Tekhelet Tying Diagram Series:

Tzitzit Tying Guide

by Mois Navon
Ptil Tekhelet Organization
 Rav Huna said in the name of Rav Sheshes in the name
of Rav Yirmiyah bar Abba in the name of Rav: The
most ornate techeiles ought be a third windings, and
two thirds hanging threads. Menachos 39a
Various opinions regarding the krichos for tzitzis
with techeiles
Disclaimer! Very few Poskim define their shittah in
complete detail. Often they discuss one issue (for
example, alternating the colors of the chulyos), but leave
another (e.g. the type of knot) unexplained. In the
following list of shittos, some details are the result of
speculation in order to determine a complete practical
method of tying.
The principles discussed above are applied differently by
the Poskim. The numbers correspond to the
accompanying picture. The following is an (incomplete)
list:
1. Rav Amram Gaon  seven or thirteen
chulyos alternating white then techeiles.
A knot at the beginning and at the end
(according to the Baal Haitur, a knot after
each chulya). (These knots are not
double, but rather the winding string tucked under
itself. According to the Shaalos U’tshuvos Binyamin
Zeev, the knots are double knots.)
2. The Raavad according to Rav Natronai
Gaon  five knots. Between each knot,
seven to thirteen twists, with the twists
alternating white then techeiles. Between
the second and third knot, the amount of
twists is not definite, but most probably
still alternate between techeiles and white.
3. Tosfos  first a double knot, then one chulya of white
and one of techeiles, then a second double knot, again
white then techeiles and a knot, then again white and
techeiles then a knot, and finishing with one white
chulya and a double knot. This has seven chulyos and
five knots.
4. The Chinuch  thirteen chulyos, alternating white and
1 2 3 4
techeiles distributed between five double knots.
Between the first and second knot  three chulyos
(white, techeiles, white). After the second knot
another three chulyos, (techeiles, white, techeiles).
After the third another three (white, techeiles, white),
and after the fourth  four chulyos (techeiles, white,
techeiles, white).
5. The Vilna Gaon  thirteen chulyos, alternating white
and techeiles distributed between five double knots.
Between the first and second knot  four chulyos
(white, techeiles, white, techeiles) and the same
between the secondthird, and thirdfourth knots.
Between the fourth and last knot  one chulya of
white.
6. The Rambam  all twists are techeiles
except the first and last. Seven or thirteen
chulyos are tied with a knot between each
that keeps them together and separate
from each other. The Yemenites have a tradition (even
with white tzitzis) of tying each chulya into a special
knot.
7. The Rambam with double knots after each chulyah –
In the example shown here, the knots are double
knots. Note also that the strings here are according to
the opinion of Tosafos.
8. The Rambam according to the Radzyner 
has all the twists techeiles except the first
and last. There are five knots: between
the first and the second knot there are
seven twists, between the second and
third  eight twists, between the third and fourth 
eleven twists and between the fourth and last 
thirteen twists (similar to the way we tie tzitzis
without techeiles). Each group of three is separated by
winding the techeiles around and inside them to hold
them together.
9. Another understanding of the Rambam – The thirteen
chulyos are tied with the Yemenite knot, and are
distributed between five double knots. Four chulyos
between each of the first four knots and one chulya
between the fourth and last double knot.
5 6 7 8 9
 Tekhelet Tying Diagram Series:
Rav Amram Gaon
by Mois Navon
Ptil Tekhelet Organization
Single White Cord Knot -
(some use standard double knot)
Three Winds of White (1 "Chulya")
Three Winds of Blue (1 "Chulya")
13 Chulyot
Single White Cord Knot -
(some use standard double knot)
Notes:
1) A “Single Cord Knot” is
made by taking one strand of
the total eight, wrapping it
once around the remaining
seven strands and tucking in
the end in the wrap.
2) A white “Chulya” is made by
taking one white strand from
the total of eight strands and
wrapping it around the
remaining seven strands three
times. This “wrapping”
strand is designated
“Shamash” and is used for all
subsequent white chulyot
(though it is not halachically
imperative that the same
Shamash be used).
3) A blue “Chulya” is made the
same as a white one, but just
using a blue strand.
 Tekhelet Tying Diagram Series:
Rambam
by Mois Navon
Ptil Tekhelet Organization

Notes:
1) The initial “Chulya” is made by
wrapping one white strand and
one blue strand and tucking in
the ends to form a knot. The
white is wrapped once first and
then the blue twice.
Some place a
Two Twist Blue Knot together with 2) The 11 middle “Chulyot” are
double knot
Single Twist White Knot - (1 "Chulya") made by taking one blue strand
Three Twist Blue Knot (1 "Chulya") from the total of eight strands
and wrapping it around the
remaining seven strands three
times, and tucking the end into
the wraps to form a knot. This
“wrapping” strand is designated
“Shamash” and is used for all
13 subsequent chulyot (though it is
Chulyot not halachically imperative that
the same Shamash be used).
3) The final “Chulya” is made by
wrapping one white strand and
one blue strand and tucking in
the ends to form a knot. The
blue is wrapped twice first and
then the white once.
Two Twist Blue Knot together with
Some place a Single Twist White Knot - (1 "Chulya")
double knot
 Tekhelet Tying Diagram Series:
Raavad
by Mois Navon
Ptil Tekhelet Organization

Notes:
1) A “Single White and Blue Cord
Knot” is made by taking one
white strand and one blue
strand from the eight strands,
then while holding them
together, wrap them once
Single White and Blue Cord Knot
around the remaining six
(some use standard double knot)
strands and tucking in the ends
1 Chulya Seven winds alternating in the wrap.
white & blue
2) A “Chulya” is made by taking
one white strand and one blue
Seven Winds of White strand from the eight strands,
(some use seven winds alternating
then while holding them
white & blue)
together, wrap them three times
around the remaining six
1 Chulya
strands – start with white on
top (closest to the garment).
The final (seventh wrap) is
made by dropping the blue
1 Chulya strand from the “wrapping
pair” and wind one more time
using only the white strand.
The “wrapping pair” strands are
designated “Shamashim” and
are used for all subsequent
chulyot (though it is not
halachically imperative that the
same Shamashim be used).
 Tekhelet Tying Diagram Series:
The Ba’alei Tosafot
by Mois Navon
Ptil Tekhelet Organization

Notes:
1) A “Single Knot” is made
by taking the four strands
from one side of the
garment and the opposing
four strands from the other
Single Knot
side of the garment and
Double Knot Single Knot tying a simple knot.
Three Winds of White (1 "Chulya") 2) A white “Chulya” is made
2 Chulyot by taking one white strand
Three Winds of Blue (1 "Chulya")
from the total of eight
strands and wrapping it
Double Knot
around the remaining seven
strands three times. This
2 Chulyot “wrapping” strand is
designated “Shamash” and
Double Knot is used for all subsequent
white chulyot (though it is
not halachically imperative
2 Chulyot that the same Shamash be
used).
Double Knot 3) A blue “Chulya” is made
the same as a white one,
1 Chulya but just using a blue strand.

Double Knot
 Tekhelet Tying Diagram Series:
The Ba’al HaItur
by Mois Navon
Ptil Tekhelet Organization

Notes:
1) A “Single Knot” is made by
taking the four strands
from one side of the
garment and the opposing
four strands from the other
Single Knot
side of the garment and
Double Knot Single Knot tying a simple knot.
Three Winds of White (1 "Chulya") 2) A white “Chulya” is made
1 Chulya by taking one white strand
Double Knot from the total of eight
strands and wrapping it
1 Chulya Three Winds of Blue (1 "Chulya") around the remaining seven
strands three times. This
Double Knot “wrapping” strand is
designated “Shamash” and
1 Chulya is used for all subsequent
white chulyot (though it is
Double Knot
not halachically imperative
1 Chulya that the same Shamash be
used).
Double Knot 3) A blue “Chulya” is made
the same as a white one,
1 Chulya but just using a blue strand.
Double Knot

1 Chulya

Double Knot

1 Chulya

Double Knot
 Tekhelet Tying Diagram Series:
The Vilna Gaon (Gra)
by Mois Navon
Ptil Tekhelet Organization

Notes:
1) A “Single Knot” is made
by taking the four strands
from one side of the
garment and the opposing
four strands from the other
Single Knot
side of the garment and
Double Knot Single Knot tying a simple knot.
Three Winds of White (1 "Chulya") 2) A white “Chulya” is made
by taking one white strand
Three Winds of Blue (1 "Chulya")
4 Chulyot from the total of eight
strands and wrapping it
around the remaining seven
strands three times. This
Double Knot “wrapping” strand is
designated “Shamash” and
is used for all subsequent
white chulyot (though it is
4 Chulyot
not halachically imperative
that the same Shamash be
used).
Double Knot 3) A blue “Chulya” is made
the same as a white one,
but just using a blue strand.
4 Chulyot

Double Knot

1 Chulya

Double Knot
 Tekhelet Tying Diagram Series:
The Ba’al Sefer HaHinuch
by Mois Navon
Ptil Tekhelet Organization

Notes:
1) A “Single Knot” is made by
taking the four strands from
one side of the garment and
the opposing four strands
from the other side of the
Single Knot
garment and tying a simple
Double Knot Single Knot knot.
Three Winds of White (1 "Chulya")
2) A white “Chulya” is made
by taking one white strand
3 Chulyot Three Winds of Blue (1 "Chulya") from the total of eight
strands and wrapping it
around the remaining seven
Double Knot strands three times. This
“wrapping” strand is
designated “Shamash” and
3 Chulyot is used for all subsequent
white chulyot (though it is
not halachically imperative
Double Knot that the same Shamash be
used).
3) A blue “Chulya” is made
3 Chulyot the same as a white one, but
just using a blue strand.

Double Knot

4 Chulyot

Double Knot
 Tekhelet Tying Diagram Series:
Radzyn - Chabad
by Mois Navon
Ptil Tekhelet Organization
Notes:
1) A “Single Knot” is made by taking
the four strands from one side of the
garment and the opposing four
strands from the other side of the
garment and tying a simple knot.
2) A single white twist loop is made by
Single Knot
taking one white strand from the
Double Knot Single Knot eight strands, wrapping it once
Single Twist White Loop around the remaining seven strands,
Two Twist Blue Loop
and then tucking in the end in the
7 twists wrap. This “wrapping” strand is
Three Twist Blue Loop designated “Shamash” and is used
Single Twist Blue Loop for the both the first and final white
Double Knot
wrap (though it is not halachically
imperative that the same Shamash be
Two Twist Blue Loop
8 twists
used).
Three Twist Blue Loop 3) A single blue twist loop is made the
Three Twist Blue Loop same as a white one, but just using a
Double Knot blue strand.
4) A two or three twist loop is made as
Three Twist Blue Loop follows: hold the seven “core”
11 twists Three Twist Blue Loop
strands in the left hand (with the
thumb extended out to the right),
Three Twist Blue Loop Take the blue shamash in the right
Two Twist Blue Loop hand and wrap it under and around
Double Knot the left thumb, then over the seven
Single Twist Blue Loop “core” strands, and then bring it up
Three Twist Blue Loop through the open “triangle” created
by the blue shamash. Wrap the
13 twists Three Twist Blue Loop
shamash around the seven strand
Three Twist Blue Loop “core” once more to make a two
Two Twist Blue Loop twist loop or two more times to
Single Twist White Loop make a three twist loop. Now pull all
Double Knot the strings tightly together (this will
require some play). Note: it helps to
pull tight from the bottom first.

4 3 2 1
 Tekhelet Tying Diagram Series:
R. Schachter of YU
by Mois Navon
Ptil Tekhelet Organization
Notes:
1) A “Single Knot” is made by
taking the four strands from one
side of the garment and the
opposing four strands from the
other side of the garment and
Single Knot tying a simple knot.
Single Knot 2) The first “Chulya” is made by
One Wind of White, taking one white strand from the
1 Chulya Six Winds of Blue total of eight strands and
(First "Chulya") wrapping it around the remaining
seven strands once; and then
Double Knot
taking one blue strand from the
total of eight strands and
1 Chulya Seven Winds of Blue (1 "Chulya") wrapping it around the remaining
seven strands six times. These
Double Knot “wrapping” strands are
designated “Shamashim” and due
to the fact that there are so many
1 Chulya
tekhelet wraps (47 in total), a
second long blue string is
Double Knot supplied as another shamash.
Thus one should use one blue
1 Chulya shamash for the first 4 chulyot
and the other blue shamash for
Double Knot
the last three chulyot.
3) A blue “Chulya” is made by
taking a blue shamash and
1 Chulya wrapping it around the remaining
seven strands seven times.
Double Knot 4) The Last “Chulya” is made by
taking a blue “shamash” and
1 Chulya wrapping it around the seven
remaining strands six times; and
then taking the white “shamash”
Double Knot
and wrapping it around the seven
Two Winds of Blue, remaining strands once.
1 Chulya One Wind of White
(Last "Chulya")
5) Shown here are a total of 7
chulyot; one can make up to 13.
Double Knot However one should insure that
the wound & knotted section is
approximately one-third of the
total length of the hanging strings
(from first knot to strings end).
 Tekhelet Tying Diagram Series:
The 7-8-11-13 Method
by Mois Navon
Ptil Tekhelet Organization

Notes:
1) A “Single Knot” is made by
taking the four strands from
one side of the garment and
the opposing four strands
from the other side of the
garment and tying a simple
Single Knot knot.
Double Knot Single Knot 2) The initial wrap of 7 winds
One Wind of White
is made by taking one white
strand from the total of
Six Winds of Blue eight strands and wrapping
it around the remaining
Double Knot seven strands once. This
“wrapping” strand is
Eight Winds of Blue designated the white
“Shamash” and is used for
the subsequent white wrap
Double Knot at the end (though it is not
halachically imperative that
the same Shamash be used).
Eleven Winds of Blue The remaining six winds are
made taking one blue strand
and wrapping it around the
Double Knot remaining seven strands six
times. This “wrapping”
strand is designated the
Twelve Winds of Blue
tekhelet “Shamash” and is
used for all subsequent blue
One Wind of White wraps (though it is not
halachically imperative that
Double Knot the same Shamash be used).
3) The eight winds are made
by wrapping the tekhelet
shamash eight times around
the core strings; the eleven
winds are made by
wrapping the tekhelet
shamash eleven times
around the core strings.
4) The thirteen winds are
made by wrapping the
tekhelet shamash twelve
times and then wrapping
the white shamash once.