How To Tie A Tie On Someone Else (Guide To Teaching Tie Knots)

Thanks to your dedication to RMRS content, I’d bet you’re a pro when it comes to tying a tie in multiple different ways. But what about the other guys in your life?

Maybe you’ve got a son who’s heading to prom or a buddy sitting his first big office job interview. If they’re stuck on how to tie a tie, then it’s your job to step up to the plate and help them out.

But tying a tie on someone else is different from tying one on yourself! So it’s time to expand your necktie knowledge even further – in today’s article, we’ll be covering:

1. How To Tie A Necktie On Someone Else
2. How To Tie A Bowtie On Someone Else
3. How To Teach Someone To Tie Their Own Tie
4. Which Tie Knots Are Best For Beginners?

#1 How To Tie A Necktie On Someone Else

Tying a tie on someone else is not as simple as it seems.

For one, if you’re facing the man you’re helping, the process is backward to what you’re used to. That means the wide end of the tie will be on your left side instead of your right.

You also have to take into account the height difference between you and the person you’re tying the tie on, AND you have to angle your body in just the right way so that you can reach around them and still see what you’re doing.

It’s also important to be mindful of their ability to breathe – after all, you have to be careful not to pull too tight, or else you’ll end up choking them.

In short, gents, it’s a bit of a juggling act. So next time you need to tie someone’s tie, make sure you give yourself plenty of time – it’s not as easy as it looks!

To keep things simple, here are a few easy steps to follow:

• Drape the tie around their neck so that the wide end hangs down on their right side (NOT YOURS!), and the narrow end sits on their left.
• Cross the wide end over the narrow end, then tuck it underneath.
• Pull the wide end through the gap under their chin and pull it tight
• Now bring the wide end over the narrow end again and tuck it underneath once more.
• Finally, pull the wide end through the loop you’ve just created and give it a little tug to tighten everything up.

Et voila! You’re all done – your buddy looks great and you’ve helped him get there. That’s what being a great guy is all about.

#2 How To Tie A Bowtie On Someone Else

It’s far more likely you’ll be asked to help another man tie a bowtie.

Let’s face it; most guys just don’t know how to tie a bow tie, whereas most guys do know how to tie a necktie to some extent.

So if you’re one of the rare few who have mastered the art of tying a bowtie, then it’ll fall to you to help your buddies out when it comes to attending weddings and other formal occasions in style.

Once again, you’re gonna run into some problems here. Tying a bowtie on yourself is a tricky business, so when it’s on someone else and everything is reversed, the process can be even harder!

Here’s a quick and easy guide for you gents:

1. Drape the bowtie around their neck, seams facing towards their chest, with the end of THEIR right (your left) longer than the left.
2. Place the longer right end of the bowtie over the shorter left end, making an X.
3. Loop the longer end behind the ‘X’ and pull tight. Leave the longer end on their shoulder.
4. Fold the shorter end right and left to create a bow shape.
5. Holding the bow, bring the longer end down across the middle of the bow.
6. Fold the longer end back towards their chest and pinch the fold.
7. Push it through the loop behind the shorter end to create two wings.
8. Tug the bow loops behind the wings to tighten.
9. Adjust it until the bow is symmetrical.
10. Make final adjustments. Ensure their bowtie lies flat and horizontal.

I know, it still sounds a bit complicated. So here’s a visual guide to aid you further:

#3 How To Teach Someone To Tie Their Own Tie

Here’s the thing – being the go-to guy for tying ties can get tiring. You’ve got your own tie to tie, and helping others can mean your style suffers as a result.

But it’s not like you’re gonna let your pals down. So what’s the solution?

Simple: teach them to tie their own tie instead of simply doing it for them!

In the above two tutorials, I told you to stand in front of the guy who’s tie your tying. That’s good advice if you’re trying to get the job done quickly. However, if you’re trying to teach them how to tie their own tie, it’s actually better to stand behind them while tying their tie.

Have your buddy stand in front of a mirror and stand behind him with your arms on either side of his. The aim here is to tie his tie from behind so he can imagine that your hands are his. As you tie his tie, make each movement as slow as possible and explain what you’re doing as you do it.

Once the tie is complete, untie it and do it again. Repeat the above and explain the motions as you go making sure he’s watching what you’re doing and taking in each step of the process. Go through the motions and tie his tie, then undo it for a final time.

It’s now his turn – tell him to repeat what you did and tie his tie as best he can. Keep a close eye on what he’s doing and if he makes a mistake, point it out to him and correct him. This way, he’ll have the experience of tying his own tie, but it’ll be strictly guided by your expert knowledge.

Repeat as many times as necessary until your buddy can tie his tie without your close supervision.

Good job, Teach’.

#4 Which Necktie Knots Are Best For Beginners?

When it comes to necktie knots, there are four main types: the four-in-hand, the Pratt, the half Windsor, and the full Windsor. Sure, there are hundreds of different knot styles to choose from, but these are the mainstream basics that every guy should know in order to look his best.

When teaching a guy to tie his tie, you can opt for any one of these 4 styles. I’ve listed them below in order of difficulty so you can make your own choice:

The Four-In-Hand Knot

By far the most popular, due in part to its simplicity. To tie a four-in-hand knot, simply take the wide end of the tie and pass it over the narrow end, then under and up through the loop that has been created.

Next, make another loop with the wide end and pass it over the top of the first loop.

Finally, pull the wide end through the second loop and tighten it to form a knot.

The Pratt knot

Similar to the four-in-hand, but with an additional step.

After passing the wide end over the narrow end and under the first loop, instead of making a second loop, simply thread it back up through the hole that has been created.

This extra step gives the Pratt knot a bit more structure than the four-in-hand.

The Half Windsor

Another popular option for those looking for a bit more stability than what the four-in-hand offers.

To tie a half Windsor, start by placing the tie around the neck so that one end hangs about six inches lower than the other. Take the long end and cross it over the short end, then thread it up through the loop that has been created.

Next, make a small loop with the long end and pass it over the top of the first loop.

Finally, pull the long end through the second loop and tighten it to form a knot.

The Full Windsor

Similar to the half Windsor, but with an additional step. After crossing the long end over the short end and threading it up through the hole that has been created, instead of making a small loop, make a large loop.

Now pass this large loop over the top of the first loop before finally pulling it through the second hole. This extra step gives the full Windsor knot a bit more bulk than the half Windsor.

So there you have it, four different tie knots to choose from when teaching your buddy how to spruce up his look. Start with the simpler four-in-hand knot and work your way up to the full Windsor. By the end of it, he’ll be tying his own ties like a pro!

Want to take your pal’s education one step further? Check out my guide to the best necktie knots every guy should master.