A tie back is traditionally positioned from a hook in the wall about one third of the way up from the hem of the curtain. Tie backs can be made from the same fabric as the curtains in which case they can be bound or frilled in a contrasting colour or fabric or made entirely from a contrasting fabric in which case they can be plain.
These free illustrated sewing instructions will enable you to make your own tie backs to enhance your window treatments.
See also instructions for gathered tiebacks and heading tape tiebacks.

Requirements:

Fabric wide enough for the tieback plus seam allowance.

Pair of tieback hooks.

Lining for the back of the tieback.

Four curtain rings.

Fringing or braid (if required)

Scissors.

Template - fusible buckram shapes are available to buy and can be used as a template.

To make a template:

You will need a piece of graph paper the length and width of the finished tieback.

Fold it in half  lengthways and draw a gentle curve on the top and bottom edges.

Cut through both layers and open out.

Place template on buckram and cut out.

Plain tie backs:

Cut the lining the same size as the buckram template.

Cut the front fabric, using the template, with a 1" (2.5cms) seam allowance all the way round.

Place the buckram between the fabric and the lining with the right sides out. The seam allowance must be the same all the way round.

Using a hot iron ( not steam ) press all the pieces together.

Snip the seam allowance, not too deeply, all the way round.

Fold the seam allowance to the back of the tieback.

Turn under the raw edge and slip stitch by hand or machine stitch. The latter will produce a line of stitching on the right side.

Hand sew a curtain ring onto each end of the tieback 1" (2.5cms) in from the end.

To enhance the shape of the tie back you can hand stitch either braid or fringing to the lower edge.

Tie backs with bound edges:

Cut the lining and the front fabric the same size as the buckram template.

Place the buckram between the two pieces, right sides out, and press with a hot iron (not steam)

Take bias binding, or strip of fabric cut on the cross, and place it on the face of the tieback so that the binding is the wrong side up and position it along the edge of the tieback.

Machine stitch 0.25" (6mm) in from the edge of the buckram.

Fold the binding over to the back of the tieback, turn under the raw edge and slipstitch by hand

Hand sew a curtain ring onto each end of the tieback 1" (2.5cms) in from the end.