How to Tie a Full Windsor Knot
Master the symmetrical, wide Full Windsor knot around your collar with correct blade positioning, dual side-loops, and a crisp center dimple.
This guide shows how to tie a full windsor knot in 5 minutes. Start with set initial lengths over the collar; follow the safety notes and step checkpoints below.
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- Read the tools, materials, safety notes, and steps below for free.
- Tap See 20-second demo if you want to understand it first.
- Tap Start Camera Coach when you want hands-free help, or Voice-only if you do not want to use the camera.
- Allow camera and microphone. Point your phone at the work; the coach watches your progress and tells you the next step.
🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Wall mirror or standing mirror
- ✓ Dress shirt with a spread or wide collar
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ Standard necktie (silk or woven fabric)
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Do not pull the neck loop excessively tight around the throat to prevent strangulation or choking risk.
- • Ensure collar buttons do not pinch the neck when fastened.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (7 Steps)
Set Initial Lengths Over the Collar
Pop the shirt collar up and drape the tie around the neck with the seam side facing inward. Place the wide end on your dominant side hanging roughly 12 inches below the narrow end, with the narrow end resting near your navel.
- • Wide end hangs approximately 12 inches lower than the narrow end
- • Tie lies flat against the back of the neck with seam facing inside
- • Leaving the wide end too short, resulting in a finished tie that sits on the chest
Cross Over and Up Through the Neck Loop
Cross the wide end in front of the narrow end to form an 'X'. Bring the wide end up from underneath the neck loop and pass it through to the front.
- • Wide end exits over the front of the neck loop
- • Clear diagonal cross visible at collar center
- • Crossing the narrow end over the wide end instead
Wrap Behind and Down to Form the First Anchor
Take the wide end down and pull it completely behind the knot to the opposite side. Bring it down so the back seam is facing out toward the mirror.
- • Wide end hangs down to the side opposite its starting position with underside exposed
- • Wrapping around the front instead of passing behind the knot structure
Create the Second Symmetric Anchor
Bring the wide end up over the front of the neck loop on the opposite side, then push it down through the neck opening to the back. Pull it snugly so two identical fabric anchors sit on either side of the narrow blade.
- • A clear, balanced V-shaped triangle formed around the narrow anchor strap
- • Wide blade exits out from the back pointing downward
- • Uneven tension creating a lopsided, asymmetrical core triangle
Wrap the Front Face and Feed Upward
Wrap the wide end horizontally across the front of the knot from right to left (or left to right) to create the smooth outer bridge. Bring the wide end up from behind the neck loop once more.
- • A smooth, horizontal band across the front of the knot triangle
- • Wide end pointing upward behind the front band
- • Twisting the horizontal band so the inner seam shows
Tuck Through the Front Loop and Form the Dimple
Guide the wide end down through the horizontal front loop you just created. Pinch the center of the wide blade just below the knot with your index finger to form a clean dimple as you pull it through.
- • Wide blade hangs down smoothly in front covering the narrow end
- • A distinct central crease or dimple sits directly beneath the knot band
- • Pulling the blade through flat without pinching the center crease
Cinche, Center, and Flip the Collar
Hold the narrow blade with one hand and gently slide the triangular knot up toward your collar with the other hand. Fold down the shirt collar over the loop and tuck the narrow tail into the keeper loop on the back of the wide blade.
- • Knot sits snug and centered between the collar points
- • Tie tip aligns precisely with the center of the belt buckle
- • Collar is turned down completely covering the neck band
- • Knot hanging loose below the collar button
- • Tie finishing too long or too short relative to the waistband
Credit: inspired by an original tutorial by defragmenteur — watch the original on YouTube.
Don’t have everything?
- No Dress shirt with spread collar? Any collared button-down shirt
- No Wall mirror? Smartphone front camera prop