SEASHELL NELL

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nellskac

May Crafting Challenge!

Topper

Way back in middle school I knew a dude named “Gabe,” and he signed up for the Crafting Challenge! (For May. I did complete this in May, by the way…just didn’t post until now).

Now, I don’t really see Gabe around all that often…but I did run into him at the family’s Snowball in January so I cornered him and said, “Gabe! You must give me hints about yourself so that I know what to make you!”

He said he recently finished a tour overseas serving the military, likes hiking, and that his favorite color is green.

Armed with that, I decided to make a bow tie. I like bow ties. They have happy personalities, which is kind of how I see Gabe. Plus, he likes to dance and I find that bow ties are well-suited for dancing.

Now, every time I’ve seen bow ties they’ve run in the thirty to forty dollar range. And every time I’ve thought to myself, “That’s not a whole lot of material. I’ll bet I could do that myself.”

So, I went to the store (with my mom) and picked out TWO materials (with my mom) so that I could make a REVERSIBLE BOW TIE.

I was pretty sure that this would work.

Step one. Cut stuff out. I used Martha Stewart's pattern and a coworker's bow tie for guides.
Step one. Cut stuff out. I used Martha Stewart’s pattern and a coworker’s bow tie for guides.

Step two (important): make a mess.
Step two (important): make a mess.
Step three: Sew the facing onto the material parts. Right sides in.
Step three: Sew the facing onto the material parts. Right sides in.
Step four: Get frustrated because it's NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE to turn this sucker inside out. Complain to your mom. Whine at your mom when she takes out the work you have done to "find a better way." Feel guilty and take this picture. Try to remember what you had for dinner that night. Feel guilty that the table isn't cleaner.
Step four: Get frustrated because it’s NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE to turn this sucker inside out. Complain to your mom. Whine at your mom when she takes out the work you have done to “find a better way.” Feel guilty and take this picture. Try to remember what you had for dinner that night. Feel guilty that the table isn’t cleaner.
Get your fingers tangled in the delicate dance that is figuring out the adjustable part. Thank God that your coworker lent you his tie as an example.
Step five: Get your fingers tangled in the delicate dance that is figuring out the adjustable part. Thank God that your coworker lent you his tie as an example.
Step six: Sew the edges closed. Realize that your bobbin-thread doesn't look that good. Justify that craft-recipient is a boy and therefore won't care too much and that you don't care, either. #personalpride, ya'll.
Step six: Sew the edges closed. Realize that your bobbin-thread doesn’t look that good. Justify that craft-recipient is a boy and therefore won’t care too much and that you don’t care, either. #personalpride, ya’ll.
Like my bow-tie. I pinned it! (Yuk, yuk, social media joke!) Hand sew this sucker shut. When your mom says you should hand sew in a different location, disregard her because you're already this far.
Like my bow-tie?? I pinned it! (Yuk, yuk, social media joke!) Hand sew this sucker shut. When your mom says you should hand sew in a different location, disregard her because you’re already this far.
You're done! Make your youngest brother model both sides! Then give it away!
You’re done! Make your youngest brother model both sides! Then give it away!

Lessons to be taken away from this project:

  • Dude. Bow ties are totally worth thirty to forty dollars. I would charge that and not even BLINK AN EYE.
  • My mom did an act of community service helping me. Even when I was whine-y.
  • Bow ties can be made reversible.
  • Not all crafts are easy.
  • Still looks stinkin’ good, eh??

XOXOXOXOXO,
Nelllllllllllllll

3 thoughts on “May Crafting Challenge!”

  1. You should get a standing ovation for doing something that looks pretty tricky for someone else. Good job! I`m also a fan of bow ties for how cute they are, so I just might make a slightly modified one. Maybe making it a little slimmer and the bow area of the shape a bit smaller would make this slightly girly? Or I could just sew a lace overlay on top of a plain color. I think I`m liking the sound of this project!

    Reply

    1. DO IT!! (And send me a picture!) I definitely tried it on, and it was cute…but you’re right, making the bow smaller and adding feminine detailing would be a very, very nice touch.
      Happy crafting! (Don’t forget step two; it’s very important 😉 ).

      Reply

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