Fabric Tie

• 1). Cover your work space with newspapers or a tablecloth to prevent paint spills and stains. Wear a smock if you are concerned about the possibility of paint getting on your clothing.
  
  
• 2). Lay your tie flat on the surface and outline your stripes using a piece of chalk and an angled ruler, or by simply placing strips of masking tape at a slant across the tie. Outline two thick stripes, leave an inch space and then outline a very thin stripe. Then skip another inch, repeating the pattern down the length of the tie.
  
  
• 3). Fill in the stripes using fabric paint. Consult the paint container to find the manufacturer's recommendations for sufficient drying time, and then allow the paint to dry.
  
  
• 4). Wear the dried tie on its own or with a Harry Potter-inspired robe to complete the look.
  
  

Paper Tie

• 1). Use a template to create a tie shape, or free-draw the outline of a necktie on a piece of colored construction paper. Use plain white computer paper if you do not have access to construction paper that matches your chosen house's colors. Cut out the necktie shape using a pair of scissors.
  
  
• 2). Use an angled ruler to mark off the outlines of your tie's stripes. Outline two thick stripes, leave an inch and then outline a very thin stripe. Then skip another inch, repeating the pattern down the length of the tie. Fill the stripes in with the corresponding colors of your chosen house. Allow the colors to dry.
  
  
• 3). Punch a hole in the top of the tie using a hole punch. Measure a piece of yarn long enough to be tied around your neck with a few fingers' worth of give, and then cut the piece. Loop the yarn through the hole and tie the tie around your neck like a necklace.