SHOELACE APPRECIATION
Before you start laughing at how stupid this post is ( which it isn't), let me tell you how this all started.
I've been having a terrible problem with a pair of shoes that I own. They're from Caterpillar, and they're great and amazingly hardy and durable( especially for someone who abuses their shoes like I do) but the only problem is that the laces come out far too easily.
Apparently this is a problem that affects many other groups of people besides myself: enter Ian, better known as Professor Shoelace. He's better known ( or so it is said) for the Ian knot, the fastest shoelace knot in the world. It goes from untied to tied in three seconds flat. Here's a video:
ANYWAY. My purpose in this post was not to show you this knot, but another one: Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot.
The following is from his blog, which I now reproduce for all of you to see. All credit goes to Ian's Shoelace Site; I am just a humble admirer.
Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot
Also known as the "Double Slip Knot"This knot combines the best features of numerous secure shoelace knots, with particular emphasis on symmetry: Cross two loops and pass them both through the "hole" in the middle. Great for serious sports or for securing slippery laces.
It turns out that I'd re-invented an existing knot that was almost completely unknown, probably through having been given the technical name "Double Slip Knot", which makes it sound less securethan other knots. See my Technical Info page for more details.Step 1:
Tie a Left-over-Right Starting Knot as shown, then make both laces into "loops" by simply doubling them back onto themselves. People often refer to these as "Bunny Ears".Step 2:
Cross the two loops over each other so that the right (blue) loop ends up in front and the left (yellow) loop ends up behind. The yellow loop is now the right loop.Step 3:
Begin to wrap the right (yellow) loop around the left (blue) loop to end up in front.Step 4:
At the same time, begin to wrap the left (blue) loop around the back. You will end up with the ends of both loops on opposite sides of the "hole" in the middle.Step 5:
Feed both ends of the loops through the hole in the middle. The right (yellow) loop goes out the back and the left (blue) loop comes out the front.Step 6:
Now, simply pull the loops to tighten the knot. The whole twisted mess of the previous drawing will rearrange itself into a neat finished knot.
For the original as well as a picture of the completed lace, go here.
After a day of use, what can I tell you? it certainly is a very secure knot. And the brilliance of it is in it's simplicity. I'd never imagined to put the other loop through as well. i am starting to sound a bit like a shoelace nerd, I realize, but what the heck. This really is a pretty genius move.
This is probably the first, and last, Shoelace post I will ever put up.
APPRECIATE.
I've been having a terrible problem with a pair of shoes that I own. They're from Caterpillar, and they're great and amazingly hardy and durable( especially for someone who abuses their shoes like I do) but the only problem is that the laces come out far too easily.
Apparently this is a problem that affects many other groups of people besides myself: enter Ian, better known as Professor Shoelace. He's better known ( or so it is said) for the Ian knot, the fastest shoelace knot in the world. It goes from untied to tied in three seconds flat. Here's a video:
Click to viewANYWAY. My purpose in this post was not to show you this knot, but another one: Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot.
The following is from his blog, which I now reproduce for all of you to see. All credit goes to Ian's Shoelace Site; I am just a humble admirer.
Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot
Also known as the "Double Slip Knot"This knot combines the best features of numerous secure shoelace knots, with particular emphasis on symmetry: Cross two loops and pass them both through the "hole" in the middle. Great for serious sports or for securing slippery laces.
It turns out that I'd re-invented an existing knot that was almost completely unknown, probably through having been given the technical name "Double Slip Knot", which makes it sound less securethan other knots. See my Technical Info page for more details.Step 1:
Tie a Left-over-Right Starting Knot as shown, then make both laces into "loops" by simply doubling them back onto themselves. People often refer to these as "Bunny Ears".Step 2:
Cross the two loops over each other so that the right (blue) loop ends up in front and the left (yellow) loop ends up behind. The yellow loop is now the right loop.Step 3:
Begin to wrap the right (yellow) loop around the left (blue) loop to end up in front.Step 4:
At the same time, begin to wrap the left (blue) loop around the back. You will end up with the ends of both loops on opposite sides of the "hole" in the middle.Step 5:
Feed both ends of the loops through the hole in the middle. The right (yellow) loop goes out the back and the left (blue) loop comes out the front.Step 6:
Now, simply pull the loops to tighten the knot. The whole twisted mess of the previous drawing will rearrange itself into a neat finished knot.
For the original as well as a picture of the completed lace, go here.
After a day of use, what can I tell you? it certainly is a very secure knot. And the brilliance of it is in it's simplicity. I'd never imagined to put the other loop through as well. i am starting to sound a bit like a shoelace nerd, I realize, but what the heck. This really is a pretty genius move.
This is probably the first, and last, Shoelace post I will ever put up.
APPRECIATE.