Hey Pirates!  We’ve got a special treat for you today, coming at you via the Boys Can Wear Pink: Season 2 blog tour (hosted by Handmade Boy).  The series focuses on breaking down gender barriers while at the same time showcasing some incredibly talented sewists, and the special boys in their lives.  Not only is Patterns for Pirates one of the sponsors of this tour, but we’ve also decided to participate in other ways as well.

P4P girl Katy is participating as a blogger in the series for the second year in a row, with all Patterns for Pirates gear for her kiddo.  Go check out the Lumberjack Shirt and Cpt. Comfort Jeans that she made for Louis on her blog HERE.  And then come right back, because Katy also decided to write up a pattern for the bowtie she designed and share it with you all.  FOR FREE!

Supplies needed:
— Bowtie pattern (find the free pattern download HERE)
— fusible interfacing
— 1/4 yard fabric
— coordinating thread
— small button

**A note about the neckstrap piece.  It’s best to measure the neck of whoever you’re making the bowtie for first.  The piece included in the pattern is for my 5-year old son, who has a 12″ neck.  To make your piece longer or shorter, cut a rectangle that is 2 inches wide x (neck measurement + 3) inches long.

Step 1: Cut out all of your pieces.  Interfacing is optional but HIGHLY recommended.  It’ll help keep that bow nice and crisp.

Step 2: Iron on interfacing to one bowtie piece and the neckstrap.

Step 3: With right sides together, sew the bowtie pieces along the outer edges (using 1/4″ seam allowance).  Be sure to leave an opening, around an inch on one of the curved sides.

Step 4: Turn bowtie piece right side out, through the opening.  Clip corners and carefully snip edges along the curves before turning to allow for sharper corners and smoother curves.  Press.

Step 5: Topstitch around entire bowtie piece.

Step 6: Fold bowtie piece in half, short sides together.  Stitch along the “center back” line, marked according to the pattern piece.  Make sure to backstitch at both ends.

Step 7: Open up the bowtie piece and flatten it down to realign the front center seam.  Stitch along line.  Set aside bow.

Step 8: Locate the center piece.  Fold in half, right sides together, along the long edge.  Sew long edge with 1/4″ seam allowance.

Step 9: Turn center piece, right side out.

Step 10: Arrange your new center tube so that the seam is running along the middle of one of the sides.  Press.

Step 11:  Find your bow.  With the top facing you, place the center piece in the middle of the bow.  Make sure the seam of the center piece is facing up toward you.

Step 12: Fold the center piece in half, around the bow.  Stitch a line, using a 1/2″ seam allowance.

Step 13: Trim excess fabric.

Step 14: Turn center tube, so that the new seam you just created is tucked inside and no longer exposed.  Adjust your center piece

Step 15: Take your neckstrap piece and on each of the short ends, fold and press in 1/4″, wrong sides together.

Step 16: With right sides together, fold neckstrap piece along the long edge and stitch.

Step 17: Turn tube right sides out.  Arrange your neckstrap tube so that the seam is running right down the middle of your tube.  Press.  Top stitch along all four edges.

Step 18: Create a buttonhole on one end, and sew the button onto the other.  (An easy alternative to buttons is velcro!)

Step 19: Thread the neckstrap through the backside of bow.

Step 20: Sit back and admire your newest make!  There’s about to be one dapper dude (or dudette) in your ranks.

Don’t forget to share with us your latest creation!  Come hang out with us in the Patterns for Pirates Facebook Group, we’d love to see what you’ve been working on.

Also make sure to check out the rest of the AMAZING talent involved in the Boys Can Wear Pink: Season 2 Blog Tour.  You won’t regret it.

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