The four-in-hand knot - The only tie knot you need to learn!

Tie knots may not be what is on most peoples minds when they are purchasing ties. As with menswear in general there are some rules to go by and it is important to know the rules before you brake and disrupt them. Even if this is the case you must set some sort of limits. For example, tie knots as the Trinity and Eldredge knots might be fun but not what we would recommend if you are using ties in a formal occasion. Call us old fashioned here but there is a saying that goes “less is more” and in the case of tie knots it is as accurate as it can be. Do experiment with colours, patterns and different fabrics in ties but we say there is actually only one knot you need to learn – The four-in-hand. The knot is actually one of the easiest to tie, but can take alot of practise to get that imperfected perfection the italians call Sprezzatura. Let us go back to when the first "ties" came to be.

The four-in-hand knot is the original tie knot if you so will. When the cravat first appeared on the Croatian mercenaries hired by King Louis XIV of France (Sun King) in the 1660s they used a knotting technique very similar to the four-in-hand. In the picture below you can see a example of this.

                                                                                                                                                          Croatian mercenary around the 1660s

Some people suggest the four-in-hand comes from the knots the members of the Four-in-hand club in London used. Others report carriage drivers used it to tie their reins. No matter where it came from, or where it appeared first, it is no doubt it is the first modern form of a tie knot.

The reason the four-in-hand is "so good" is its asymmetrical character, small knot and fantastic possibility to form dimples. It is discreet, classic, while not as "boring" as the Windsor knot. You can not go wrong with the four-in-hand. With all this in mind, here at Granqvist our ties are made exclusively to be worn with the four-in-hand knot, either single or double. Of course you can tie a Windsor knot or any of the others, but if you want to make the most out of your Granqvist tie and get that delicious double dimple we all dream about, then do not go for any other. All our ties are 8,2 cm wide (to ensure it never goes below 8 cm) and 150 cm long.

Are you not convinced yet? Well, just look at some of the most iconic and stylish men throughout history and you will understand why the four-in-hand knot is the only one you ever need to learn.

Cary Grant            Ralph Lauren                                                                                                                                                                         The Loro Piana brothers

Giovanni L'Avvocato Agnelli               

Charles, Prince of Wales

Steve McQueen

So, how to tie a four-in-hand knot?

Mr Granqvist shows us his way of making the four-in-hand knot (along with his favourite tunes) in this Instagram post, here is the link

We would love to see pictures on Instagram with your ties and your preferred tie knot! Is it the four-in-hand or perhaps another one? Do not forget to tag us and you might appear on our Insta-page. Also, use the hashtag #howitiemytie and we can all find some inspiration from eachother. 

Be sure to also browse among all the wonderful ties we have at Granqvist, right here! Remember you can sort them by colour, material and/or pattern. The risk of you not finding one you like is very slim, I guarantee you. It is the details that make the man!

Adam of Granqvist Store