Ian Fieggen Ian's Shoelace Site Ian's Shoelace Knot
Ian's Shoelace Site - Bringing you the fun, fashion & science of shoelaces
Double Shoelace Knot
A crude method of making a knot "permanent" or for consuming excess lace to keep the ends from dragging: Tie a Standard Shoelace Knot, then tie an overhand knot with the finished loops. Unfortunately, it's also very tricky to un-tie (though that's great for preventing infants removing their shoes!)
Step 1:

Double Knot diagram 1

Start with a completed shoelace knot, using either the Standard Shoelace Knot or any other method including my own Ian Knot. Make sure you have fairly long loops to work with.
Step 2:

Double Knot diagram 2

Cross the left (blue) loop over the front of the right (yellow) loop to end up on the right side.
Step 3:

Double Knot diagram 3

Begin to wrap the right (blue) loop around back of the left (yellow) loop so that, like the Two Loop Shoelace Knot, the end can be fed into the gap between the laces.
Step 4:

Double Knot diagram 4

Having formed another overhand knot, continue pulling on both loops until tight.

Finished Knot
Finished Double Shoelace Knot picture The finished knot is quite bulky, which is helpful for consuming excess shoelace to keep the ends from dragging.
Many people resort to this crude method to stop their shoelaces from coming undone, which is usually because they are inadvertently tying "Granny Knots". Resolving that problem will usually eliminate the need to tie such a cumbersome knot.

Technical Details
Untying the Double Knot:
Unlike most other shoelace knots, the Double Shoelace Knot cannot be untied by pulling on the loose ends - it just won't budge! Most people resort to picking apart the final knot so that it reverts to a regular bow, which can then be untied in the regular manner.

However, if the final knot has been tied fairly loosely, there's a much quicker way!

The Double Shoelace Knot can usually be untied in one motion by pulling very firmly on only one of the lace ends (as opposed to pulling on both ends). If this fails, try pulling on the other lace end instead. If this also fails, picking the knot apart is then the only option. (This will be more difficult now that the knot has been pulled even tighter!)
My Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot is an even better alternative that unties with ease.

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This page last updated: 28-Aug-2008. Copyright © 2004-2008 by Ian W. Fieggen. All rights reserved.
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