1. Drape the tie around the neck with the left end about an inch and a half longer than the right. (One end has to be longer because it will be used to create the knot between the two wings.)

2. Cross the longer end over the shorter end

3. Tie a simple knot by wrapping the longer end up behind the shorter end.  Flip the longer end over your shoulder to keep it out of the way for now.  Advanced Tip: tie this knot tightly (and keep it tight during the subsequent steps) in order for the finished bow to sit snugly against the throat.

4. Fold the shorter end at the widest part of the curve (see "Special Considerations" below).  This will create the front wings of the bow.  (Make sure the fold is on the right side of your chest.)

5. Hold the front in place by pinching the center of the wings together.  Pinch with your thumb and finger or your first two fingers (see right photo on right) depending on which you find more comfortable during the next couple of steps.

NOTE In step 5 either the thumb or first finger is placed behind the front wings.  It must rest on top of the fabric that extends from the neck (not underneath it) because that piece of fabric will become the bottom half of a loop created in step 6 (and shown below)

6. While holding everything in position as close to your neck as possible, place the longer end of the tie over the front of the bow.  This longer end will form the knot between the two wings. Note that as the longer end goes over top of the bow it also goes over top of the thumb or finger behind the bow, thereby forming the top of the loop that was begun in step 5 (see close-up of loop in right sidebar).

7. Use your right hand to shove the middle of the longer end through the loop behind the bow from your right-hand side. Obviously you will need to retract the thumb or finger that is holding the loop open (see close-up on right). Advanced Tip: As you create this second knot, try to place it directly over the simple knot you created in step 3 (which should still be tied snugly against your throat).

Shown here is a close-up of the loop that is created when the longer end of the tie is wrapped over the front wings (and subsequently over the thumb or finger behind them) during step 6.