Step-by-step Procedure for Tying Shoelaces
Introduction
Tying shoelaces may seem a very simple task if you have gotten used to it. However, for a person who has never had a chance to partake in this activity, this can be his moment of nightmare. Literally, there are hundreds of methods that we can use to lace up our shoes and each method depends on the knot strength required.
The type of shoe, length of the lace, and the type of activity for which the shoe will be used also dictate the type of knot. For sports shoes, the best and easiest method is known as the bowknot. The procedure for tying the bowknot is outlined below.
Materials
- One pair of sports shoes
- Two shoe laces, one for each shoe.
Tying a Shoelace
Step 1. Using your left hand, pass the lace through the farthest hole on the left side. The farthest hole on the left is the one that occurs first to the left from the tip of the shoe.
Step 2. Using your right hand, pass the lace through the farthest hole on the right side. Again, the farthest hole to the right is the one that occurs first to the right from the tip of the shoe.
Step 3. Using the fingers on your left hand, move the left end of the lace over to the right hole and pass it through the next unoccupied hole. The next unoccupied hole is the one that occurs second from the tip of the shoe on the right side.
Step 4. Using the fingers on your right hand, move the lace over to the left hole and pass it through the next unoccupied hole. The next unoccupied hole is the one that occurs second from the tip of the shoe on the left side.
Step 5. Hold the left end of the lace with your left finger and thumb and the right end of the lace with the left index finger and thumb.
Step 6. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all holes in both the left and right side of the shoe are occupied.
Step 7. Let go of the lace while still on your left side.
Step 8. Now, bring the lace to your right. Ensure that the portion of the lace on the right passes above that on the left.
Step 9. Let go of the lace while still on your right side.
Step 10. Shift the left end of the lace over to the right, repeat the same procedure for the right end of the lace.
Step 11. Hold the left end of the lace with your left fingers, and in a similar way, hold the right end of the lace with your right finger.
Step 12. Holding the ends of the lace firmly between the thumb and index finger and pull them upwards, an intersection of the two sides of the lace forms a triangle halfway between the sets of holes: the left and right holes.
Step 13. Hold both ends of the lace in your left hand and use the right hand to tighten the portion of the lace between the holes, beginning from the lowest portion. Meanwhile pull the laces held on the left hand upwards.
Step 14. Hold the left end of the lace with the left hand and the right end with the right hand, ensuring that they form an intersection or a triangle at the center point between the two sets of holes: left and right.
Step 15. While still holding the left end of the lace, drag the right end of the lace and pass it under the triangle, then pull on the two lace sides until the tie is taut. Now release the laces. From this moment, we will refer to the end of the lace on the left side of the shoe as the left lace, and that on the right as the right lace.
Step 16. With assistance of the left index finger and thumb, grab the lace that is now on the left side of the shoe and pass it over to the right side but leaving a portion (roughly two thirds) that forms a loop on the left side. Ensure that the rest of the lace passes over the tie made earlier and rests on the right side of the shoe, then let go of it.
Step 17. Now, hold the right side of the lace using your index finger and thumb, pass the lace around the loop formed earlier by the left lace. Make sure that you leave roughly a third of the lace forming a loop at the tie.
Step 18. Bring the right lace around the loop formed by the left lace, using both the left and right thumb and index finger, form another loop using the remaining portion of the right lace. At this point, there are three loops, two have been made by the right lace and one by the left lace.
Step 19. Now, hold the second loop formed on the right lace using your fight thumb and index finger, meanwhile, hold the loop formed by the left lace so that it does not become undone. Carefully pass the second loop on the right lace under the loop made on the left lace, pass it gently in such a way that the end does not go through the loop, but rests on the left side of the shoe. Ensure that this loop is almost equal in length to that formed on the left lace.
Step 20. Gently, hold the second loop on the right lace with the right index finger and thumb, and the loop formed on the left lace using the let index finger and thumb. A knot should be visible between the two sets of loops.
Step 21. While holding the two loops, pull them away from each other so until the knot formed between the two loops rests on the tie made earlier. Pull the loops further to increase the strength of the knot.
Step 22. Continue pulling the loops away from each other until the knot is satisfactorily tight. This is the final step in tying a shoelace using a bowknot; a similar procedure is done on the other shoe.
Step 23. To undo the knot, simply pull any of the two ends of the lace away from the knot, this will only loosen the knot. After the knot is undone, loosen the tie and separate the two ends of the lace.