There’s something undeniably charming about a dog sporting a bow tie. It transforms your furry friend from everyday companion to distinguished gentlepup in an instant. While you can buy ready-made bow ties, crafting one yourself adds a personal touch and allows you to choose the perfect fabric to match your dog’s personality (or your favorite sofa). Plus, it’s a surprisingly simple sewing project, perfect for beginners looking to dip their toes into pet accessory creation. This tutorial will guide you through making a classic, detachable bow tie that can easily slide onto your dog’s existing collar.
Why sew it yourself? Beyond the satisfaction of making something by hand, you have complete control over the materials, size, and pattern. Got leftover fabric from another project? Perfect! Want a tiny bow tie for a Chihuahua or a giant one for a Great Dane? You can adjust the measurements easily. It’s also incredibly cost-effective compared to boutique pet store prices. So, let’s gather our supplies and get started on making your pup the talk of the dog park.
Gather Your Bow Tie Making Arsenal
Before you start stitching, you’ll need a few things. Don’t worry, it’s mostly basic sewing stuff:
- Fabric: Cotton prints work wonderfully. They are easy to sew, come in endless designs, and hold their shape well. You won’t need much – a fat quarter is usually plenty, even for a larger bow tie. Avoid overly stretchy fabrics unless you’re experienced, as they can be tricky.
- Interfacing (Optional but Recommended): Lightweight fusible interfacing adds structure and helps the bow tie keep its perky shape. You’ll need a piece slightly smaller than your main bow fabric piece.
- Matching Thread: Choose a thread colour that blends well with your fabric.
- Sewing Machine or Needle: While a machine speeds things up, this project is definitely small enough to hand-sew if you prefer.
- Scissors or Rotary Cutter & Mat: For cutting your fabric accurately. Fabric shears are best for clean cuts.
- Pins: To hold fabric pieces together while sewing.
- Iron and Ironing Board: Essential for pressing seams flat, giving a professional finish.
- Measuring Tape or Ruler: Accuracy matters for a neat bow tie.
- Elastic or Velcro: You’ll need a small piece to create the loop that attaches the bow tie to the collar. About 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch wide elastic works well. Alternatively, use sew-on Velcro strips.
- Turning Tool (Optional): A chopstick, knitting needle, or specialized point turner helps poke out corners neatly.
Let’s Get Sewing: Step-by-Step
We’ll break this down into manageable steps. Remember to take your time, especially if you’re new to sewing. The key is neatness!
Step 1: Cut Your Fabric Pieces
The size depends on your dog. Here are some suggested starting dimensions (Length x Width), but feel free to adjust. Remember you’ll lose some size to seam allowances.
- Small Dog (e.g., Yorkie, Dachshund): Main Bow: 8 x 5 inches; Center Strap: 3 x 3 inches; Collar Strap Fabric (if not using elastic/Velcro directly): 4 x 3 inches.
- Medium Dog (e.g., Beagle, Cocker Spaniel): Main Bow: 10 x 6 inches; Center Strap: 3.5 x 3 inches; Collar Strap Fabric: 5 x 3 inches.
- Large Dog (e.g., Labrador, Golden Retriever): Main Bow: 12 x 7 inches; Center Strap: 4 x 3.5 inches; Collar Strap Fabric: 6 x 3 inches.
You will need to cut:
- One (1) piece of your main fabric for the bow itself using your chosen dimensions.
- One (1) piece of interfacing, slightly smaller (about 1/4 inch less on all sides) than the main bow piece, if using.
- One (1) piece for the center strap.
- One (1) piece for the collar attachment strap OR a piece of elastic/Velcro cut to size (see Step 4).
Step 2: Prepare and Sew the Main Bow Piece
First, if you’re using interfacing, fuse it to the wrong side of your main bow fabric piece according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This usually involves placing the bumpy (adhesive) side of the interfacing onto the wrong side of the fabric and pressing with a hot, dry iron.
Next, fold the main bow piece in half lengthwise, right sides together. Pin along the long raw edge. Sew along this edge using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. You should now have a tube.
Press the seam open with your iron. This makes the next steps much easier and neater. Now, rotate the tube so the seam is centered in the middle of one side (this will become the back). Press the tube flat.
Fold the tube in half widthwise, bringing the short raw edges together. Pin these edges. Sew across this pinned edge, again using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Backstitch at the beginning and end to secure your stitches.
Now for the slightly tricky part: turning it right side out. Reach inside through the opening where the seam you just sewed is located (it should still be centered). Carefully pull the fabric through until the entire bow rectangle is right side out. Use your turning tool (or chopstick) to gently poke out the corners so they are crisp and square. Press the entire rectangle flat with your iron, making sure the seam from the first step remains centered on the back.
Step 3: Sew the Center Strap
Take your small center strap fabric piece. Fold it in half lengthwise, right sides together. Pin the long raw edge.
Sew along this long edge with a 1/4 inch seam allowance, creating another small tube. Trim the seam allowance slightly if needed, but be careful not to cut your stitches.
Turn this tiny tube right side out. This can be fiddly! A safety pin attached to one end can sometimes help pull it through, or use a loop turner if you have one. Once turned, center the seam on the back and press the strap flat.
Step 4: Create the Collar Attachment
This is the loop on the back that slides onto the collar. You have a couple of options:
Option A: Elastic Loop: Cut a piece of 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch wide elastic. The length should be just enough to comfortably wrap around your dog’s collar width, plus about 1/2 inch overlap for sewing. For a standard 1-inch collar, about 2.5-3 inches of elastic might work. Overlap the ends by 1/4 inch and securely stitch them together back and forth several times to form a loop.
Option B: Fabric Loop (Same process as center strap): Take the fabric piece cut for the collar strap. Fold, sew, and turn it just like you did for the center strap in Step 3. Press it flat with the seam centered on the back. Cut this strap to the desired length (enough to fit around the collar plus overlap) and securely sew the ends together to form a loop.
Option C: Velcro Straps: Cut two pieces of your collar strap fabric, each about 2 inches long (or adjust based on collar width). Hem the short ends of each piece by folding them under 1/4 inch twice and stitching. Sew a piece of hook Velcro to the right side of one strap, near the end. Sew a piece of loop Velcro to the wrong side of the other strap, near the end. These will wrap around the collar and fasten.
Step 5: Assemble Your Bow Tie!
Now for the fun part – making it look like a bow tie!
Lay your pressed main bow rectangle flat, seam side up. Pinch the center together horizontally, creating an accordion fold. Play with the folds until you like the shape – usually two or three pleats looks good. You can put a temporary pin through the center to hold the pleats.
Take your prepared center strap (from Step 3). Wrap it tightly around the pinched center of the bow rectangle, covering the raw edges if you can tuck them under. The seam of the center strap should be at the back.
Before securing the center strap, place your chosen collar attachment (elastic loop, fabric loop, or Velcro pieces positioned correctly) flat against the back of the bow tie, centered where the center strap will cover it. Make sure the loop/Velcro is oriented correctly to slide onto the collar.
Wrap the center strap around both the pinched bow and the collar attachment loop/Velcro pieces. Pull it snug. Overlap the raw ends of the center strap at the back. Fold the raw end under slightly and hand-stitch it securely in place using small, neat stitches. Make sure you stitch through all layers, including catching the collar attachment securely. Alternatively, if your machine can handle the thickness, you could try machine stitching close to the edge, but hand-stitching often gives more control here.
Check This Out! Pressing your seams thoroughly at each stage is crucial. It might seem like a small step, but it makes turning easier, edges sharper, and the final bow tie look much more polished. Don’t skip the iron – it’s your secret weapon for professional results! A little steam can make a big difference in setting those folds perfectly.
Step 6: Finishing Touches and Attachment
Trim any loose threads carefully. Give the bow tie a final gentle press if needed, avoiding crushing the pleats too much. Admire your handiwork!
To attach it to your dog, simply slide the collar through the elastic or fabric loop on the back of the bow tie. If you used Velcro, wrap the straps around the collar and fasten them securely. Position the bow tie at the front, back, or side of the neck – wherever it looks most dapper!
Tips for Terrific Bow Ties
- Fabric Choice: Beyond cotton, consider corduroy for texture, or even lightweight wool for a winter look. Just ensure it’s not too thick to fold and sew. Fun patterns like polka dots, plaids, or novelty prints always look great.
- Sizing: Before cutting, hold a tape measure roughly folded into a bow shape against your dog’s neck to visualize the final size. It’s better to make it slightly too large than too small.
- Durability: If your dog is particularly active or rough on accessories, consider double-stitching the seams or using a stronger thread for extra security. Adding interfacing significantly improves durability too.
- Washability: Choose washable fabrics, as dog accessories inevitably get dirty! Hand-washing or placing the bow tie in a mesh bag on a gentle cycle is usually best. Air dry flat.
- Variations: Try layering two different sized bow rectangles for a double-bow effect, or add small embellishments like buttons (ensure they are securely sewn and not a choking hazard).
Making a bow tie for your dog is a rewarding little project. It requires minimal fabric and basic sewing skills, but the result is maximum cuteness. Once you’ve made one, you might find yourself whipping up a whole wardrobe of them for every occasion! Happy sewing, and enjoy seeing your pup looking extra smart.
