Ian Fieggen Ian's Shoelace Site Ian's Shoelace Knot
Ian's Shoelace Site - Bringing you the fun, fashion & science of shoelaces
Shoelace & Knotting Links
Shoelace & Knotting Links Here's some links to other shoelace and knot related web sites. Providing links is good "Netiquette", enabling the Internet to effectively become its own index. That way, even if visitors haven't found what they wanted on my site, it may at least have pointed them in the right direction.
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Shoe Lacing Links
Double Helix Lacing Method:
http://www.lukefisher.com/lacing
Monte Fisher has developed and patented a method of lacing shoes, especially boots, that makes them easier and faster to tighten and loosen. I've reproduced this lacing on my own Double Helix Lacing page so that you can compare it to the other lacing methods on my web site.
How to lace a Dehner 9 Eyelet Boot:
http://www.dehner.com/dehner/lace.html
The Dehner 9 eyelet Field Boots and Bal-Patrol Boots are unusual in that the widest part of the boot that pulls together is in the middle of the lacing rather than at the top. This page shows how to run the laces in order to finish with the lace ends emerging from the middle set of eyelets. I've reproduced this lacing on my own Riding Boot Lacing page so that you can compare it to the other lacing methods on my web site.
Shoe Lacing for Problem Feet:
http://walking.about.com/library/weekly/aa120600b.htm
On this page, Wendy Bumgardner presents a few specialised lacing techniques for problem feet.
Shoe Lacing Article:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2002/12/10/MN189934.DTL
In 2002, Burkard Polster published some mathematical research into the huge number of ways of lacing shoes. This spawned a number of articles, one of the most informative and readable of which is reproduced here on the San Francisco Chronicle's web site.
Boot Lacing ASCII Illustrations:
http://www.chaosreigns.com/lacing.html
Darxus uses the simple yet effective mode of ASCII art to illustrate a couple of ways of lacing boots.

Shoelace Knot Links
The FreedomKnot page:
http://www.freedomknot.com
This page uses some fun graphics and rhymes to demonstrate the "FreedomKnot", another more secure shoelace bow. I've reproduced this knot on my own FreedomKnot page so that you can compare it to the other knots on my web site. It's one of the knots on which my own Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot is based.
"Tibetan Trekking" Shoelace Tying Technique:
http://www.becomingtheparent.com/all/subsection15.html
This page demonstrates the traditional method of tying a "Surgeon's Knot" by passing the loop through a second time. I've reproduced this knot on my own Surgeon's Shoelace Knot page so that you can compare it to the other knots on my web site. My own Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot is a further refinement that forms the identical knot a little more evenly.
The Better Bow:
http://www.dsiegel.com/tips/wonk10/bow.html
This page demonstrates another technique of wrapping around twice to form a more secure knot. I've reproduced this knot on my own Better Bow Shoelace Knot page so that you can compare it to the other knots on my web site. My own Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot is a similarly secure knot that's a little easier to tie.
Howard Cheng's knot:
http://www.cs.uleth.ca/~cheng/tieshoes.html
Howard has an unusual shoelace technique that does each bow individually, ending up with a knot that, if subjected to an accident tug, is likely to remain half tied. It's one of the variations of the Two Stage Shoelace Knot, which I've reproduced so that you can compare it to the other knots on my web site.
Perry's Shoelace Knotting Pages:
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/glennbarcham/Shoe/knot1.htm
Like my site, Perry's Pages show several standard and alternative knots, including "Perry's Perpetual Knot", a variant of the "Blood Knot". This is a very difficult knot to master, but its advantage is that it only needs to be tied once, after which it can be loosened and re-tightened many times.
Greg Smith's shoelace page:
http://www.shoeknots.com/
Greg demonstrates the difference between a "Reef Knot" and a "Granny Knot", which gave me the inspiration for my own Slipping Shoelace Knots page. If you can't follow my explanations, Greg's page could be worth a visit.
HemiHelp - Alternative / One-Handed Shoe Lacing Methods:
http://www.hemihelp.org.uk/Leaflets/hbleaflets14.htm
This page shows various techniques of lacing or tying shoes for people with Hemiplegia or other difficulties, as well as offering some alternatives. My own One Handed Shoelace Knot is a composite of these and other techniques that I've found in my research.
Tying Shoes with One Hand / Arm:
http://www.child-amputee.net/Mentors/Jenny Stemack Profile/jennystemacktyingshoeonehand.htm
http://www.child-amputee.net/Mentors/Jenny Stemack Profile/jennystemacktyingshoeonearm.htm
Jenny Stemack, who was born with one hand, shows how she ties her shoelaces with either one hand, using the crook of her other arm to hold the other lace taut, or with one arm by stepping on the other lace.
How to Tie Your Shoes Right-Handed or Left-Handed (Video):
http://www.rkwest.com/left-handed/?p=55
This neat video shows a Standard Shoelace Knot tied right-handed, both at normal speed and in slow motion, then reversed to show the same method from a left-handed perspective.

Kids Shoelace Tying Links
Tie Your Shoe:
http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/shoeja.html
Whilst my shoelace pages are really more suited to adults, primary school teacher John Rickey's educational site includes this shoelace tying page for young children, using a cute animated poem and background music to make it fun and easier to remember.
Shoe Tying Instructions for Kids:
http://www.childrehab.com/laces/laces_files/v3_document.htm
Again for kids, this page shows the process of shoe tying as a series of cute pictures that kids will enjoy much more than my own uninteresting diagrams.
Tying Shoes: Collection of Songs and Poems:
http://www.teachers.net/lessons/posts/1952.html
This page on the Teachers.net site is great for picking up memorable songs and poems to make the process of learning shoelace tying easier for young kids. I'll have to develop one for my Ian Knot, I guess!
Kids Running - Shoelace Mania:
http://www.kidsrunning.com/school/krschool0106shoelaces.html
This page on the Kids Running site contains thoughts about shoelaces from both kids and teachers. Fascinating reading!

Shoelace Stories
Shoelaces Parable:
http://www.kevinfitzmaurice.com/response_shoelaces_parable.htm
Kevin FitzMaurice's self help site uses an interesting parable about the difficulty of learning a hypothetical new shoelace knot (and un-learning your old knot) as an analogy for the difficulties you would face changing any of your life habits. It was fascinating to see how closely his ideas mirrored my own real-life experience.
Funny Shoelace Story:
http://www.uwm.edu/~corre/occasionalw/shoelaces.html
This is a cute story about an encounter with a person whose shoelaces constantly came undone.
"Buying shoelaces feels like a rebellion":
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=55918&sid=41&fid=1
Jeanne Marie Laskas writes a delightful story of how a broken shoelace initiates a classroom discussion on whether to repair or replace, followed by the actual shoelace replacement shopping trip, which seemed so against the whole spirit of extravagant consumerism that it felt almost rebellious.

Also a slightly different and longer version of the story here:
"Inconspicuous Consumption:"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/16/AR2008011603129.html

Other Shoelace Links
Super Shoe Laces made from para-cord:
http://www.alpharubicon.com/prepinfo/paralacesjaden.htm
Jaden's site shows how to make "Nearly Indestructible" shoelaces from parachute cord.
Aglet Supplier:
http://www.lacis.com/catalog/data/n_draftinghardware.html#GH17
Aglets are the little plastic or metal tips on the ends of shoelaces that make the laces easier to hold & lace and prevent them from fraying. This page, on the "Lacis" web site, sells aglets for corsetry, which could possibly be used to replace missing or damaged shoelace aglets.

Other Knotting Links
The Reef Knot Family:
http://www.geocities.com/roo_two/reefknot.html
In addition to the two common knots ("Reef" and "Granny") covered on both Greg Smith's and my own Slipping Shoelace Knots page, this page describes another two visually similar knots ("Thief" and "Grief").
Grogs Animated Knots:
http://www.animatedknots.com/
Grog's site contains dozens of knots for a wide variety of applications and presents them in an animated format (like my shoelace knot "Flip Books"). For many people, this takes the pain out of learning because it's easier to visualize the knot's development this way than it is with individual static diagrams.
Peter Suber's Knots on the Web:
http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/knotlink.htm
Peter has the most incredible collection of knot links I have ever seen; whether it be knots for shoelaces, boating, fishing, climbing, surgery, art, craft, theory, you name it! Although Peter hasn't updated it for several years now, it still contains hundreds of useful links.
International Guild of Knot Tyers:
http://www.igkt.net/
To paraphrase their site: "This is an association of people with interests in knots and knotting techniques of all kinds. Its members include academics, surgeons, sailors, sportsmen and women, scouters, magicians, farmers, miners and accountants. The site contains a wealth of information for anyone interested in knotting".

Other Fashion Links
Ask Andy About Clothes:
http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com
Whilst Ian has been answering questions about shoelaces for many years, Andy Gilchrist has similarly been answering mens' questions about clothes, particularly those to do with style, quality and history. The Ask Andy forums are a great place to pose such questions and discuss these issues with other like-minded people.
Style Forum:
http://www.styleforum.net
This site provides another great forum in which to discuss issues of style and grooming. Whilst Ian's Shoelace Site may have shown you the How and Why of lacing and tying your shoes, Style Forum delves into When, Where, What With and other subtleties of manners and etiquette.
Sneaker Freaker Magazine:
http://www.sneakerfreaker.com/
Hailing from Australia, Sneaker Freaker is one of the oldest and best known magazines devoted to sneaker culture. On the site's forum, sneaker folks discuss everything to do with sneakers, including how to lace and tie them. Back in 2006, I collaborated with them on an article about shoe lacing.
Sole Collector Magazine:
http://www.solecollector.com/
Another sneaker culture magazine with another forum (over 100,000 members) on which all things to do with sneakers are discussed.
Sneaker Obsession:
http://www.sneakerobsession.com/
Another of many sneaker sites with a forum where members discuss stuff about sneakers.
T-Shirt Folding Trick:
http://www.liquidx.net/node/view/390
Okay, this isn't shoelace or knotting or even shoe related, but it really appeals to my sense of efficiency! If you liked my own Ian Knot video, I'm sure you'll be equally delighted by this video of a super-fast way of folding t-shirts.
Please Contact Me if any of the above links doesn't work or if you have another link that you feel would make a good addition to this list.

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This page last updated: 08-May-2008. Copyright © 2005-2008 by Ian W. Fieggen. All rights reserved.
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