There comes a time in every young man’s life when learning how to tie a tie is nothing less than essential. Not surprisingly, it’s something that a lot of people struggle with. Tying a tie is not exactly the most straightforward process in the world, and for those who have never tried to do it at all, it can be downright frustrating.
As a parent, it’s exceptionally important to take the time to teach this skill to your son, preferably at an early age. Some parents don’t know where to start, though. Here are a few ways to make it easier for your son to learn the basics of tying a tie, demystifying the process….
Stick with a Basic Knot
The most important thing to remember when teaching someone the basics of tying a tie is to stay clear of complicated knots. The the more complicated a knot, the harder it’s going to be for your son to learn. Sticking with the basics will allow him to pick up on the nuances of tying a knot without having to worry about getting things perfect, as advanced knots can take a great deal of practice to nail-down and can be rather frustrating.
A Four-in-Hand or Half Windsor knot will usually be the best bet here, as it’s best to save Windsor and Pratt knots for those who are already accustomed to tying a tie.
Break it Down into Steps
Once you’ve settled on which knot you’re going to teach, it’s best to break the process down into a series of steps. As a whole, the process of tying a tie can look very complicated. But discover just how easy each step is to learn and it becomes far easier to get the entire picture.
Breaking the process down into steps will also allow your son to work at his own pace. Instead of learning the entire knot at once, he can practice the beginning stages of tying it. There are plenty of resources online that explain each step in tying specific types of knots, but don’t hesitate to come up with your very own steps, just as long as you’re able to make them clear.
Focus on Untying the Knot, Too
For a lot of guys, the process of untying a tie is far less delicate than actually tying it. While there’s no harm in loosening a tie haphazardly, it can be helpful for those who are new to the process as a whole to practice going forwards and backwards. Teaching your son to untie a tie in the exact same way that he tied it will reinforce the process and make it easier to understand how the knot works.
This is often one of the most frustrating parts of learning how to truly tie ties properly, so anything that you can do to make each step seem as if it has a purpose will be beneficial for your son as he learns. It may seem silly to think about ways to properly untie a tie, but in the business world people wear and remove them everyday, sometimes multiple times a day. That can be a lot of wear and tear on your garment.
There’s a lot to consider when teaching someone the basics of tying a tie, but if you’re thorough and take your time, it doesn’t have to be a frustrating process for anyone involved.
Recent Comments