How to Tie a Full Windsor Knot

How many of you actually know how to tie a tie?  

I have 3 boys.  My dh has been tying his own ties for many a year and so he is an "expert" at tying them.  Why should I have to learn too? 

Well, let me tell you:

A couple years ago I was home with just my boys and dh was on a course somewhere (I can't remember where, just that he was gone). My son came and asked me to tie his tie because he had mistakenly untied it.

"What?" I said. "I don't know how to do that! You are going to have to go without a tie to church today...sorry."

And here is another:

Since I have learned to tie a tie for my boys, mornings here go so much quicker...we don't have to wait for Dad to tie any of them.  (plus 2 of my 3 figured that Mom can do it...why can't they?  and they learned how to do their own!)

I have a really simple tute for you to tie a nice, clean knot for your kids.  (although I have even tied some of the deacon's ties, as apparently Mom's don't always know how to do it for them!)


Double/Full Windsor

Step 1:  Hang your tie around your child's neck.  Make an X with the skinny side going under the thicker side. 

Step 2:  Bring the thicker side around the back and up through the back of the X.  Pull off the the RH side.

Step 3:  Bring the thicker side around the back and up through the front of the X. Pull to the LH side.

Step 4:  You now have two sides of your X filled up making a nice tight triangle.  (don't worry, with more practice and thinner fabrics, your knot will look nice and tight...your first ones may be bigger and more loose)

Step 5:  Bringing your thicker end around the front, make a "loop".  Place the thicker end through the top of the X and through your loop.

Step 6:  I like to pull down on the tie at the bottom to make the knot more triangular and tighter.  Pull the thick end again and tighten up to the neck of your child's shirt.  Fold the collar down and your child is snazzy!  (this is my youngest son's version of a model smile!)

Cheers

(ps...this is also on the other blog I write for today...go check out Latter-Day Homeschooling...lots of good stuff even if you don't homeschool!)

Bow Ties

I am a tying machine here at my house!  :) 

I was going to give my boys a bow tie for Christmas, but I had to make sure they fit.  I was a bit sad not to be able to include these little treasures in their stockings...but that means I can share a really quick tute with you on how to tie one!  :)

I searched lots patterns on the net...and found a few for free, but finally bought this pattern.  If you really want to make one, search it out, almost all the patterns are similar and really easy to make.  (If you want me to make you one...I am giving one away in January, after the Christmas craziness!)

 Step 1:  Make one end shorter than the other.  Take the long end and make and X with it on the top. 

Step 2:  Take the long end up and under the X.  Pull just like you would with your shoe laces, nice and tight to the shirt collar.

Step 3:  With the short end, fold until it makes the shape of a bow.

 Step 4:  Bring the long end over the bow shape.

Step 5:  Fold together and pull off to the side.  See where my finger is poking through?  That is the hole you take the long part and push though.  (try not to make it a bow shape...just take the end not folded in and push through, you will see...it will work) 

Step 6:  Pull the whole way through.  On the back of each "bow" part, pull tight.  This makes for a nice tight bow.

Step 7:  Pull your shirt collar down and arrange your snazzy tie over the outside so everyone can see your coolness!

The two of them wanted to compete for the grand geeky champion pose...I figure son #2 wins!  :)

Seriously, I love a bow tie, it is easier to tie than I thought, and I am looking forward to having some cool dudes sitting next to me at church!

(if you would like to watch a video, THIS one on YouTube is a great one, we watched it to learn how the first time)

On the 16th I am going to show you how to tie a regular tie...it is part of my regular post over at Latterday Homeschooling.  I am excited.

Cheers