How to Tie a Tie
Learning how to tie a tie is a skill that all men should master. That’s because life is filled with formal occasions such as weddings, business meetings, jury duty, and job interviews. If you want to look your best during these events, wearing a tie is a necessity. In the following article, we’ll provide step-by-step instructions on how to tie a tie, as well as offering a number of useful tips and techniques for selecting a tie and making it last.
How to Tie a Tie Tips
Before we look at how to tie a tie, let’s examine a number of how to tie a tie tips.
Tip #1 – When removing a tie, do not just widen the loop and pull it over your head. Staying in this position can damage the tie and limit the use you’ll get out of it. Instead, perform the steps used to tie the tie, but in reverse order. It can then be hung on a tie rack.
Tip #2 – If your tie is wrinkled, this can be corrected by wrapping the tie around your hand. Then remove your hand and set the tie aside for several hours.
Tip #3 – When purchasing a new tie, it’s a good idea to bring along the shirt and jacket you’ll be wearing with it. This will allow you to make sure the pattern and texture are a good match. You should also check the quality of the fabric, making sure that loose threads or other imperfections aren’t visible.
Tip #4 – When figuring tie length, remember that the widest section of your tie should come down to the upper part of your belt.
Tip #5 – If you iron your tie to remove wrinkles, be sure to cover it with a cotton cloth to protect it from direct heat. You should also make sure the temperature of the iron isn’t too hot, as it can damage the tie and make it appear flat. The iron should be no hotter than 170 degrees for wool ties and 140 degrees for silk and polyester ties.
Tip #6 – If you spill something on your tie, do not use a stain remover. First blot the area with a tissue. Remember to blot, as rubbing will only make things worse. Dampen a washcloth and see if the stain can be removed that way. If it can, use a hair-dryer on a low setting to eliminate any excess moisture. If the above step doesn’t work, do not put the tie into the washing machine. At this point, your best bet is to take your tie to the local dry cleaners. While they can remove the stain, the tie will also lose its shine. For this reason, you should do everything possible to keep your ties from getting stained in the first place.
Step by Step Easy How to Instructions
The following is a guide filled with step by step easy how to instructions for tying 5 different types of tie knots: four-in-hand, windsor knot, half windsor knot, pratt knot, and bow tie knot.
How to Tie a Four-in-Hand
- The wide end of your tie should hang over your neck onto the right side of your body. It should hang about 12 inches past the narrow end (which is on the left side of your body).
- Take the wide end of the tie and cross it over the narrow end.
- The wide end should then be turned back underneath the narrow end.
- Now bring the wide end back in front of the narrow end of the tie.
- These movements will have created a loop around your neck. Take the wide end and pull it up through the loop.
- Use your index finger to loosely hold the front of the knot. Take the wide end and bring it down through the front loop.
- Take your index finger away, hold the narrow end of the tie, and slide the knot upwards.
- Now you know how to tie a tie in the Four-in-Hand style.
How to Tie a Windsor Knot
The Windsor knot works well with spread collar shirts, and it’s the preferred knot of choice for job interviews and business meetings. Men with wide necks should also like it, as the thick knot makes the neck length appear shorter.
- The wide end of your tie should be draped over the right side of your body. It should hang 12 inches past the narrow end, which is draped over the left side of your body.
- Take the wide end and cross it over the narrow end.
- A loop has now been created between your tie and collar. Bring the wide end up through it.
- Bring the wide end back down to rest in front of your torso.
- Take the wide end and pull it underneath the narrow end and to the right. Then bring it back through the loop and to the right once again. When you’re finished, the wide end should appear inside out.
- Going from right to left, bring the wide end of the tie across the front.
- Once again pull the wide end up through the loop.
- Take the wide end and bring it down through the front knot.
- Use both hands for this part. Tighten the knot and pull it up near the collar.
- Now you know how to tie a tie in the Windsor knot style.
How to Tie a Half Windsor Knot
How to Tie a Tie
Perfect for wider ties, the Half Windsor Knot forms a triangular knot than complements most dress shirts.
- The wide part of the tie should hang on the right side, while the narrow side should be on the left. The wide end should hang 12 inches below the narrow end.
- Take the wide end and cross it over the narrow end.
- Now bring the wide end around and behind the narrow section of the tie.
- Grasp the wide end of the necktie and pull it upwards.
- The wide end should now be pulled through the loop and to the right of the tie.
- Now bring the wide end around the front of the tie. It should go over the narrow end of the tie from right to left.
- Take the wide end of the tie and bring it up through the loop.
- Bring the wide end of the necktie down through the knot in the front.
- Use both hands to tighten the knot and pull it up towards the collar.
- Now you know how to tie a tie in the half Windsor knot style.
How to Tie a Pratt Knot
While not as wide as the Windsor, the Pratt knot (also known as a Shelby) is still considered to be a wide knot. It works well on wide ties made of medium to light fabric, and it goes well with any dress shirt.
- When you begin, the necktie should be inside out. The wide end should be on the right side of your body and extend 12 inches past the narrow end, which is on the left side.
- The wide end of the tie should be crossed under the narrow end.
- Now take the wide end and go over and under the tie’s narrow end.
- Before you tighten, make sure to pull the tie’s loop down.
- Move the wide end of the tie over to the right, then pull it up behind the loop.
- The wide end of the tie should be brought up through the knot. You can now tighten the knot as much as you’re comfortable with.
- Now you know how to tie a tie in the Pratt knot style.
How to Tie a Bow Tie Knot
Traditionally worn with tuxedos, many bow ties are of the clip-on variety. If you often attend formal ceremonies, however, you may want to go the more traditional route and learn to tie a bow tie knot. Remember that a properly tied bow tie knot should never go past the tips of your shirt collar, and it should never be broader than the widest area of your neck.
- The bow tie should be placed around your neck. Since neither side is wider than the other, we’ll refer to one side as “Side A” and the other as “Side B.” Side A should hang on the left side of your body, and it should be about two inches longer than Side B.
- Take Side A and cross it over Side B.
- Now that a loop has been formed, bring Side A up and under the loop.
- Take Side B and double it up. This will form the front base loop of your bow tie.
- Take Side A and loop it over the center of the loop just made with Side B.
- Make sure to use your fingers to hold all the current progress in place. Double up Side A and insert it through the loop that’s in back of the bow tie.
- You should now be able to tug on the ends of the bow tie to adjust it. Check the center knot to make sure that it’s straight.
- Now you know how to tie a tie in the Bow Tie knot style.
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