How to Tie a Pratt Knot (Shelby Knot)

1. Begin with the wide end on your right and the seam facing out.
2. Take the wide end under the narrow end to the left.
3. Bring it up to the centre.
4. Take it through the neck loop and down to the left.
5. Bring it across and in front of the narrow end to the right.
6. Take the wide end up and under the neck loop.
7. Pull the wide end down through the loop made in Step 5.
8. Pull down on the wide end to tighten.

The Pratt Knot is also known as the Shelby Knot or Pratt-Shelby Knot. It’s named Pratt after the creator and Shelby for the guy who made it popular. The story goes like this… one day in 1986, Jerry Pratt contacted Don Shelby (an anchorman on TV) with a better way to wear his tie. Shelby liked it, others saw it, popularity rose and history was made.

With the Pratt Knot (or Shelby Knot if you prefer), it’s important to begin with the wide end lower than the narrow end. If you don’t, the finished tie will look too short… and that’s not good TV.