How to Tie a Bow-Tie Using a Regular Necktie

Tying a bow tie is very similar to tying shoelaces. It only takes a minute to tie the knot once you are familiar with the process. Although a bow tie can be fashioned from a regular-length necktie, the end result will not look quite as sharp as it would if you use a real bow tie.

Things You'll Need

• Necktie
• Dress shirt with a collar
• Mirror

Instructions

1. Button the top button of your dress shirt. Lift the collar around the entire neck.

2. Wrap the tie around your neck so that both ends hang down evenly in front.

3. Pull the right side down a little until the left side is about 3 inches shorter than the right side.

4. Criss-cross the ends of the tie to make an "X." The left side goes under the right side.

5. Take the "new" left side and tuck it up under the "V" that was created from the "X." Pull it up and over the "V," then pull it all the way through. Tighten or cinch the tie around your neck. Now there is a new "X."

6. Fold and pinch the right side to make a loop at the neck on the left side. Now there is the dangling left side of the tie and a loop (made with the right side) that is also on the left side.

7. Bring the dangling left side up high, over the loop, and pull it straight down the center of the bow. Line it up with your Adam's apple and the buttons of your shirt.

8. Close the loop over the center dangling end by holding the loop and tie together with one hand at your neck. In the mirror, a hole will be visible in the knot at the neckline.

9. Take the top of the dangling center end and poke it through that visible hole. Push it through. This forms a bow tie.

10. Take both loops and cinch them down by pulling them tighter. Adjust the flat ends. Since the bow tie was made with a regular necktie, the bow will be much bigger than a regular, neat bow tie.

References

• Beautiesltd.com: How to Tie a Bow Tie (Video)
• Tie-knots.org: How to Tie a Bow Tie (Illustration)