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Theory of Tie Knots

Thomas Fink and Yong Mao
Gonville&Caius   St John's

Recently in the magazine Nature, we proposed a mathematical model to calculate and classify all possible tie knots. Of the 85 found, we duly predicted the four knots in widespread use (see below) and further introduced nine new aesthetic ones.

• browse the Nature article, or a more detailed version.

  check out a slim new knot, a fatter one (as worn).

  download the original nature article (postscript, pdf).

  download the more complete version (postscript, pdf).

  a little tie companion book giving more details, read the preface.

  now published in Germany (Hoffman) and in US (Broadway).

  read a Nature review of the book (postscript, pdf).

  some fun quotes and images 1, 2.

Four in Hand









Pratt Knot









Half-Windsor









Full-Windsor