Learn the art of tying a tie with our comprehensive guide on the top 10 ways to tie a tie. From the classic Four in Hand Knot to the elegant Plattsburgh Knot, we have got you covered. In this blog, we will take you through each knot step-by-step, providing quick tips and tricks to ensure you get a perfect knot every time. Whether you need a knot for a formal event or a business meeting, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to discover how to master each knot and make a statement with your necktie.
10 Ways to tie a Tie
1. Four In Hand Knot
If you only like to learn one knot, make it the four in hand.
And why is that?
The four in hand knot is asymmetrical, with a narrow shape that adds interest. It’s very easy to tie and looks good with most shirt collars. This knot uses less of the tie’s length, making it a good option for tall men who are trying to tie a conventional length tie. Also, the narrow shape is ideal for dress shirts with thin spread collars or button-down collars.
How to tie a Four in hand knot?
1. Drape the tie over your neck, extending the wide end about 12 inches below the narrow end.
2. Cross the wide end over the narrow end.
3. Cross the wide end behind the narrow end.
4. (4 & 5) Once more, cross the wide end in front of the narrow end.
5. Bring the wide end up and through the neck loop.
6. Continue down through the front loop.
7. Tighten the knot, and you’re set!
Quick tip: To get a clean and crisp appearance, bring the knot as close as possible to the collar. The point, spread, club, and pinned collars are the best fits.
2. The Simple Knot
The Simple Knot is one of the most versatile knots. It has a very classy appearance and is simple to tie. This knot can be tied to any type of fabric and is suited for all types of shirts and collars. This knot will blend well with any look you want to attain, whether it’s a casual or a business one.
How to tie the simple knot?
1. Tie your tie around your neck. The longer and wider end should be on your left.
2. Pass the wider end through the narrower one.
3. Repeat it to the left.
4. Pass the wide end of the tie through the loop.
5. Bring the wide end of the tie-down through the knot you just made.
6. Adjust and tighten the knot.
Quick tip: For a seamless look, match the Simple Knot with narrow collar shirts and thicker ties that require balance. It’s also ideal for shorter ties that need to retain length.
3. Half Windsor knot
The Half Windsor Knot is a modest version of the Full Windsor Knot and one of the commonly used knots. This knot is symmetrical, wider and versatile.
How to tie a Half Windsor knot?
1. start with the wider end length of the tie.
2. From behind, cross the wide end over the narrow end.
3. (3-4) Bring the wide end up and through the loop down.
5. Cross the wide end in front to the opposite side.
6. Loop it around the neck and pull it up.
7. Make your way down the front loop.
8. Adjust the knot by tightening it.
Quick tip: The wide end of the knot should be level with the belt buckle after it has been tied. If it’s too long or short, re-tie it and adjust the wide and narrow ends in the first step.
4. Windsor knot
The Windsor Knot is the one if you’ve ever wanted to tie a knot that makes you feel like a king. The Windsor Knot is also known as the Double Windsor or Full Windsor. It has a large, powerful knot at the top of your necktie that forms a triangle. The Double Windsor Knot looks best on formal shirts with widespread collars.
How to tie a Windsor knot?
1. Cross the wide end of the tie over the thin end, ensure that it is 6-7 inches below the narrow end.
2. The tie should be slipped through the opening between the neck and the tie knot. Pull the tie all the way around until it is hidden behind the narrow end.
3. Step 2 should be repeated once more on the opposite side
4. Wrap the wide end of the tie around your neck and pull it back to the front.
5. Loosely pull the wide end through the gap between your neck and the knot to make a loop.
6. Insert the wide end of the knot into the newly formed loop.
7. Adjust and tighten the knot, then reposition your collar over the necktie. The Double Windsor Knot is finished!
Quick tip: To ensure a well-proportioned tie length, start tying the Windsor Knot with the wide end positioned lower than the skinny end since it uses a lot of fabric.
5. The Plattsburgh Knot
The Plattsburgh Knot creates a marvellously sturdy symmetrical, extended triangle. It gets its name from the New York town of Plattsburgh, where its inventor, Thomas Fink, was born. The Plattsburgh Knot is ideal for taller men with broad shoulders because of its huge appearance, which helps to balance proportions. To get the most refined style, we recommend pairing it with wide-collared shirts.
How to tie the Plattsburgh Knot?
1. Start with the seam facing out and the wide end on your right.
2. Turn the wide end to the left and behind the narrow end.
3. Fold the wide end of the tie-up towards the neck loop.
4. Take the wide end and loop it through the neck loop, then down to the right.
5. Fold up the wide end.
6. Take the wide end and loop it through the neck loop, then down to the left.
7. Cross the wide end to the right over the narrow end. Hold the band with your finger.
8. Bring the wide end behind the neck loop and down the centre.
9. Pull the wide end of the band you formed in Step 7 through it.
10. Tighten the knot by pushing on the thin end while holding the knot. For symmetry, adjust the edges.
6. The Kelvin Knot
The Kelvin Knot is named after Lord Kelvin, a 19th-century mathematical physicist. It makes a nice and tidy knot that looks like the Four In Hand Knot. When you’re short on time, we recommend wearing it for a quick and neat look. It looks great with thicker fabrics for a more sturdy look.
How to tie the Kelvin Knot?
1. Begin with the tie reverse side out and the wide end about 6′′ below the narrow end.
2. Pass the wide end under the narrow end.
3. Loop the wide end of the tie in front of the narrow end
4. Loop the wide end once more in front of the narrow end, then pull up behind the loop.
5. Pull the fabric as wide as possible. It will start to create a knot.
6. Draw a wide blade behind the slipknot and pull it down.
7. Adjust the knot, and you’re set!
7. The Pratt Knot
The Pratt is another simple, easy-to-master knot that is a great option to the four-in-hand if you want to try something new. The Pratt knot is distinguished by the fact that it is tied from the inside out. The Pratt Knot is a neat tie knot that’s ideal for formal events. For the best take, pair the Pratt Knot with light to medium weight fabrics.
How to tie Pratt Knot?
1. Begin by crossing the wide end of the tie beneath the narrow end, inside out, around your neck.
2. Bring the wide end up over the narrow end.
3. Now, tighten the knot by pulling the wide end through the loop.
4. Place the wide end horizontally on top of the narrow end.
5. Pull the wide end through the loop again.
6. Pull the wide end of the tie through the front knot. Pull the knot up to your collar and tighten it.
8. Kent Knot:
The Kent knot is a modified Four-in-Hand knot. It’s one of the smallest tie knots, thus it’s ideal for thick ties worn with narrow neck collar spread shirts. This necktie knot is also a great alternative for big & tall men wearing a conventional length tie because it requires significantly less of the tie’s length to tie it.
How to Tie a Kent Knot?
1. Wrap the tie around your neck with the wide end 4-5 inches lower than the narrow end. Begin with the inside of your tie facing your body, then flip the wide side of the tie over so that the stitching is visible.
2. Cross the wide end of the tie behind the narrow end of the tie.
3. Loop the tie’s wide end over the narrow end. Now the necktie’s “good side” should be visible.
4. Wrap the wide end of your necktie around your neck and draw the loop through.
5. Pull your collars tighter, centre the knot, and flip them over. Finished!
9. Bow Knot:
How to Tie a Kent Knot?
1. The first step is to make sure one end of the tie is a few inches longer than the other. The tie’s longer end should be on your right side.
2. Cross the tie’s longer end over the shorter end. Bring the tie’s longer end underneath the shorter end and then out from the centre.
3. Fold the tie’s shorter end horizontally.
4. Overlap the tie’s longer end over the shorter end.
5. Fold the tie’s longer end horizontally.
6. Place the tie’s longer end through the loop at the back of the shorter end.
7. Pull both the ends gently together to tighten the knot.
8. Make adjustments as needed, and you’re set!
10. Prince Albert knot:
The Prince Albert knot is a so-called double knot that requires at least two wrappings, just as the Full Windsor knot. However, unlike the double Windsor knot, the Prince Albert knot is looped in the same direction, making it significantly longer and asymmetric in appearance. It’s an ideal tie knot for thinner neckties or shorter men who require a shorter tie length.
How to Tie a Prince Albert Knot?
1. Because this tie requires two or more wrappings (the no of wrappings is up to you), the wide end of the tie must hang much lower than the narrow end.
2. Wrap the wide end around the narrow end and repeat this process two or three times. The larger the tie knot is, the more wrappings there are.
3. On the last wrapping, make a loop in front of the finished necktie knot. Pull the wide end of the tie through the loop and in between your neck and the Tie.
4. Pull the collars slightly tighter, make a final adjustment, and flip them down. Finished!
In conclusion, there are numerous ways to tie a tie, and each style can convey a unique impression. By following the step-by-step instructions provided in this blog, you can master ten popular tie knots and choose the best one for any occasion.
Remember, the right tie knot can complement your outfit and elevate your style, so take the time to practise and experiment with different styles until you find your perfect fit. With these ten knot styles in your repertoire, you’ll be ready to look sharp and confident in any setting that requires a tie.
