Style | Spring Florals Matching Tie & Choker - DIYs With JOANN!

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Hi, my friends!

JOANN 's is blooming with beautiful spring fabrics and Fred and I wanted to create something with one of our favorite floral prints! I love when we match, so I was very happy when Fred mentioned wanting to make a spring tie. Fred made a few ties in college, so he was excited at chance to get creative again.

I think this matching set of tie and choker would be so cute for couples! It's fresh and fun for spring style and it's subtle way to match and coordinate.

So here's how we made them!

Floral Tie DIY, By Fred
Taking on the tie:

1. Get a pattern. I made my own pattern by tracing my favorite tie and adding ~1/2" material on all edges. I made my patterns on my old resumes because the paper is thicker and more durable (old resume still getting me work!). You'll need the additional half inch material to sew the pieces together.
You can download patterns or buy them too.

2. Trace your pattern on your fabric. I don't do this correctly. Ideally you'll trace in a way that your marks don't bleed through to the finished surface of your garment. I just used a permanent marker which bled through my fabric. If I were to do it again, I'd either use fabric chalk, or I wouldn't trace the inner part of my pattern, just the oversized portion.
Trace your pattern on all your fabrics. I used a print for one side of my tie, a solid color for the other side, then a heavy cotton for the inner fabric just to add weight and bulk. I haven't figured out the best fabric to use at the center of the tie for bulk and weight, so let me know if you have a better method!

3. Pin your fabrics together to prepare for sewing. You'll sew it together inside out and you'll only sew 3 sides shut. The additional piece of fabric used for bulk can be added to the back of either side of your tie. I'm not sure what is best. I can see pros/cons for sewing the additional fabric to the front or the back material.

4. Sew together. Be sure to sew on a test piece to be sure you're getting the pressure, tension, and stitch size that you want. Sew 3 sides of the tie shut (long edges and diamond ends). Don't sew the end shut that will mate to the other half of your tie (the diagonal side).

5. Trim excess material. I cut the edge of the fabric down to about 1/8" from the stitch. The closer you cut this the more likely it is to fray and come apart. I like to cut it down to make sure everything lays flat. I cut extra close in the corners so that the fabric doesn't bunch up when I turn it inside out.

6. Turn each half of the tie inside out (or outside out since you sewed it together inside out).

7. Hand stitch the two halves together at the open diagonal edges. It's probably best to look up how to sew this kind of interface together. I'm not very good at it, but i'm sure there are other sources that can help with this part. Try looking up how to hand sew the last side of a pillow together, it's the same concept!

8. Put your tie on and look incredible! I recommend tying a Shelby Knot. I feel it's the perfect combination of size and structure.

Floral Fabric Choker DIY

Churning out a Choker:

1. Get a pattern. Trace your favorite choker on paper (again, I'd use heavy paper, or maybe brown paper grocery bags). I planned to have one folded edge rather than 4 sewn edges, so my pattern is basically twice the width of my choker plus ~1/2" per side.

2. Trace your pattern on all the fabrics you're using. I have used a floral print for the outside and a heavy cotton fabric to add bulk and structure to my choker.

3. Pin your fabrics together. place the support material on the back side of your main fabric. Fold hotdog style so that your finished surface is facing inward. Pin around the edges to hold the fabric in place prior to sewing.

4. Add ribbon to one side. I made this choker shorter than the circumference of my neck so that I can tie it together with ribbon. You can fasten your choker many different ways but I chose to use ribbon. Slide your ribbon into one of the short sides of the folded fabric. It will be in the center most layer. Make sure you tuck your ribbon into the end several inches. The part of the ribbon inside of the fold is what you will use to tie your choker on!

5. Sew together. Sew 2 sides of the choker. Leave the shorter edge of the fabric without the ribbon un-sewn. No need to sew the folded edge of the fabric together, but you can if that's the look you want!

6. Trim excess material. I cut the edge of the fabric down to about 1/8" from the stitch. The closer you cut this the more likely it is to fray and come apart. I like to cut it down to make sure everything lays flat. I cut extra close in the corners so that the fabric doesn't bunch up when I turn it inside out.

7. Turn the choker inside out so that the pretty surface is on the outside. The closed side of your choker should have your ribbon sticking out and firmly sewn in place.

8. Hand stitch the last side together. Be sure to include your other ribbon in this half so that you can tie your choker on! Again, try looking up how to sew together the last side of a pillow together, it's the same concept.

9. Put it on and hit the town! Impress your friends and family by telling them you hand-made your outfit!

(just don't specify how much of your outfit you did/didn't make ;))