How to Make a Simple Bow Tie

A good bow tie will be perfectly symmetrical.

The word for the bow tie in Russian is "babochka." This is also the same word used in Russian for the word "butterfly." This reveals a great deal about how a finished bow tie should look; it should be perfect and symmetrical, not unlike the wings of a butterfly. Creating such a bow tie on your own might seem difficult but all it takes is a little bit of practice and before you know it you'll be able to make the most effortless bow tie which will increase the elegance of any suit or tuxedo,

Things You'll Need

• Collared shirt

Instructions

1. Put on your collared shirt and button it all the way to the top. Lift your collar up so that you have lots of room when tying your bow tie.

2. Lay your untied bow tie around your neck on top of your collar. Pull the end of the untied bow tie down 2 inches lower on the side of your dominant hand. For example, if you're left-handed, pull the left side down 2 inches.

3. Place two fingers on the hanging side of the bow tie that does not correspond to your dominant hand. Place these two fingers just above the area where it starts to get wide. This is where you'll make the knot.

4. Grab the longer hanging end of the untied bow tie with your other hand and cross it over the shorter end, pulling it behind and through the top. This will create a permanent knot. This longer end should still look longer and it will hang down in front of the shorter end.

5. Grab the shorter end and crease it in half on top of itself. According to the book "Stuff Guys Need to Know" by John F. Hunt, "The narrow part should be right on top of the actual knot and the wide part becomes the edge of the loop". Press this loop at the base of the partially made tie with that hand that is non-dominant.

6. Take the longer end of the partially made tie with your dominant hand and wrap it "over and down, then around behind the first loop" states Hunt. Execute this move carefully being sure not to coil or fold the tie while you do this.

7. Push this longer end through the knot. This will make the second loop of the bow tie. Grab onto this second loop, while holding onto the first loop you made. Pull the second loop to evenly adjust the shape.

8. Examine your loops in the mirror. They should look perfectly equal. If you choose to adjust them, make sure you pull on them at the same time, to avoid yanking out the bow tie all together.

References

• "Stuff Guys Need to Know: how to do just about everything"; John F. Hunt; 2001

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish