How to Knit a Cute Bowtie for Your Sandals | DIY Accessory

Materials Needed to Knit a Bowtie for Sandals

If you want to add some flair to your sandals by knitting a cute bowtie, you'll need to gather a few supplies first. The most important supply is the yarn you'll use to knit the bowtie. A lightweight yarn that has a bit of stretch works best. A fuzzy novelty yarn would also be adorable. You'll also need knitting needles sized appropriately for the yarn you choose. Other necessities include a tape measure or ruler, scissors, pins, and glue.

Choosing the Perfect Yarn

When selecting the yarn for your knit bowtie for sandals, make sure to pick a yarn weight that will result in a lightweight, stretchy bowtie. This way, the bowtie will move with your foot and be comfortable to wear all day. Good yarn choices include sport weight, sock weight, lace weight, or even a stretchy novelty yarn. Stay away from bulky weighted yarns as they will create too heavy of a bowtie.

Getting the Right Knitting Needle Size

The needle size you knit the bowtie with should correlate with the yarn you chose. Check the yarn label for the recommended needle size. For example, if you're using sock yarn, size 1-3 knitting needles would be appropriate. Bigger needles like sizes 8-10 would make sense for a novelty yarn bowtie. Having the right needle size will give you the proper gauge needed to knit the bowtie for sandals to the correct dimensions.

How to Knit a Bowtie for Sandals

Once you have your materials ready, it's time to knit your bowtie. Follow the step-by-step instructions below to create a trendy new accessory for your favorite pair of sandals.

Knit a Rectangle Piece

First, knit a rectangle piece that is about 1 inch wide and 5 inches long. The length needed may vary based on the type of sandals the bowtie will go on and how big you want the bowtie. Knit until your rectangle reaches the dimensions you want.

Bind Off and Weave in Ends

Next, bind off all stitches to complete the rectangle. Weave in the loose yarn ends with a yarn or tapestry needle to hide them.

Fold in Half and Sew Side Seams

Now fold your knitted rectangle in half to make a bowtie shape. Take your yarn needle and thread it with some leftover yarn. Sew the side seams together but leave about 1 inch unsewn at the bottom. This will create an opening to turn the bowtie right side out.

Trim Seam Allowance and Turn Right Side Out

Trim the excess seam allowance near the opening to reduce bulk. Then, reach inside the opening and gently pull to turn the bowtie right side out.

Stuff and Close the Opening

Add a bit of fiberfill stuffing through the opening to give the bowtie some structure. Once it reaches your desired fullness, sew the opening closed by hand.

Shape the Bowtie

Use pins to hold the center of the bowtie in a slight gather. This will help shape the bowtie. Steam the bowtie with an iron or lightly wet it then reshape and allow to air dry so it holds its shape.

Attach the Bowtie to the Sandals

Finally, determine placement and glue the back of the bowtie to the sandal strap. For best adhesion, choose a flexible glue like E6000. Allow to fully dry before wearing. Then show off your bowtie sandals!

Tips for the Perfect Knit Bowtie

Follow these handy tips as you knit a bowtie for your favorite pair of sandals:

Play with Color

Have fun with your yarn selection and use colors that complement the sandals, your wardrobe, or your personality! Contrasting or coordinating - anything goes.

Try Novelty Yarns

Novelty yarns like ruffled, fuzzy, or metallics will make your bowtie really stand out. Just remember to size up your knitting needles accordingly.

Make it Reversible

If using a non-novelty yarn, consider making your bowtie reversible. Knit it in one color on one side, bind off, then pick up the stitches and knit the other side in a different color.

Get Creative with Shape

Change up the shape by making a heart, star, or teardrop bowtie for fun flair!

Try Different Sizes

From petite to oversized, play around with different bowtie sizes and proportions to find what works best with your sandals.

Top it Off

Adorn your bowtie with decorative buttons, beads, flowers, or other embellishments to make it truly unique.

Caring for Your Knit Bowtie

Make your bowtie last by following these care instructions:

Check Yarn Label

Look at the specific yarn's care label for washing, drying and blocking directions to prevent damaging fibers.

Gently Hand Wash

In most cases, it is safest to hand wash knit bow ties separately in cold water with a gentle soap. Avoid agitation.

Lay Flat to Dry

Gently squeeze out excess water in a towel then lay the bowtie flat on top to air dry. This prevents stretching the fibers.

Lightly Block as Needed

To freshen up the bowtie's shape, lightly steam block or pin it out to specified measurements on a blocking mat. Let fully dry.

Store Properly

Keep your bowtie in a safe place like a closet or dresser drawer to avoid pets, kids or accidental damage when not in use.

FAQs

What type of yarn is best for knitting a bowtie?

The best yarn for a knit bowtie is a lightweight, stretchy yarn with some give. Good options include sock weight, sport weight, lace weight, or stretch novelty yarns. You want something that will move with your foot comfortably without being too heavy.

How do I attach the bowtie to my sandals?

The easiest way is to glue the back of the bowtie onto the sandal strap using a flexible glue like E6000 that bonds fabrics well. Apply a thin layer of glue to the sanded back of the bowtie and hold it on the sandals for 30-60 seconds until the glue sets.

Can I knit a bowtie for flip flops?

Definitely! Just adjust the size to fit the slimmer flip flop strap rather than a thicker sandal strap. Or for more security, you can sew the bowtie directly onto the flip flop thong strap with strong thread.

What if my bowtie gets dirty?

Check yarn label for care instructions but generally knit bowties can be gently hand washed in cold water with a mild detergent, then laid flat to dry. Reshape while damp and allow to fully dry. Spot clean if needed.