Tie

Learning to sew a tie is a great way to express your style or make a personalized gift. Follow this tie tutorial to learn how:

  1. 1. Prepare your workspace. Gather all of your materials on top of your workspace. Make sure that you have a surface large enough to lay your fabric flat as you work with it.
  2. 2. Cut your fabrics. Spread out your main fabric (which will comprise the outside of your tie) on your workspace, and lay your pattern pieces on top of it. Use pins and tailor’s chalk to mark the pieces and cut them out. Repeat this process with your lining and interfacing materials.
  3. 3. Sew the tie fabric pieces together. Following your pattern, sew the main tie pieces together to create one long strip, which will become the front of the tie.
  4. 4. Add the lining to the end of the tie. Once you’ve sewn your tie pattern pieces into one long strip, add the small piece of lining to the back of the tie (or the wrong side of the tie), leaving a seam allowance of about a quarter-of-an-inch around the edges of the pieces. Then, flip the tie right-side out and iron its edges.
  5. 5. Add interfacing down the center of the tie. The interfacing will run down the length of the tie, with the tip of it fitting into the pocket that you sewed for the tipping lining. Fold the sides of the tie over the interfacing to hide it. Next, pin and hand stitch the folded edges together with a slip stitch to finish the tie. Press the seams down with an iron when you are finished.

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