How to Do a Western Wire Tie
Bolo ties, also known as bola ties or string neckties, are a menswear staple in the American west and southwest. In fact, the bolo tie is the official neckwear of the states of Arizona and New Mexico. The tie consists of a thin length of leather or other cording threaded through a slide or clasp and finished with decorative metal tips. By moving the slide up or down, the wearer can adjust the bolo’s fit around his neck. Make your own bolo with a few basic supplies. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Length of leather cording
- Large Western-style clasp or button
- Metal tips
- Scissors
- Glue
- Needle-nose pliers (optional)
Instructions
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Cut the cording to the appropriate length. Rocky Mountain Western, a supplier of bolo ties, recommends that men under 6 feet tall choose cords 36 to 38 inches long and taller men choose 40- to 42-inch cords.
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Thread both ends of the cord through a large clasp or button. If you’ve chosen a traditional two- or four-hole button, thread the cord up from the back and then down again, so that most of the cord lies behind the button when the tie is worn. For a decorative Western-style clasp, thread the cord through the loop on the back of the clasp.
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Glue metal tips to both ends of the cord by coating the inside of each tip with glue and then pushing the cord inside. Let the glue dry completely. Use your fingernail or a small pair of needle-nose pliers to bend the prongs at the top of the metal tip into the cord.
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Wear your bolo tie by putting the loop over your head and adjusting the slide to tighten the tie around your neck. For formal events, wear the slide at the collarbone, so the tie looks like a standard cloth tie. For more casual events, you can loosen the tie and let the slide sit lower on your chest.
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Tips & Warnings
Traditional bolo ties often use silver as the predominant metal, accented with turquoise and coral stones.
You can find metal tips at most craft- or jewelry-supply stores, often in the button aisle.
Store your bolo by hanging it from a tie rack or laying it out flat, to keep the leather ends from curling.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
