85 Ways to Tie a Tie

[6Foot2]

Link: Tie knot generator

 

In 2000, Cambridge physicists Fink and Mao figured out a way to list all possible tie knots. They did it by creating a formal language to describe tie knots. However, they limited their language to fit their idea of a tie knot: tied with the broad blade, and finished with a flat front.

 

In 2012, a series of youtube videos by Alex Krasny went viral online, with instructions to tie tie knots like the Trinity and the Eldredge. These knots are not in the enumeration by Fink and Mao; they don't have a flat front, by design.

 

During 2013, I have worked out, in collaboration with Anders Sandberg, Meredith L. Patterson and Dan Hirsh, the ramifications of removing Fink and Mao's restrictions. We have condensed the formal language proposed by Fink and Mao to a language with (almost) no axioms and three symbols: W, T, U. T is a clockwise (turnwise) move of the knot-tying blade, W is a counter-clockwise move, and U tucks the blade under a previous bow. Whether to start with an inwards or outwards crossing can be deduced by counting the total number of W and T in the knot description string, and all possible strings in W and T produce possible tie knots.

 

Total number of knots available: 177,147.

 

One of the knots:

 

http://i.snag.gy/fUQTh.jpg

[6Foot2]

Infographic: 18 Ways To Wear A Necktie

 

Link: 18 ways to tie a necktie [600 x 7583]

Edited August 6, 2014 by 6Foot2
Embedded picture removed: Link inserted.

[GREED]

Clip on all the way!

[X-13]

Jesus Christ, @DaveP...

 

Did you really need to embed a massive picture?

 

A link would have been better...

[6Foot2]

...A link would have been better...

 

My apologies.

 

Post edited and link inserted.

Edited August 6, 2014 by 6Foot2
Correct spelling mistake.

[Oaktech]

Seeing as how we are resurrecting this thread from the dead...

 

I use the Four in Hand most of the time, however I have some silk ties that demand a windsor otherwise the knot looks too small. I also use the Ascot when I wear a cravat (I attend quite a lot of things in 30's garb - like vintage by hemingway and goodwood revival)

 

[JJonas]

I quite like the Pratt knot.

 

Tie-a-Tie.net | Pratt Knot

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Thread is missing this one...

 

[nicholab]

If I was a head Full and half Windsor knots would be the only ones allowed for students.