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Two Loop Shoelace Knot
Also referred to as a "Bunny Ears" shoelace knot (due to its two loops): Make a loop with both ends, then simply tie a knot with them. It's often tied incorrectly, resulting in an un-balanced Granny Knot.
Step 1:
Two Loop Knot diagram 1
Tie a Left-over-Right Starting Knot as shown, then make both ends into "loops" by simply doubling them back onto themselves. People often refer to these as "Bunny Ears".
Step 2:
Two Loop Knot diagram 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:
Two Loop Knot diagram 3
Begin to wrap the right (yellow) loop around the left (blue) loop to end up in front.
Step 4:
Two Loop Knot diagram 4
Start to feed the right (yellow) loop into the "hole" that has just been made. This is really the same as if you were tying a regular shoelace knot, except that you are working with a loop instead of a loose end.
Step 5:
Two Loop Knot diagram 5
With the right (yellow) loop now through the "hole", grab hold of both loops and start to pull the knot tight.
Step 6:
Two Loop Knot diagram 6
Notice that the loose end of the right (yellow) loop drops back down to the front left, making the finished knot exactly the same as if you'd used the regular method.


Finished Knot
Finished Two Loop Shoelace Knot picture If tied correctly, the finished "Two Loop Shoelace Knot" is identical to either the Standard Shoelace Knot or even my own Ian Knot, the World's Fastest Shoelace Knot.
NOTE: If your finished knot comes out crooked, it's probably because you tie your Starting Knot the opposite way to mine. This will result in an un-balanced "Granny Knot", which both sits crooked and comes undone more easily. See my Slipping Shoelace Knots page for more information.
This page is mainly intended to show how this knot compares to both the Standard Shoelace Knot and my own Ian Knot, as well as showing the correct way to tie it so that it doesn't form a Granny Knot (which comes undone).

*** Granny Knot Warning! ***
Kids find it easier to learn this "Two Loop Shoelace Knot" because it's really the same as tying the Starting Knot except that the ends are firstly formed into loops. However, it's important to know that the two stages of the knot ("Starting Knot" and "Finishing Bow") must be tied in opposite directions in order for the finished knot to be "balanced", which means it will sit straight and stay secure.

If both stages are tied in the same direction, the finished knot will be an un-balanced Granny Knot, which sits crooked and comes undone more easily.

For example, if you tie your starting knot by wrapping the left end over the right end and through, then tie this finishing bow by also wrapping the left loop over the right loop and through, you'll invariably find that your shoelaces keep coming undone.

When teaching this knot, it's CRUCIAL to understand and teach the difference! Please see my Slipping Shoelace Knots page that discusses this in detail.


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This page last updated: 08-May-2010. Copyright © 2003-2010 by Ian W. Fieggen. All rights reserved.
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