We established a long time ago that bow ties aren’t just for men. There was a time when it was very fashionable for a woman to wear a tie but that era has passed. Still, a bow tie necklace is stylish, fun, and really easy to make. One version is created by sewing a little bit, but even if you can’t sew, you can make a slightly different version of the trendy necklace. No matter which version you craft you’ll see that it takes just a few minutes and very little money.
You have lots of choices for the way you want your bow tie necklace to look. Make a tiny bow, to create a very dainty necklace, or make a full-size bow tie, and wear it, with a strapless number, to a black tie affair. To make the sewn version of any size necklace, start by cutting two squares or rectangles to be the size you want for the tie. Make a black tie, a blue one, or any other color. The best fabric to use is something that is light to medium weight.
Stack the two pieces of fabric so that their right sides are facing each other. Sew almost all the way around the cloth but leave a small opening for turning it right-side-out. After turning, sew the opening shut. Squish the middle of the rectangle together and wrap a piece of wide ribbon around it. Glue or use a few stitches to secure the band of ribbon. Position the sewn or glued area to be the backside of the tie. To hang the tie from a cord or chain, simply slide the end through the band, from the backside, and you’re finished.
Instead of sliding a cord or chain through the back of the bow tie there’s a slightly different version you can make. Sew a band of fabric that matches the tie and you can create a choker-type arrangement. Sew one end of the band to the back, middle of the tie, then put a piece of Velcro on the other end of the band. Sew the opposing piece to the back of the tie, in the middle, and use the Velcro as a closure for the necklace.
To make the necklace without sewing, take the chosen fabric or ribbon and tie a bow. When you do that, you have two loops that form the bow. Install a small grommet in each loop, near the top, but on the back. You’ll find grommet kits at a craft store, a fabric store, or even a discount department store. Follow the instructions on the kit to install the grommets.
Open a chain link and hook it to one of the grommets. Open the last link at the opposite end of the chain and hook it to the other grommet. Attach the chain itself to these two links and your bow tie necklace is finished.
The unusual necklace is just as appropriate for a lavish evening out as it is for wearing to work. Have fun with colors and patterns to make assorted bow tie necklaces that you’ll adore.