How to tie the Pratt or Shelby Knot using the pattern “In Across Out”
IN A NUTSHELLÂ (detailed steps below):
- Set up the tie hole with the “flipped” setup
- make the fat end of the tie go “In Across Out”
- and then finish it up.
TERMINOLOGY NOTE: There are two ends of a tie to deal with: the skinny end of the tie, and the fat end of the tie.
“FLIPPED” SETUP:
1. Take the tie and place it around your neck, so the seam side of the tie is “up” (or NOT against your body).
2. Adjust the skinny end so that it is lower than the end of your rib cage (Later, I will post a whole other section about this important step).
3. Cross the skinny end over the fat end to make an X across your shirt.
4. With your thumb and forefinger, grab both ends at the point at which they cross (the center of the X).
5. You are now setup to tie your tie. NOTE: The area between the center of the X and your neck is what I call the “tie hole”.
USING THE TIE HOLE:
1. Take the fat end of the tie and make it go IN the hole, and then pull it through so it falls nicely close to your body.
2. Take the fat end of the tie and make it go ACROSS the front of the hole, so it crosses over your forefinger that is holding the X.
3. Take the fat end of the tie and make it go OUT of the hole again, and then pull it through so it falls nicely in front of you.
FINISH:
At this point you need to take the fat end of the tie and make it go behind the “ACROSS” step. You should have your forefinger (that is holding the center of the X) sitting right where the “ACROSS” step went. Push the fat end through that space and then pull it through.
Now let go of the center of the X, grab hold of the skinny end, and push the knot up. This will tighten the tie around your neck.