How to Tie Suit Tie Knots

Tie knots become old hat to most men.

Learning to tie a suit tie knot is a rite of passage for many young men. Whether it was at the first formal school assembly or religious function, many adult males will remember how they first learned to give their dress shirt that formal touch. For those who need a refresher or who happily escaped learning this skill at a young age, here are the directions for tying two styles of suit tie knots: the Pratt knot and the Windsor. Either is acceptable for business dress.

Instructions

Pratt Knot

1. Place the tie around your neck with the underside of the tie facing up. Place the narrow end of the tie on your right hand side, and the wide side on your left.

2. Pull the narrow end of the tie toward your left, over the top of the wide end. Pull the wide end slightly to the right.

3. Pull the wide end of the tie up and over the narrow end and through the neckline of the tie. This will create a loop over the narrow end of the tie. Pull the wide end down so the loop is tight.

4. Place your left hand on top of the loop. Pull the wide end of the tie over your hand and underneath the narrow end of the tie. Keep your hand in place.

5. Pull the wide end of the tie under and over the neckline of the tie.

6. Place the wide end of the tie into the loop created by your hand. Pull the wide end through the loop and remove your hand.

7. Hold the narrow end of the tie in place, and pull the wide end of the tie down to create the knot. To tighten the tie, grasp the knot, pull the narrow end of the tie down, and guide the knot to your collar.

Windsor Knot

1. Place the tie around your neck with the underside facing down toward your chest. Place the narrow side of the tie on your left and the wide side on your right. The narrow end should be approximately half as long as the wide side.

2. Bring the wide end of the tie toward the left hand side, crossing the tie over the narrow end.

3. Pull the wide end of the tie under the narrow end and through the neckline of the tie to create a loop. Pull the loop tight and hold it in place with the fingers from your left hand.

4. Pull the wide end of the tie over the top and through the neckline of the tie. Continue to hold the tie loop using the fingers of your left hand.

5. Pull the wide end of the tie from the left hand side across the right, covering your fingers with the tie. Pull the wide end of the tie under your fingers and through the neckline of the tie.

6. Pull the wide end of the tie through the loop created by your fingers. Remove your fingers from the loop.

7. Pull the wide end of the tie down to create the knot. Hold the narrow end of the tie as you do this. To tighten the knot, hold the narrow end steady, grasp the knot, and pull down on the narrow end of the tie until the knot arrives at the neckline.

References

• Tie-a-Tie: Pratt Knot
• Tie-a-Tie: Windsor Knot

Resources

• Men's Flair: Home