Saturday I had the pleasure of teaching Addie and Miriam how to make a custom tie for Father’s Day. Addie’s chose Amy Butler’s Midwest Modern Martini in yellow and Miriam chose Large Petals in Raspberry by Tina Givens. “Mr. Rick” is going to be one styling Daddy-O!

 
 
 
In addition to a lot of pinning, cutting, stitching, pressing and hand-sewing we had time for groundhog watching (I didn’t get a picture for some reason!), music appreciation, lunch and chatting. Did you know that groundhogs (or woodchucks, but NOT otters!) can climb trees? Not very well mind you but we did observe some mild tree climbing capabilities in the neighborhood herd. (It seems that I am located in the middle of quite the population of groundhogs. I may have to set up a video camera aimed at the neighbor’s on each sides’ porches and make my own “Groundhog Manor” show for Animal Planet.)

Overall it was a fun day.

*Beau Brummell is credited with introducing and establishing as fashion the modern man’s suit, worn with a tie.

 
Minerva is modeling the latest Saturday sewing project – a handmade necktie.
Pattern: FREE! at Burdasyle.com
Fabric: Amy Butler Full Moon Polka Dot from the Lotus Collection
Notes/Modifications: There has been some questions on the BurdaStyle website about what kind of interfacing to use. Store bought ties use a woven wool interfacing that is kind of like a lighter weight buckram. That is nearly impossible to find in a standard fabric store. You definitely want to go with a woven interfacing because it will have more drape and give than a non-woven. I used a light-medium weight *fusible woven interfacing. In order to get a slightly stiffer body however I folded it in half and fused it to itself. You do not want to fuse it to the actual tie fabric! If you can find the right weight in a woven interfacing, get it in non-fusible. If you fuse interfacing to the tie fabric you won’t get a nice smooth tie front. Also, I did not cut my interfacing on the bias because I didn’t have enough to make it fit. I seems to have worked okay, but it would probably hang a little nicer if I had.

    
If you would like to surprise that special someone with a one of a kind, handmade necktie for Father’s Day, join me to “Tie One On” Saturday, June 14 at 11a.m. ($50) Call, email or stop in the store to sign up and reserve your space. Supply list will be provided at registration.
 
What Annie Hall would’ve looked like if she had been a brunette circus clown?