How do those silly ties work anyways???

Some of the pop up patterns use ties as an option to hold the pop up closed for storage.  You can also use elastic or nothing at all... if you have no intention of ever storing it collapsed.  

How are they attached?

After the ties are sewn and a knot is tied on the end of each one, the other end is pinned up under the rolled top edge during finishing.

How do they hold it closed?

The ties are wrapped around the pop up (one on the top side, the other on the bottom side).  Then they are ties like a shoelace at the point opposite where they are attached.

Hope that helps!

Jo