Clip On Tie Tutorial!

Today I'm going to show you how to make a clip-on tie out of an old shirt. This is by no means the perfect way to do this, it's the quick and dirty way...which is what I usually give you because with 4 kids I don't have time for perfect. However, if a self-conscious 8-year-old boy would wear it, you know it looks good, and that's really all that matters right?

You're going to start by cutting the back out of a shirt. Cut up the sides and around the sleeves until you have something like this:

Since neck ties are cut on the bias, fold the shirt so that the crease is on the diagonal.
Cut the shirt into strips 6 inches wide. For a tie for a 5-8 year old, you'll want two strips at least 20 inches long. (However long you want the tie to be add 7 inches for the knot.) If you need to piece two strips together piece it together as you would bias tape. Dana from Made has a great tutorial HERE.

Cut the bottom of the strips at a 45 degree angle as shown.

You should have this:

Now put them right sides together and sew around the tie, leave the top open.

Now turn the tie right side out and press.

Press the top pieces down.

Topstitch top closed.

Fold the tie in half and stitch up on side using a 1/4'' seam.

Press seam open. Turn the tie right side out and press so that the seam is going up the middle.

Now it's time to tie the tie! Instead of trying to explain this with words I will use photos. I hope it makes sense :-)

Pull the knot tight and slide it up the tie.

Pinch the bottom of the knot and pull the top corners out. If it doesn't look perfect, it's ok, no one sees this part anyway.

Hand sew the back of the tie closed. Now it's time to add a clip!

I used a dollar store hair clip.

Hot glue it to the back of the tie and make sure you put a piece of ribbon or scrap of fabric between the two pieces of the clip. Try not to get it too low or else the tie will sit too high when it's clipped.

That's it! Now go try it on your cool guy (and watch him scowl at you. No? Just me?)

Sorry kid!