Tie Interfacing: What is the Best Interfacing For Bow Ties
When you are making unique clothing items that are not part of the current fad, you may have a little trouble finding all the fabrics you need. This is especially so when your sole supplier goes out of business, retires or discontinues the stock.
What is the best interfacing for bow ties? An unwoven interface may be the style that should be used on most bow ties. This version of interfacing helps the tie look like it has a soul. Also, if the interface is unfusible then that may make a better difference in the look of your tie.
To get all the information you can for bow tie interfacing then simply continue to read our article. Even though bow ties are not popular they still are worn. Using the right interface will make the bow ties you make look better.
Tie Interfacing 101
What is Tie Interfacing?
Tie interfacing is like any other type of interfacing you use for dresses and other clothing items. It is a fabric that is either put in place by sewing or fusing with a steam iron.
What interfacing does for ties is give it body, structure and possibly a soul. While it is not an exciting piece of the sewing puzzle when making clothes, it does make sure you get that professional look you like to see.
Now interfacing can be a piece of cloth specifically designed to handle that job or it can simply be a piece of fabric that is too small to use elsewhere in other sewing projects.
Best Interfacing for Bow Ties
This may depend on your personal preference and your previous experience. For some people, they like the look that unwoven, non-fusible fabric gives their bow ties. For them, this is the perfect interfacing to use.
The best interfacing to use would be the fabric that matches the weight of the main materials you are making the bow tie out of. Plus, you can always go to a thrift store and buy an old tie and use that interface.
All you have to do is cut it out and then place it in your bow tie. That will save you a lot of search time and any hassles that come along with searching for the right facing.
Armo Rite Tie Interfacing
It is possible that you may not be able to buy any more Armo Rite interfacing for ties. That manufacturer or retailer went out of business in roughly 2006. One way to find it again is to take our previous suggestion about going to thrift stores and finding very old ties that have that brand of interfacing inside of it.
A good substitution may be lambswool and you should be able to still find that alternative today. Failing that, you can use just about any fabric you want as bow tie interfacing although some are not always as good as other fabrics.
The key to using interfacing that has not been used in older ties is that you have to cut the material on the bias.
Wool Tie Interfacing
Gabardine wool may be one option for you to use. It is usually 100% wool and should not be that difficult to sew. Another wool interfacing may only be about 85% wool and about 15% nylon to give it a little stretch and flexibility.
If you want to remove old tie interfacing that is already made of wool, it is not that difficult to do. There should only be a running stitch that goes down the middle of the interfacing. Remove that and the material is ready to be removed and then used.
Finding wool interfacing is not hard either. Amazon has a good selection of the material at a very affordable price.
Curtain Tie Back Interfacing
There is no real specialized interface fabric to make curtain ties with. You are free to use whatever works with your curtain ties. Although, the regular interfacing you can find on Amazon will do the trick just as well if not better.
The key is to make the interfacing about a 1/2 inch longer and 1 inch wider than the fabric you are using to make the curtain ties. It may be easier to use a fusible interface as curtain ties do not see the same wear and tear action as other fabric items do.
Also, just put the interfacing on one side of the fabric you are using when those pieces have their right side fabric facing the inside.
Tie Interfacing Substitute
Lambswool is one good substitute for tie interfacing. There is a lot of flexibility and freedom when it comes to finding a substitute for tie interfacing. You can use whatever looks and feels good as long as it adds body and a little stiffness.
The key to using a substitute is to use fabrics that are of the same weight as your main fabric. Then you want to make sure the interfacing will not affect the overall look of the bow tie.
If you want the name of a fabric to use, you can go with a cotton/polyester blend or just plain cotton. It is your choice just to remember the two key elements to help guide your selection.
How to Sew Tie Interfacing
It is not a hard process to stitch the interfacing to the backside of bow tie fabric. The first step is to cut the interfacing to size and stitch the different pieces together on the narrow ends to make one long piece.
Put the two right sides together and so a simple stitch around the edge of the interfacing and bow tie material. Leave yourself about a 3-inch space for you to pull the right side materials back out.
When that is done, go ahead and stitch up the gap. You have to sew accurately to make sure the bow tie stays intact on the other end.
Where to Buy Tie Interfacing
There are a lot of places where you can buy tie interfacing. If you do not want to use the internet, check with your local fabric stores or department stores that sell sewing supplies.
If those stores do not have any, you can always do an internet search. This search should turn up a lot of options for you to choose from. Including the old stand by Amazon. That marketplace has a good selection for you to go over and select the right one for your purpose.
Then if you want the original tie interfacing like Armo rite you should visit your local thrift stores and buy some older ties. These ties’ interface should still be effective, strong and add the body you want.
Tie Interfacing by The Yard
Depending on which store you purchase your tie interfacing at will determine the price you pay. Silhouette Patterns can sell it to you for $5.50 per yard with a 5-yard minimum.
Another online store has some for about $15.95 a yard. That is Black & Sons and they are selling the wool interfacing version. A look through your search engine results will get you a variety of prices for what you are looking for.
Amazon seems to have the cheapest prices of everyone as you can get about 25 yards for just over $43. That is only one of the prices they offer interfacing at. Joann’s is also at a variety of pricing and widths. If you want 10 yards at 35 inches then you are looking at paying $36.
45-inch widths and 10 yards come in at $50 approx.
How to Make a Bow Tie Without Interfacing
- Step 1. Choose a very stiff fabric for a no-sew bow tie. This can be leather, linen, felt and similar materials.
- Step 2. Measure the fabric and to size and cut it.
- Step 3. Next cut a 3 inch by 1-inch strip. This is for the center of your bow tie and it wraps around the center.
- Step 4. In this step, you take your bow tie material and fold it in half. That is one end of the fabric over to the other end. Make sure to line up the edges.
- Step 5. Now pick up the material and squeeze in the center so that you get no more than 3 folds showing. While you are doing all of these steps you should have your hot glue gun warming up.
- Step 6. Put the hot glue in the center where the folds are and wrap the 3-inch strip around the center and glue the ends. Let dry and you are done.
Some Final Words
Bow ties are not worn by a lot of people. They have lost their fashion status even though there are a few people left who like to wear them. Getting interfacing for them is not going to be a treasure hunt. You just need to know where to look.
