Pratt Knot or Shelby Knot for your Wedding

The Shelby knot was mistakenly named after Don Shelby by the fashion press when he appeared on television sporting the knot. Although in actual fact the knot was invented some 20 years earlier by Perry Pratt, an employee of the US Chamber of Commerce.

How to tie a Pratt knot on your wedding day

	1. Position the tie around your neck so that it is facing inside. Cross “B” over “A” from right to left.
	2. Bring “A” over and under “B”
	3. Pull the loop down and tighten it.
	4. Pull “A” over to the right.
	5. Guide “A” up behind the loop.
	6. Thread “A” through the middle of the knot.
	7. Use both hands to tighten the knot and draw the knot up towards the collar.

The Pratt knot creates a fairly wide knot, although not as wide as the Windsor Knot. This versatile knot is suited to all types of dress shirt, but works best with ties which are wide and made of light to medium fabrics.

To loosen the Pratt knot or Shelby knot

To untie any of the knots repeat each of the steps, but in the reverse order. This is to prevent your tie from becoming distorted.

For other common knots see the links below.