Tie
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How to Tie a Four-in-hand Knot
Brief Description of the Four-in-hand Knot
The four-in-hand knot is the easiest to learn among the four most commonly used tie knots (the four-in-hand knot, the half-Windsor knot, the Windsor knot and the Pratt knot). It is a small tie knot that suits shirts with a narrow collar opening and is suitable for most occasions. However, the four-in-hand knot is asymmetric, which does not look good on wide collar shirts.
Instructions for Tying a Four-in-hand Knot
The instructions for tying a four-in-hand knot are shown below. We assume that you are righthanded in the following instructions. The figures below are mirror images. They are what you will see if you stand in front of a mirror.
1. At the beginning, the wide end of the tie should be on your right side and the other end should be on your left side.
2. Cross the wide end over the other end. Now three regions are formed (Left, Right and Center).
3. Bring the wide end underneath the narrow end from Left to Right.
4. Bring the wide end over from Right to Left.
5. Bring the wide end under the knot to the Center region.
6. Bring the wide end down and pass the loop in front. Ensure that the knot is tightened.
7. Use one hand to pull the narrow end down gently and use the other hand to move the knot up until it reaches the center of the collar.
How to Tie a Half-Windsor Knot (Way 1)
Brief Description of the Half-Windsor Knot
The half-Windsor knot is a symmetric tie knot that is slightly larger than the Pratt knot and smaller than the Windsor knot. It is suitable for most collars and occasions. The name "half-Windsor knot" has been used to refer to two slightly different ways to tie a tie by different books and web sites. Tying the two tie knots involves the same number of steps and the finished tie knots look very similar. Both ways to tie the half-Windsor knot are provided on this web site for completeness. However, to save time, you can just learn one of them. Way 1 will be described below. For way 2, please refer to the article "How to Tie a Half-Windsor Knot (Way 2)".
Instructions for Tying a Half-Windsor Knot (Way 1)
The instructions for tying a half-Windsor knot (way 1) are shown below. We assume that you are right-handed in the following instructions. The figures below are mirror images. They are what you will see if you stand in front of a mirror. 1. At the beginning, the wide end of the tie should be on your right side and the other end should be on your left side.
2. Cross the wide end over the other end. Now three regions are formed (Left, Right and Center).
3. Bring the wide end underneath the narrow end from Left to Right.
4. Bring the wide end over to the Center region.
5. Bring the wide end under the knot to the Left region.
6. Bring the wide end out of the shirt from Left to Right.
7. Bring the wide end under the knot to the Center region.
8. Bring the wide end down and pass the loop in front. Ensure that the knot is tightened.
9. Use one hand to pull the narrow end down gently and use the other hand to move the knot up until it reaches the center of the collar.
How to Tie a Windsor Knot (Way 1)
Brief Description of the Windsor Knot
The Windsor knot is a symmetric and large tie knot that suits wide collar shirts. It looks fabulous in business and political occasions. However, the Windsor knot is not suitable for narrow collar shirts. Also, if you use a tie made of thick materials, the resulting tie knot will be too large. The name "Windsor knot" has been used to refer to four slightly different ways to tie a tie by different books and web sites. Among the four, way 1 and way 2 are more commonly referred as the Windsor knot. Tying the four tie knots involves the same number of steps and the finished tie knots look very similar. The four ways to tie the Windsor knot are provided on this web site for completeness. However, to save time, you can just learn either way 1 or way 2. Way 1 will be described below. For way 2, way 3 and way 4, please refer to the following articles:
• •
How to Tie a Windsor Knot (Way 2) How to Tie a Windsor Knot (Way 3)
•
How to Tie a Windsor Knot (Way 4)
Instructions for Tying a Windsor Knot (Way 1)
The instructions for tying a Windsor knot (way 1) are shown below. We assume that you are right-handed in the following instructions. The figures below are mirror images. They are what you will see if you stand in front of a mirror. 1. At the beginning, the wide end of the tie should be on your right side and the other end should be on your left side.
2. Cross the wide end over the other end. Now three regions are formed (Left, Right and Center).
3. Bring the wide end under the narrow end to the Center region.
4. Bring the wide end over to the Right region.
5. Bring the wide end underneath the narrow end from Right to Left.
6. Bring the wide end up to the Center region.
7. Bring the wide end under the knot from Center to Right.
8. Bring the wide end over the front to the Left region.
9. Bring the wide end under the narrow part from Left to Center.
10. Bring the wide end down and pass the loop in front. Ensure that the knot is tightened.
11. Use one hand to pull the narrow end down gently and use the other hand to move the knot up until it reaches the center of the collar.
How to Tie a Pratt Knot (Shelby Knot)
Brief Description of the Pratt Knot (Shelby Knot)
The Pratt knot is a symmetric tie knot with an average size. It is larger than the four-in-hand knot and smaller than the half-Windsor knot. It does not look too wide or too narrow. The Pratt knot looks neat and is suitable for most shirts and occasions. The drawback is that the back of the narrow end of the necktie faces up, which does not look good if it is not well hidden behind the wide end. Although Jerry Pratt invented this tie knot, it is sometimes called the Shelby knot, since Don Shelby wore it on television and some people mistakenly thought he was the inventor.
Instructions for Tying a Pratt Knot (Shelby Knot)
The instructions for tying a Pratt knot (Shelby knot) are shown below. We assume that you are right-handed in the following instructions. The figures below are mirror images. They are what you will see if you stand in front of a mirror. 1. At the beginning, the wide end of the tie should be on your right side and the other end should be on your left side. Note that the tie should begin inside out.
2. Cross the narrow end over the other end. Now three regions are formed (Left, Right and Center).
3. Bring the wide end up to Center.
4. Bring the wide end down to Left.
5. Bring the wide end over the knot to Right.
6. Bring the wide end under the narrow part from Right to Center.
7. Bring the wide end down and pass the loop in front. Ensure that the knot is tightened.
8. Use one hand to pull the narrow end down gently and use the other hand to move the knot up until it reaches the center of the collar.
How to Tie a Bow Tie
Brief Description of a Bow Tie
A bow tie is suitable for formal or high-class occasions such as weddings, balls, etc. However, it is more difficult to tie a bow tie than a long necktie. More practices are needed to get a proper shape.
Instructions for Tying a Bow Tie
The instructions for tying a bow tie are shown below. We assume that you are right-handed in the following instructions. The figures below are mirror images. They are what you will see if you stand in front of a mirror. 1. Change the length of the bow tie if needed. A longer length is needed if you want a larger bow.
2. At the beginning, one end of the bow tie should be longer than the other by a few inches. The longer end should be on your right side.
3. Cross the longer end over the other end.
4. Bring the longer end underneath the shorter end and then bring it out from the center.
5. Fold the shorter end horizontally.
6. Place the longer end over the shorter end.
7. Fold the longer end horizontally.
8. Insert the longer end through the loop at the back of the shorter end. Pull both ends gently to tighten the knot.
How to Tie an Oriental Knot
Instructions for Tying an Oriental Knot
The instructions for tying an Oriental knot are shown below. We assume that you are righthanded in the following instructions. The figures below are mirror images. They are what you will see if you stand in front of a mirror. 1. At the beginning, the wide end of the tie should be on your right side and the other end should be on your left side. Note that the tie should begin inside out.
2. Cross the narrow end over the other end. Now three regions are formed (Left, Right and Center).
3. Bring the wide end over the narrow end from the Left region to the Right region.
4. Bring the wide end under the narrow part of the tie to the Center region.
5. Bring the wide end down and pass the loop in front. Ensure that the knot is tightened.
6. Use one hand to pull the narrow end down gently and use the other hand to move the knot up until it reaches the center of the collar.
Brief Description of the Four-in-hand Knot
The four-in-hand knot is the easiest to learn among the four most commonly used tie knots (the four-in-hand knot, the half-Windsor knot, the Windsor knot and the Pratt knot). It is a small tie knot that suits shirts with a narrow collar opening and is suitable for most occasions. However, the four-in-hand knot is asymmetric, which does not look good on wide collar shirts.
Instructions for Tying a Four-in-hand Knot
The instructions for tying a four-in-hand knot are shown below. We assume that you are righthanded in the following instructions. The figures below are mirror images. They are what you will see if you stand in front of a mirror.
1. At the beginning, the wide end of the tie should be on your right side and the other end should be on your left side.
2. Cross the wide end over the other end. Now three regions are formed (Left, Right and Center).
3. Bring the wide end underneath the narrow end from Left to Right.
4. Bring the wide end over from Right to Left.
5. Bring the wide end under the knot to the Center region.
6. Bring the wide end down and pass the loop in front. Ensure that the knot is tightened.
7. Use one hand to pull the narrow end down gently and use the other hand to move the knot up until it reaches the center of the collar.
How to Tie a Half-Windsor Knot (Way 1)
Brief Description of the Half-Windsor Knot
The half-Windsor knot is a symmetric tie knot that is slightly larger than the Pratt knot and smaller than the Windsor knot. It is suitable for most collars and occasions. The name "half-Windsor knot" has been used to refer to two slightly different ways to tie a tie by different books and web sites. Tying the two tie knots involves the same number of steps and the finished tie knots look very similar. Both ways to tie the half-Windsor knot are provided on this web site for completeness. However, to save time, you can just learn one of them. Way 1 will be described below. For way 2, please refer to the article "How to Tie a Half-Windsor Knot (Way 2)".
Instructions for Tying a Half-Windsor Knot (Way 1)
The instructions for tying a half-Windsor knot (way 1) are shown below. We assume that you are right-handed in the following instructions. The figures below are mirror images. They are what you will see if you stand in front of a mirror. 1. At the beginning, the wide end of the tie should be on your right side and the other end should be on your left side.
2. Cross the wide end over the other end. Now three regions are formed (Left, Right and Center).
3. Bring the wide end underneath the narrow end from Left to Right.
4. Bring the wide end over to the Center region.
5. Bring the wide end under the knot to the Left region.
6. Bring the wide end out of the shirt from Left to Right.
7. Bring the wide end under the knot to the Center region.
8. Bring the wide end down and pass the loop in front. Ensure that the knot is tightened.
9. Use one hand to pull the narrow end down gently and use the other hand to move the knot up until it reaches the center of the collar.
How to Tie a Windsor Knot (Way 1)
Brief Description of the Windsor Knot
The Windsor knot is a symmetric and large tie knot that suits wide collar shirts. It looks fabulous in business and political occasions. However, the Windsor knot is not suitable for narrow collar shirts. Also, if you use a tie made of thick materials, the resulting tie knot will be too large. The name "Windsor knot" has been used to refer to four slightly different ways to tie a tie by different books and web sites. Among the four, way 1 and way 2 are more commonly referred as the Windsor knot. Tying the four tie knots involves the same number of steps and the finished tie knots look very similar. The four ways to tie the Windsor knot are provided on this web site for completeness. However, to save time, you can just learn either way 1 or way 2. Way 1 will be described below. For way 2, way 3 and way 4, please refer to the following articles:
• •
How to Tie a Windsor Knot (Way 2) How to Tie a Windsor Knot (Way 3)
•
How to Tie a Windsor Knot (Way 4)
Instructions for Tying a Windsor Knot (Way 1)
The instructions for tying a Windsor knot (way 1) are shown below. We assume that you are right-handed in the following instructions. The figures below are mirror images. They are what you will see if you stand in front of a mirror. 1. At the beginning, the wide end of the tie should be on your right side and the other end should be on your left side.
2. Cross the wide end over the other end. Now three regions are formed (Left, Right and Center).
3. Bring the wide end under the narrow end to the Center region.
4. Bring the wide end over to the Right region.
5. Bring the wide end underneath the narrow end from Right to Left.
6. Bring the wide end up to the Center region.
7. Bring the wide end under the knot from Center to Right.
8. Bring the wide end over the front to the Left region.
9. Bring the wide end under the narrow part from Left to Center.
10. Bring the wide end down and pass the loop in front. Ensure that the knot is tightened.
11. Use one hand to pull the narrow end down gently and use the other hand to move the knot up until it reaches the center of the collar.
How to Tie a Pratt Knot (Shelby Knot)
Brief Description of the Pratt Knot (Shelby Knot)
The Pratt knot is a symmetric tie knot with an average size. It is larger than the four-in-hand knot and smaller than the half-Windsor knot. It does not look too wide or too narrow. The Pratt knot looks neat and is suitable for most shirts and occasions. The drawback is that the back of the narrow end of the necktie faces up, which does not look good if it is not well hidden behind the wide end. Although Jerry Pratt invented this tie knot, it is sometimes called the Shelby knot, since Don Shelby wore it on television and some people mistakenly thought he was the inventor.
Instructions for Tying a Pratt Knot (Shelby Knot)
The instructions for tying a Pratt knot (Shelby knot) are shown below. We assume that you are right-handed in the following instructions. The figures below are mirror images. They are what you will see if you stand in front of a mirror. 1. At the beginning, the wide end of the tie should be on your right side and the other end should be on your left side. Note that the tie should begin inside out.
2. Cross the narrow end over the other end. Now three regions are formed (Left, Right and Center).
3. Bring the wide end up to Center.
4. Bring the wide end down to Left.
5. Bring the wide end over the knot to Right.
6. Bring the wide end under the narrow part from Right to Center.
7. Bring the wide end down and pass the loop in front. Ensure that the knot is tightened.
8. Use one hand to pull the narrow end down gently and use the other hand to move the knot up until it reaches the center of the collar.
How to Tie a Bow Tie
Brief Description of a Bow Tie
A bow tie is suitable for formal or high-class occasions such as weddings, balls, etc. However, it is more difficult to tie a bow tie than a long necktie. More practices are needed to get a proper shape.
Instructions for Tying a Bow Tie
The instructions for tying a bow tie are shown below. We assume that you are right-handed in the following instructions. The figures below are mirror images. They are what you will see if you stand in front of a mirror. 1. Change the length of the bow tie if needed. A longer length is needed if you want a larger bow.
2. At the beginning, one end of the bow tie should be longer than the other by a few inches. The longer end should be on your right side.
3. Cross the longer end over the other end.
4. Bring the longer end underneath the shorter end and then bring it out from the center.
5. Fold the shorter end horizontally.
6. Place the longer end over the shorter end.
7. Fold the longer end horizontally.
8. Insert the longer end through the loop at the back of the shorter end. Pull both ends gently to tighten the knot.
How to Tie an Oriental Knot
Instructions for Tying an Oriental Knot
The instructions for tying an Oriental knot are shown below. We assume that you are righthanded in the following instructions. The figures below are mirror images. They are what you will see if you stand in front of a mirror. 1. At the beginning, the wide end of the tie should be on your right side and the other end should be on your left side. Note that the tie should begin inside out.
2. Cross the narrow end over the other end. Now three regions are formed (Left, Right and Center).
3. Bring the wide end over the narrow end from the Left region to the Right region.
4. Bring the wide end under the narrow part of the tie to the Center region.
5. Bring the wide end down and pass the loop in front. Ensure that the knot is tightened.
6. Use one hand to pull the narrow end down gently and use the other hand to move the knot up until it reaches the center of the collar.
