Skip to Content

How To Make A Hipster Denim Bow Tie Two Ways

Initially, I was going to make my son a denim bow tie for his school leavers’ party. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, it was cancelled. But I still made him one anyway.

I made two kinds of denim bows—one from a repurposed jeans waistband and the other from scraps of denim fabric.

Both types of bows were straightforward to make. I liked the hipster vibe of the waistband denim bow, which made it more suitable as a bow tie. The other bows made from denim scraps are neater. And would look great as hair bows or an embellishment on a denim handbag.

The bows would also make a fun present topper and take your gift wrapping to another level. You can use these upcycled denim bows for many things other than just as a bow tie.

(There is a printable how-to card for this craft at the end of the post.)

Making Upcycled Denim Bows

Both bows take only a couple of minutes each to make and require the smallest number of denim scraps. They are straightforward to make. They require a few simple hand-sewn stitches to keep them together.

Even the most challenged seamstresses could manage the stitching needed for this denim craft. None of the stitches is on show, so they don’t even have to be neat. However, if you don’t like sewing, the stitches could be replaced with super glue.

We’re a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

How To Make A Jeans Waistband Bow Tie

I love to upcycle all the parts of a pair of jeans, especially the bits that add characters, such as the jeans pockets, seams, and waistbands. To make this first bow tie, I used a bit of the jeans waistband and a belt loop.

Jeans waistband

Step 1: The first thing to do is to cut the denim waistband off the top of a pair of jeans. Use a pair of scissors for this and cut as close to the stitched seam of the waistband as you can.

You only need a small part of the jeans waistband to make one denim bow tie. You can probably get at least three bow ties out of one waistband. Cut the waistband into a 24 cm length, ensuring that the belt loop is in the centre of that piece of the waistband.

measuring waistband

Step 2: Then, using a seam ripper, unpick the belt loop from the waistband.

unpicking belt loop from a waistband
cut jeans waistband and belt loop

Step 3: Next, stitch the waistband’s ends together to form a circle. Keep the belt loop to one side.

stitching waistband into a loops

Step 4: Flatten this denim loop and then wrap the belt loop around the centre. Stitch the belt loop in place tightly so that the denim gathers in the middle.

denim bow tie.

Step 5: Finish off the bow tie by sewing an elastic fastening strap to the back of the bow.

Denim Bow Tie
upcycled denim bow tie

How To Make A Bow Tie From Denim Scraps

These second denim bows were made from just small scraps of denim fabric. I think these bows are less rustic than the waistband bow tie above and would make great hair bows or gift toppers.

Step 1: Besides a small scrap of denim, you will need a belt loop (or a small bit of denim seam) and fabric Mod Podge.

Denim scrap and Mod Podge

Step 2: You will also need the free bow tie pattern template. You can download mine here.

Template to make a denim bow

Step 3: Next, paste the denim fabric scrap with the glue and leave it to dry. Covering the fabric in glue not only does it stiffen the glue but also will stop it from fraying. The fabric can be easily cut and treated like stiff paper.

Top tip: To avoid an unwanted shine on your denim fabric, paste the wrong side of the fabric with glue.

Pasting the denim with Mod Podge

Step 4: Once the glue has dried on the fabric (hanging in the sun on the washing line, this took under an hour), place the paper template on the fabric and draw around the shapes.

Drawing around the bow shapes.

Step 5: Next, cut out the shapes with a pair of scissors. I found that I folded the shapes in half in the middle before cutting; this helped make sure they were symmetrical. The denim should be very easy to cut and will not fray.

Cutting out denim bow shapes

Step 6: Take the top denim shape and bend the ends into the centre. Then stitch them in the centre to keep them in place.

Stitching the top of the bow

Step 7: Next, place this top bow onto the base piece and stitch it in place again in the centre.

Stitching on the back bow

Step 8: Finish off the bow by sewing a small bit of denim seam or belt loop around the centre to hide the stitches.

Finishing off the denim bow
How to make a denim bow tie 2 ways

These second denim bows can easily be turned into bow ties by adding the same elastic as the waistband bow. They can also be easily made into hair bows by adding a crocodile clip onto the back. I also think they would make a lovely decoration for denim handbags or denim pillows or even as gift toppers.

As they are so quick to make, I ended up making a few of these denim bows. I used denim scraps from different pairs of jeans to get bows in shades of indigo.

How to Make Denim Bows
How to make denim bows

If you want more ideas on what to make from upcycled denim, you should check out my comprehensive A to Z guide to denim crafts and these handmade gifts for men.

If you liked these denim bow ties, then you will probably like these other fun denim upcycled. These bow ties can be made from fabric scraps, not just denim or leather scraps.

Yield: Denim Bows

Make Denim Bows Two Ways

How to Make Bow Tie two ways

This tutorial shows you how to make two different types of denim bows from your old jeans. Both are very easy and only take a few minutes. Both would make a cool bow tie, or hair bow or can be used for other decorative embellishments.

Prep Time 1 hour
Active Time 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $1

Materials

  • The waistband and belt loop from an old pair of jeans
  • Scrap piece of denim fabric and about 1 inch denim seam
  • Fabric Mod Podge
  • Needle and thread

Tools

  • Seam ripper
  • Scissors

Instructions

  1. To make the first denim bow tie from a jeans waistband. Cut a length of waistband about 24cm in length.
  2. Using a seam ripper remove the belt loop from the denim waistband. cut jeans waistband and belt loop
  3. Sew both ends of the cut jeans waistband to make a loop.
  4. Next, flatten the waistband loop and then stitch the belt loop tightly around the center. Pinching the denim fabric so that it forms a bow shape. denim bow tie.. Turn this waistband bow into a bow tie by adding a fastening elastic.
  5. Next, to make the other kind of denim bow. Paste a piece of denim fabric about 25cm by 15cm with fabric Mod Podge and leave it to dry.
  6. Next, download and cut out the bow pattern from the site.
  7. Draw around the bow shapes on the denim fabric and cut out the pieces. Cutting out denim bow shapes
  8. Next, fold the ends of the top denim piece into the center and hold it together with a stitch.
  9. Then place this on top of the bottom bow piece and again hold it in place with a center stitch.
  10. Finish the bow by sewing a denim seam around the center of the bow.Finishing off the denim bow

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

I have made my son some cool craft beer can candles to complete the hipster look.

Find more green crafting ideas here.

Julie

Sunday 13th of June 2021

These are fab! Our youngest was a big fan of a bow tie for several years (we all blame the Doctor for that of course!) I've made him a few over the years but just from regular fabric, I bet he'd love a denim waistband one.

Claire Armstrong

Sunday 13th of June 2021

Thank you, they are a fun clothing item. Yes, I remember, it was Matt Smith's Doctor that wore the bow tie.

Shirley

Saturday 12th of June 2021

So cute! I made one of these many many years ago when my kids were just babies for a friend of mine. She fell in love with it. I had actually forgotten about it until I saw yours. I so love working with denim! I know you do too and I haven’t done any sewing in quite a few years now but I should think about getting back into it, I miss it.

Claire Armstrong

Sunday 13th of June 2021

Thank you so much. There isn't much sewing with these bow ties, so they are very easy to make.

Beth

Saturday 12th of June 2021

I love that you upcycle ALL the parts and pieces from blue jeans! Join us over at the Creative Crafts Linky Party every Wednesday through Sunday https://creativelybeth.com/creative-crafts-linky-party-45/ Followed and Pinned! 🙂 Creatively, Beth

Claire Armstrong

Sunday 13th of June 2021

Thank you, Beth. And thank you for the invite.

Michelle Leslie

Saturday 12th of June 2021

Love it!!!! With my son on the other side of the world, I probably won't make him one just yet, but our furry kids would look adorable with one of these :D

Claire Armstrong

Saturday 12th of June 2021

Thank you so much. They would look cute on a dog collar, if my Toby was still around I'd put one on his collar.

Allyson

Thursday 10th of June 2021

I've never seen denim bow ties before ~ very unique idea!

Claire Armstrong

Friday 11th of June 2021

Thank you, they are a bit of fun. My son loves his.

Skip to Instructions