A new knot for your tie

Knitted ties have a special place in a man's wardrobe. They fill the void when the invitation states "business casual" yet you wish to wear a tie. A knitted tie adds a dash of panache, an updated fashion edge that a simple open‐necked shirt does not provide.

And what do you do if you are not sure of the dress code for an event? You don't want to be the only person without a silk tie or the only one with one! A knitted tie bridges this divide. It can gently tone down a crisp work‐day shirt but also sharpen up a more casual one so you hit just the right note for the occasion.

The Okehampton Tie pictured here is perfect for these occasions and features Purl Triangles, which is a strong graphic pattern taken from our Reversible Knitting Stitches book. The stitch gives a really interesting texture on both the tie and the knot.

The tie is worked in a crisp cotton/linen DK yarn so it holds its shape well and can be made in a wide range of colours. It has neat squared-off ends for a modern look and is shaped to be a little slimmer at the neckline. This allows a variety of knots to give either a small, neat knot or a wider one as desired.

The usual knot for a knitted tie is the simple Four‐in‐hand knot that you learnt at school. It is easy to work and gives a good finish, as you can see in the photo above.

However, how about trying a Pratt‐Shelby knot? This is a medium-sized knot and is a variation of the traditional Windsor Knot. It is not hard to work and gives a very stylish symmetrical knot with a pronounced central dimple as you can see in the photo above.

The Pratt-Shelby knot has many different names but was invented about a century ago by Milanese tailors who used it when dressing their mannequins. Later Don Shelby, a news anchor on a US TV network, learned of this improved knot and used it almost exclusively from then on. It was noted by fashion reporters at the time and they gave it the name "Pratt-Shelby" based upon Don Shelby's name and the gentleman who showed him the knot, Jerry Pratt.

Have a look at this video where Don shows you how he ties this knot and try it for yourself!

Here is another photo of the Okehampton Tie ​knotted with the Pratt-Shelby knot and it certainly suits the character of the tie very well. Also to note: knitted ties are not just for men! Designers routinely feature them in their collections for both men and women and they have certainly received a lot of attention in the fashion press in recent years.

For more details about the Okehampton Tie, please click here. 

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