Quick & Easy Tie-Backs Tutorial

Yes! Two weeks without a blog; too long. Lots going on at the day job, and also last weekend I had most of the flooring replaced in the downstairs of my house -  much chaos!

The new floor has prompted decorating activity. A new cushion cover and tie backs for the drapes behind. These were so easy that I thought I would share:

 

You can just see the edge of the covered cushion. The tie-backs are very easy and fast to make, and could easily have variations in length and width. I made 4 in about an hour, including cutting out. Each is a band of fabric with a loop sewn into one end and works by placing the band around the drapes or curtain, and then pulling one end through the loop.

This type of tie-back is not suitable for a slippery fabric (although it could be done; it would have to be pinned or tacked in place).

 

 

 

 

 

 

What you'll need for 4 tie-backs:

75 cm length of fabric

thread

scissors

iron

ruler

 

Cutting the fabric:

1. Cut 8 strips which measure 6 cm x 72 cm; these will become the 4 tie-back bands.

2. Cut another strip which measures 6 cm x 30 cm; this will become the 4 tie-back loops.

 

What to do:

Step 1. Make the loops.

• Choose the 6 x 30 strip and fold it lengthwise, wrong sides facing,  so that the outer edges line up.
•  Press the folded edge so that you have a sharp crease.
• Open out the folded strip and fold each outer edge, wrong sides facing, into the crease in the centre.
• Re-fold along the centre crease so that the long edges are encased.
• Edge stitch along the open edge.
• Cut the long loop into 4 smaller loops, each 6 cm long. (You will have some of the long loop left over).
• The next 3 photos show this step.

Fold and press the "loop" strip.

 

 

 

 

Edge stitch the loop.

 

 

 

 

Cut the long loop into 4 x 6 cm long loops. 

 

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Step 2: Make the tie-backs.

• Choose 1 of the remaining 8 strips.
• Place right side up on a flat surface.
• Choose 1 of the 4 loops
• Place 5 cm from one of the short ends, parallel to the end.
• Choose another of the remaining strips and place right sides together, sandwiching the loop at one end. Pin in place.
• Using a 1 cm seam allowance, stitch around the outside edges of the "sandwich", leaving 10-12 cm gap along one long edge unsewn . Not sewn? Unstitched? You know what I mean!
• Clip diagonally across each corner, coming as close as you can to the stitching, but being careful not to clip through it. This will reduce bulk in the corners so that they will be nice and sharp when you turn the tie-back right-side-out.
• Turn the tie-back right side out by pulling the ends down and out through the gap you left in the stitching.
• Use a turning tool to poke the corners out so that they are nice and square looking.
• Press the tie-back so that the edges are nice and crisp, turning under the seam allowance where you left the gap in the stitching.
• Finish the tie-back by stitching close to the edge all the way around (this will catch in the seam allowances of the famous gap) OR slip stitch the gap closed if you don't want to top-stitch.
• Repeat for 3 more tie-backs and wait - you're done already. Here's photos of my tie-backs-in-progress:

I wanted to do some nice captions for these photos, but the new Typepad editor has given me such problems that I have had to give up. The first photo below shows the stitching lines and the gaps. This photo also makes me feel a little sea-sick, so please be careful while you look. Next you'll see the placement for the loops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some notes and more photos:

You can change the look of the tie-backs by adding some interfacing - anywhere from light to quite heavy. For a little more body without stiffness, some low loft fleece would do, or even just a another layer of fabric.  (Leave the loops, though, interfacing or fleece would just make them too bulky where you sew them into the side seams).

These could also be quite a bit wider and still work, but I would definitely add interfacing then - the wider the tie-back, the heavier the interfacing.

You could also add piping all around.

Or a contrasting or matching ribbon sewn up the middle before you stitch the outer seams.

Or all sorts of things that I have not thought of.

Also - you can pull the end through the loop leaving the loop facing out (photo at beginning of post) but if you flip the tie-back over so that the loop is at the back, then pull the end through so that the loop is hidden (photo below).

 

 

 

 

 

This is my poking-out-tie-back-corners tool.

What good is a chop stick which can't multi-task?

Comments

[oge]

Nice to have you back. I was beginning to wander...
:-)

Oge

[Kyoko]

Hello!
You have been busy! Hope the floor is all done well. Did you have builders come in? It is so difficult to get a good builder to do your house nowadays.
Thanks for the tutorial. Again, very well described.

[Alex]

Lovely ties - but is that the elegant new flooring? I am so eager to see it! I heard at least one of your builders was pretty dreamy looking :)

[Judy]

I love my new floor, and both my builders were pretty darn spiffy!!!!