Make: Projects

Resistor Necktie

Formal wear for electronics fans.

  • By Becky Stern
  • Category: Sewing, Craft
  • Time Required: 3 hours
  • Difficulty: Difficult
Resistor Necktie

Construct a basic long necktie with stripes to represent your favorite value of resistor – fashion inspired by the electronics bench! Learn to work with slippery fabrics cut on the bias.

Steps

Step #1:

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Resistor Necktie

Step #2:

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Resistor Necktie
  • Cut stripes from each colored fabric with the grain and reassemble a single piece of striped fabric.
  • I used a serger to keep things tidy.
  • Press the seam allowances towards the colored stripes.
  • My stripes are a half inch wide with a quarter inch of seam allowance on each edge, and I left about 5 inches at the end of the "champagne" colored fabric that's meant to represent the ceramic body of the resistor.

Step #3:

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  • Fold your fabric into a triangle to find the bias-- a 45 degree angle from the grain of the woven threads.
  • Lay out and cut the three main tie pattern pieces along this bias. A tie cut with the grain would try to twist on itself instead of draping flat and straight.
  • It's less important that the two lining pieces be cut on the bias, so try it both ways if you're curious about the effects.

Step #4:

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  • Press iron-on interfacing to the wrong side of the cut pattern pieces.
  • I used parchment paper to protect my ironing surface from sticky residue.
  • Cut the pattern pieces from the interfacing.
  • Use a low iron setting for synthetics with no steam.

Step #5:

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  • Pin pattern pieces to line up at 1/2" seam allowance.
  • Use a straight stitch to sew the seams and press them flat with your iron.

Step #6:

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  • Press up each point about 1/4 inch.
  • Press a 1/4 inch seam allowance along the nearby edges of both main and lining pieces.

Step #7:

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Resistor Necktie
  • Pin the linings to the main tie with the recently pressed edges hidden inside.
  • Use an invisible stitch to secure these lining pieces to the main tie.

Step #8:

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Resistor Necktie
  • Press a 1/4 inch seam allowance along both long edges of the tie.
  • If your tie fabric is very thin, install a piece of thick collar interfacing inside this fold with the ends tucked behind the lining.

Step #9:

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  • Fold these edges once more to meet in the center back of the tie.
  • Press this fold along the length of the tie with your iron.

Step #10:

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Resistor Necktie
  • Use an invisible ladder stitch to join the seam along the length of the tie.

Step #11:

Resistor Necktie
  • Wear to your next formal occasion.
  • A high-quality tie is all about the details, so take your time and you'll end up with a really nice finished product.

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