How to make a bow tie

1. Materials & tools

Materials (adult bow tie)

• Main fabric (cotton, satin or a crisp shirting) — about 25 × 25 cm (10 × 10 in)
• Optional: lightweight fusible interfacing for body
• An adjustable bow-tie strap with hardware, or elastic, for wearing

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Accessories” → “Bow tie” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the bow width and height (and the center band width). Presets cover adult, kids and pet sizes.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Trace the pattern
   Trace the cut line and seam line onto the wrong side of the fabric.
2. Cut
   Cut 1 body (folded into a loop at the center notch) and 1 center band.
3. (Optional) interface
   For soft fabric, fuse a light interfacing to the body so the bow holds its shape.

4. Sewing

4-1. Sew the body into a loop

1. Fold the body piece in half at the center, right sides together, and sew the long edge into a tube. Turn right side out and press with the seam centered at the back.
2. Bring the two short ends together and sew them, forming a loop (ring).

4-2. Shape the bow

1. Flatten the loop with the joining seam hidden at the center back.
2. Pinch the center into accordion folds (gathers) to form the bow shape.

4-3. Wrap the center band

1. Fold the center band into a narrow strip and press. Wrap it snugly around the gathered center and hand-stitch it closed at the back.
2. Thread the wearing strap (or elastic) behind the center band.

5. Tips & variations

• Crisper bow: use interfacing or a slightly stiffer fabric so the loops stand out.
• Pet bow tie: leave the center band loose enough to slide onto the collar.
• Pre-tied look: this style is pre-shaped, so it stays neat all day — ideal for weddings and photos.