After making a couple of bow ties with the adjustable metal slide technique, I realized I wasn't too crazy about them. Whenever I finish making something, I try to step back and look at it as if I am shopping and seeing it for the first time. The metal slides looked a little tacky to me, and they seemed pretty easy to move and deter from the setting I put it at for my own neck size. I really like the size adjustment method that big brands use, which is a ribbon with hole settings and two pieces of hardware (a t-bar and slide). I purchased a set of 12 ribbons and hardware pieces from a company in LA, along with some silk fabric from Mood Fabrics, and got to work.
This was my first time working with silk, too. I had no idea there were so many different types of silk, and after quite a bit of research I'm still not completely sure which ones are suitable for tie-making. I bought a shantung/dupioni silk in a blue and olive check pattern. This type of silk is interesting because it's characterized by an uneven ribbed surface.
Adding the neck ribbon was super easy. I shortened the neck of the pattern piece and replaced the fabric that's normally there with the ribbon. I also altered the pattern to make a diamond point tie, as opposed to the standard style I used on my first bow tie, just to spice it up even more. I added fusible interlining (this stiffens the fabric so it's actually wearable) and sewed the pieces together.
The result is a tie that I'm extremely proud of. I'm definitely glad I decided to explore further methods of an adjustable neck feature. I sewed on one of my custom labels and took it to Europe with me to give to Dan, the friend Sarah and I stayed with while we were in England. It's pretty cool knowing that one of my ties is being worn (I hope) across the pond!
Interested in purchasing one of my bow ties? Check out newly launched brand, Neat Pineapple!