Take me to the Steps

Construct a basic long necktie with stripes to represent your favorite value of resistor – fashion inspired by the electronics bench! Learn to work with slippery fabrics cut on the bias.

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Project Steps

Gather materials and tools.

There are many free tie patterns available online. I like the Purl Bee’s print-at-home pattern.

Cut stripes from each colored fabric with the grain and reassemble a single piece of striped fabric.

I used a serger to keep things tidy.

Press the seam allowances towards the colored stripes.

My stripes are a half inch wide with a quarter inch of seam allowance on each edge, and I left about 5 inches at the end of the “champagne” colored fabric that’s meant to represent the ceramic body of the resistor.

Fold your fabric into a triangle to find the bias– a 45 degree angle from the grain of the woven threads.

Lay out and cut the three main tie pattern pieces along this bias. A tie cut with the grain would try to twist on itself instead of draping flat and straight.

It’s less important that the two lining pieces be cut on the bias, so try it both ways if you’re curious about the effects.

Press iron-on interfacing to the wrong side of the cut pattern pieces.

I used parchment paper to protect my ironing surface from sticky residue.

Cut the pattern pieces from the interfacing.

Use a low iron setting for synthetics with no steam.

Pin pattern pieces to line up at 1/2″ seam allowance.

Use a straight stitch to sew the seams and press them flat with your iron.

Press up each point about 1/4 inch.

Press a 1/4 inch seam allowance along the nearby edges of both main and lining pieces.

Pin the linings to the main tie with the recently pressed edges hidden inside.

Use an invisible stitch to secure these lining pieces to the main tie.

Press a 1/4 inch seam allowance along both long edges of the tie.

If your tie fabric is very thin, install a piece of thick collar interfacing inside this fold with the ends tucked behind the lining.

Fold these edges once more to meet in the center back of the tie.

Press this fold along the length of the tie with your iron.

Use an invisible ladder stitch to join the seam along the length of the tie.

Wear to your next formal occasion.

A high-quality tie is all about the details, so take your time and you’ll end up with a really nice finished product.