Made It Monday - Clip-On Tie Magic

So, clip-on kid ties. What's the point, really? I mean, I get the point of clip-on ties in general. I guess. But for kids? The very kids who can't tie ties need them attached firmly to their body, not easily pulled off and left sitting in a pile underneath the drinking fountain. Yet we buy them. Usually because they come with the nice button-down shirts in pretty packages that are just perfect for Easter wear. And then, the kids come home tie-less and we wonder why we even bothered in the first place.

Well, I have discovered a solution that will make you all happy you bought those cute shirts. Converting a clip-on to a "stay-on" tie. With just a clip-on tie and some 1/2" width elastic. Easy peasy, too. Gotta love that. Here's how:

Get yourself some clip-on ties. As many as you can. Like I said, this is super easy and you may as well make a bunch in a few minutes. Seriously ... minutes.  Also, if you have one, grab one of those zipper ties. Just to use as a pattern for length of neck loop. If you don't, that's fine. Grab one of your kiddo's shirts and measure (easiest with just a piece of string) the length necessary for the loop around the neck.

Now what? Take your elastic (I used the 1/2" elastic). Measure the length of the neck loop on either the zipper-tie or around the neck of a white shirt. Add 2 or so inches more. Nothing exact. Don't stretch the elastic while you measure it.

Cut that length of elastic for as many ties as you have. If you only have limited elastic, you could actually only make one elastic and switch it onto whichever tie you use. But, I must confess, dressing my kiddo is often a chore, and having to switch out the tie is rather tedious when what I'm about to tell you next can be done lickity-split.

So, you've measured the neckloop and cut the elastic. Now, you're going to sew the ends of said elastic together. Don't fold the elastic on top of itself, though. Twist it once. Then sew the ends together. Use a nice zig-zag stitch perpendicular to the elastic, thick and heavy.

Now, this is what you should have:

Or, if you did what I said, you should have a bunch of these. Easy, right? Now comes the hard part.

Feed the sewn end of the elastic loop through the top layer of the "knot" on your clipon.

Don't pull the elastic all the way through, though. Leave a good size loop at the top.

Now, take the tail of the tie and slip it forward through the part of the loop that is below the knot of the tie.

OK. Tug the elastic up loop upward.

So, you're done! See? Easy peasy. You can now dress your tot in the cutest suit ever and know that the tie will make it back home! You're welcome!

So, go make a bunch of them!