Looking for a Gift Idea? Try Making These DIY Tie and Pocket Squares

Tools and materials:

• Main fabric
• Lining fabric
• Pattern
• Pins
• Safety pin
• Sewing machine
• Iron
• Ruler
• Needle and thread
• Paper

1. Cut out the pattern

Place your pattern pieces on top of the main fabric and lining fabric. Make sure that this grainline indicated on the pattern is running parallel to the selvage line, so the tie will be cut out on the cross-grain because that’s where it gives it the most stretch.

Proceed to cut your pieces out.

2. Pin the pieces together

Take your main fabric pieces and have the two right sides touching each other. Next, take the back piece and line it up with the notches in the front piece, and then pin them together, as shown above.

3. Sew together

Using a ⅜-inch seam allowance, go ahead and sew them together. Once done, press the seam open.

Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the lining pieces.

4. Trim

Trim any fabric that is protruding out of the sides when the pieces are laid flat.

5. Pin

Next, with the right sides facing each other, you want to insert five pins, as shown above. Pin at the wide end first, then smooth the material out all the way along before pinning the other side to make sure that everything is aligned nicely.

6. Sew

Using a ⅜-inch seam allowance, starting at one end, sew the tip of the tie. As you get closer to the point, you want to stop about ⅜ inch away, lift up your presser foot and pivot the fabric. Then once you’ve adjusted the position, continue sewing.

7. Trim

Next, at the points, trim the seam allowance down.

8. Turn right side out

Turn the tie to the right side facing out and push out those points.

9. Fold, pin, and sew

Fold the tie in half and pin it in place all the way along. Proceed to line it up in the sewing machine with a ⅜-inch seam allowance and sew along the tie.

10. Turn right side out

Next, open up the tie and center the seam so it runs parallel with the point. Then press the seam open. Next, take a safety pin, attach it to the small end, and feed it through to turn the tie right side out.

As soon as you see the safety pin coming out on the other side, take it off and then, by hand, pull the rest of the tie through. 

11. Make a tie keeper

Lastly, you need to make a tie keeper. Cut out a rectangle that measures 3 inches by 2 inches (7.6 x 5cm). To hide the raw edges, fold in both of the shorter sides by about ½ an inch (1.3cm). 

12. Sew the tie keeper

Once you have your rectangle, measure up 8.5 inches (21.6cm) from the bottom of the tie and mark it with a pin. Then take the tie keeper, place it where the pin is and then pin the keeper in place.

With a needle and thread, you’re going to slip stitch the tie keeper to your tie. Make sure you don’t push the needle through to the front of the tie; you only want to catch it on the back. 

13. Make the pocket square

Cut out a square that is 13 inches (33cm) on all sides. Flip the square so that the wrong side is facing up. Draw a ⅝-inch line on a piece of paper, place it on the fabric and then fold up the fabric to meet that ⅝ inch mark. Take your iron and press the fabric down.

Then, you want to open up the seam and fold the edge to meet the crease and then fold it in again. That’s going to hide the raw edge on the inside. Then take your iron and press. Do this all the way down and repeat this process on the other three sides as well.

Use a ¼-inch seam allowance and sew down. When you get about a ¼ inch away from a corner, pivot the material, and then continue sewing. Do this on all of the sides and then press it down.

DIY tie and pocket square tutorial

That is how you can sew your own tie and pocket square at home with a sewing machine. The matching design on the tie and the pocket square is sure to make any formal outfit look dapper. Let me know what you think of this tutorial in the comments below.