Introduction: Customizing Your School Tie.
In this Instructable I will show you how I converted my old regular school tie into a cool fashionable 'skinny tie', and I will also show you other customizations I made to my old school uniform.
The majority of schools across Britain require that you wear a tie as part of your uniform. It is the governments idea that if everyone in school dressed the same looking like robots, then bulling wouldn't occur because poorer children won't be picked on for looking different. This is of course a load of rubbish, so why not make a statement and customize your uniform.
Skinny ties are very popular at the moment and are fairly easy to make providing you have some idea of how to sew or stitch.
Step 1: Items Needed
You will need most of the following;
-a tie
-a de-stitching tool (if you dont have one just use a needle or something)
-a pair of scissors
-a pen
-a needle and some thread or a sewing machine (I didn't use a sewing machine but if you want your tie to last a while I would strongly recommend that you use one)
-an iron and ironing board (not neccessery but still useful)
-pins (not neccessery but still useful)
Step 2: De-Stitching the Tie.
First you need to turn the tie inside out to access the stitching, this is simple to do, just start pulling the inside out through the opening at the wide end of the tie.
Using the de-stitching tool is easy, slide the pointed end of the fork under the thread and cut using the sharp edge in the middle of the fork then begin picking the thread out,
Step 3: Iron, Draw and Cut
After de-stitching, you will find that there are a lot of fold creases in your tie, it will make your life easier if you were to iron out these fold creases.
Next you need to draw your template, (I recommend that you do this because I to start cutting straight away and I ended up with not enough material, luckily I had a few ties to play with) I folded the thin end of the tie and laid it over the wide end and drew round it because it was the perfect size.
Then you need to cut your tie.
Step 4: Stitching You Tie Back Together
I sewed up my tie using a needle and thread because I couldn't get my mom's sewing machine to work properly, but this should be fine as many of my other ties appear to be sewn up in this same way. Just remember to sew the tie inside out then turn it back in on itself so that the stitching is on the inside and not visible from the outside.
to finish off you may want to iron the tie again so that it holds it's shape.
Step 5: Other Things a Did With Bits of My Uniform
I also did other things with other bits of my old uniform.
The first was a secret pocket on my blazer. One year at school the senior staff decided to ban all electronics include phones and mp3 players, they used to conduct searches every so often so I decided to make a simple hidden pocket using Presstuds to hide my phone, mp3 player and a few other objects that were not allowed in school.
The second is a Trilby hat that I used when my mate and I dressed as the Blues Brothers for comic relief day. I tied the remains of my failed skinny tie attempt round the hat and slotted two playing cards under it, I probably wouldn't have worn this to school although it does look good with the tie.
Runner Up in the
Converse Back to School in Style Contest
1 Person Made This Project!
- samridhi12 made it!
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37 Comments
11 years ago on Step 5
If you want a "skinny tie", just wear it the thin-way with the proper part tucked in your Shirt ....
Who needs a sewing machine etc then!!?
13 years ago on Introduction
They conducted searches? Just going around to each person and searching their pockets? Also, were the ties school issued ties, or was the rule just that you had to wear some sort of tie? Nice job!
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
They conducted random class searches if they suspected someone of having something. The ties were school issued for the high school students, the government believes children in school should look the same. Thanks for the comment!
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Well, here in Poland (and I believe in rest of Europe also) only Police can search your pockets, bags, etc. Strange that you agree to that searches.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
In the states, the student code of conduct (which you must agree to in order to attend school) stipulates that the school can search you for whatever reason. To even get a parking pass if you want to drive to school, you have to sign a waiver that allows them to search your car at any time.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Oh, that is so different in here. No one would ask you to sign anything like this, and even if they would - it would be illegal and not obligatory for you to show your stuff. If someone - for example shop bodyguard - wants to search your backpack - you don't have to let him (well, he usually calls the police than, and they can search your things, but noone else can). Our press would say: "Serious privacy infringement" and they would make big scandal about it. Well, each country have its own customs :)
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
We're only talking about schools, and for minors only. It's legal because you signed a contract agreeing to it. Anywhere else, nobody, even the police, is allowed to search your belongings without a warrant from a judge.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
the police are allowed to search your person and or bag under certain circumstances
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
im the uk police are allowed to search anything if you are a minor in a group of 4 or more .
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
I don't live in the UK, and as such, am not familiar with their laws.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
I wanted to say, that what you sign cannot be in contrary to the law. Law says: only the police can search your belongings. Agreement you sign says: teachers can search your belongings. Agreement is illegal and doesn't force you to let teacher search your stuff.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Maybe not in Poland, but in America if you sign something saying people can search you, they can. And I don't know about where you live, but the police can't just decide to search your belongings here. The only time anyone can search you here is if the police have a warrant or you agree to it. By signing a contract, you are agreeing to let the school search your stuff.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
I see. So that is the difference. Here you can sign anything, but when it is against the law this agreement is not valid. I am also curious about how it is in your country - can police search you if you look suspicious? I saw on Discovery documentary movies about your policemen chasing some strangers and than, if they look shady police check if they have drugs, guns etc, so, it looks like they can search you without your agreement or any warranty from court.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Not exactly...they're really good at tricking people into giving consent. Saying things like, "Well if you're innocent, you've got nothing to hide, right?" If someone is under arrest, then they can of course search them.
http://www.flexyourrights.org/definition_of_probable_cause
There's a really good explanation about it. You can be frisked for an officer's safety if you've been detained, and searched if they have enough evidence to arrest you. If it turns out they searched you without probable cause, anything they find during that illegal search can't be used against you in court. It's pretty neat, really.
The point I was trying to get across, though, is that the police can't just stop whoever they want and search them.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Thanx for your clarification, the case with police looks similar to the situation in Poland than. I like to know how real life in US looks like - we see a lot of movies and sometimes it is so much different than in Europe ;)
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
I'm sure it's not nearly as exciting as it looks.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
this probably sounds a bit silly but is all that stuff about cameras and metal detectors and things like that in school true? im from the uk and read have read several books set in america that mention things like that and i always wondered if it was true.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
my fathers school had police in it because kids would get stabbed in the hall ways my school doesnt have that or metal detectors because its in a nice neighborhood but there are tons of camera because sometimes theres theft and a bit of bathroom vandalism it quite stupid and a waste of money.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
There are some schools in really bad areas with high crime rates that have those, but they are by no means the norm in America.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
ohhh fair enough. thanks :)