How to sew a bow tie

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These dapper bow tie sewing patterns are perfect for a special occasion – and could make a treasured gift for a loved one.

Everyone deserves to look and feel their best and there’s no better way to do that than with our bow tie sewing pattern! We’ve got two charming bow tie patterns for you to try, our first is an easy-to-sew bow tie that uses clips, and the second one is a classic bow tie that you tie yourself.

They’d both make an excellent gift for a friend or a family member and you could even add velcro or poppers to make a scaled-down version for a younger child. Whether you like jazzy stripes or a more paired back bow tie, learning how to sew a bow tie is a great way to add unique accessories to your hand-made wardrobe.

Scroll down to learn how to make a bow tie with our two easy sewing tutorials. If you’re new to sewing make sure you check out our sewing for beginners guide and our best sewing machines for beginners to get to grips with all the basics.

You will need

Main fabric – 55x22cm (22x9in)
Adjustable bow tie hardware clips – 15mm (3/4in) hook, eye and slider
Matching thread
Basic sewing kit

Cutting out

Cut out the following pieces of fabric:

Bow: 13x35cm (5¹⁄₄x 13³⁄₄in).
Central tie: 6x7cm (2³⁄₈x 2³⁄₄in).
Neck strap: 5x55cm (2 x 21⁷⁄₈in).

Notes

Use a 1cm (³⁄₈in) seam allowance.

Free bow tie sewing pattern

Making the bow

Step 1

Fold the bow piece of fabric in half lengthways with right sides (RS) together.

Step 2

Sew together all the way around, but leave a gap in the middle of the long edge for turning later.

Step 3

Trim the seams, clip the corners and turn RS out.

Step 4

Slip stitch the turning gap closed.

Step 5

Fold the bow in half so the short ends meet and draw a line 5.5cm (2¹⁄₄in) from the open ends. Pin together and then sew along the line as shown.

Step 6

Press the sewn line open and stitch through the seam and the fabric layers to create a bow shape.

Attaching the central tie

Step 7

Fold the central tie piece in half with RS facing so the short edges meet.

Step 8

Sew together along one short edge and then along the long edge.

Step 9

Trim the seams, clip the corners then turn RS out and press.

Step 10

Pinch the centre of the bow into a crease and wrap the central tie around it, making sure that the folded part of the bow is lying at the front.

Step 11

Sew the tie closed at the back by hand. Make sure you don’t sew through to the bow itself as this needs to be free so that the neck strap can be threaded behind it later.

Adding the neck strap

Step 12

Fold the neck strap in half lengthways with wrong sides (WS) facing and sew together along one short edge and down the long edge.

Step 13

Trim the seams, clip the corners then turn RS out and press.

Step 14

Thread the strap through the central tie at the back of the bow.

Step 15

Feed the sewn neck strap end through the metal eye, fold it over and sew it securely in place.

Step 16

Thread the slider onto the other raw end of the neckstrap.

Step 17

Feed the neckstrap through the hook and back through the centre of the slider in the other direction.

Step 18

Fold the raw end under and sew it down to finish.

Free traditional bow tie pattern

Our next free pattern is a more traditional style of bow tie where you tie it yourself rather than using clips. It’s perfect for more formal occasions such as weddings or to give as a gift for Father’s day.