Quite a few people have indicated that they want to make ties for the coming holiday season, so I've decided that regardless of my intention to spruce up my original little booklet on the topic with color graphics, selectable and searchable text, and a short video clip or two of the most interesting and most uncommon techniques, I should offer a simple scan NOW of the original, in all it's typewritten and hand-drawn B&W glory, to anyone who'd rather not wait until sometime next Spring (when I can reasonably expect to get to such a remake) for a "better" version, if I even get to it. The info will be the same; all I imagine I'll add, besides the graphic and video upgrades I've already described, will be some current sources and links.
So, here's my current offer:
Custom Making Neckties at Home, $8US for a downloadable pdf scan of the original work, circa 1985, purchase price deductible from the projected $15 price of the 2009 update, expected (but not promised) in Spring, 09 (Hey, that's what I charged for the original booklet…!).
Payable via Paypal to me at dpcoffin@earthlink.net, or via the button below.
It's a high-res. pdf, so it can be easily printed if you like; pages 14 and 15 in particular (the guide drawings for the tip lining technique) would be good to print so you can have them handy while you're doing that step.
There's some links at right to previews and some sources.
I should point out that the jewel of the book is this technique for machine-lining the tips so that the lining is inset a good 1/4-inch from the edges of the tie, as seen in all commercial ties, and as described in NONE of the printed material on home-made ties for consumers that I've ever seen. Except, that is, for the article I wrote on tie-making in Threads Magazine issue #27, now OOP but certainly still available from resellers and public libraries, which may be all you want or need.
My booklet describes every aspect of tie-making and offers many variations appropriate for home sewers who may be limited to, or prefer, non-typical fabrics and techniques that don't require any practice to master. It includes directions for making simple, essential tools such as cardboard forms for shaping the tie while pressing and sewing, and cardboard cutting and previewing templates. It's arranged in the following sections:
Intro
Why Necktie Fabric Is So Hard to Find
Suitable Fabrics, Outer and Inner
Making a Tie Pattern
Construction Variations
Construction Steps
Techniques in Detail
Advanced Tie Construction (The 7-Fold Tie)
Useful Tools and Materials
