Overview
This instructional guide explains step-by-step how to tie a tie using the Windsor knot, also known as the double Windsor or full Windsor.
Preparing the Tie
- Start with your collar up and the tie draped around your neck.
- Hold the wide end in your right hand and the narrow end in your left if you are right-handed.
- Adjust the wide end’s length based on your desired final tie length, leaving about 4 inches (10 cm) on the narrow end.
Forming the Windsor Knot
- Cross the wide end over the narrow end at the front.
- With your left hand, take the wide end and thread it up through the opening near your collar from behind.
- Pull the wide end all the way through and let it fall forward.
- Wrap the wide end around the back of the knot, switching hands as needed, with the back of the tie facing outward.
Shaping the Knot
- With the wide end now in your right hand, bring it through the front opening and pull it down completely.
- The knot's inside should now resemble a triangle.
Final Steps and Adjustment
- Place your left index finger on the knot to maintain its shape.
- Wrap the wide end around the knot from right to left, grabbing it from behind.
- Push the wide end up through the opening behind the knot.
- Create a tunnel with your index finger; thread the tie down through this tunnel and pull it tight.
- Adjust and shape the knot by alternately pulling the long and short ends until the knot is sharp, symmetrical, and triangular.
- Pull your collar down to finish.
Additional Tips
- Remember initial tie length adjustments to save time.
- Adjust the knot carefully for symmetry and neatness.