Better Bow Shoelace Knot
Another secure knot variation, again based on looping around more than once. Begin as for the Standard Shoelace Knot, only loop around twice before pulling through the loops thus made.
Better Bow Knot Tutorial
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Step 1:
Begin with a regular Left-over-Right Starting Knot.
Step 2:
Make the right (blue) end into a “loop” by simply doubling it back onto itself.
Step 3:
Take the left (yellow) end and pass it around to the right, going behind the right loop.
Step 4:
Continue the left (yellow) end around the right loop to end up in front.
Up to this point, the knot is exactly the same as the Standard Shoelace Knot.
Step 5:
Unlike the Standard Shoelace Knot, pass the left (yellow) end around the back of the right (blue) loop for the second time.
Step 6:
Continue the left (yellow) end around the right loop to end up in front for the second time.
TIP: Make large loops by also wrapping around the fingertips that are holding the loop.
Step 7:
Feed the left (yellow) lace through the loop thus made.
TIP: Feed through while withdrawing the fingers that were wrapped with the loops in the previous steps.
Step 8:
Keep feeding the left (yellow) lace through until a loop emerges on the right side.
Step 9:
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.
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Finished Knot Gallery
The finished Better Bow Shoelace Knot should be a tight, closed knot with a double wrap around the middle, as compared to the single wrap of simpler shoelace knots.
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NOTE: If your finished knot comes out crooked (eg. loops pointing heel-to-toe), it's probably because you tie your Starting Knot the opposite way to mine. This will result in an un-balanced knot, which sits crooked and comes undone more easily. See my Granny Knot page for more information.
Technical Details
Other Names
The Better Bow Knot is also known as the “Parisian Knot”.
Tying Tips
The recommended method of creating this knot is to do Steps (3) through (6) with the right forefinger sitting alongside the right (blue) loop. When the left (yellow) lace is wrapped around the right (blue) loop, it is also wrapped around the right forefinger.
At Step (7), withdraw the forefinger, feeding the left (yellow) lace into the hole where the finger was. The finger helps keep the loops open, but withdrawing the finger and feeding the lace through is still quite tricky!
As an alternative, the right thumb can be used instead of the forefinger, as the extra thickness creates larger loops through which to feed the lace. Better still, wrap the loops around the tips of the thumb and two fingers that are holding the right loop. At Step (7), when the left (yellow) lace is fed through the loops, those fingertips can grab the lace and pull it through.
Multiple Wraps
Steps (5) and (6) can be repeated several times to wrap the left (yellow) end multiple times around the right (blue) loop. This is useful for consuming excess shoelace.
Note that this variation only reduces the length of one end. If you want the knot to finish up even, you'll have to start off with the ends uneven. In this case, the yellow end (which begins on the right side) should start off longer than the blue end.
NOTE: For normal activities, the Ian Knot or other regular shoelace knots should be quite secure. I believe that many people seek more secure knots because they are – without realizing – tying their shoelaces with an un-balanced “Granny Knot”. Please see my Granny Knot page that discusses this in detail.
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More “Better Bow Knot” Pages
Flip Book
Animated Flip Book for the Better Bow Shoelace Knot.
Feedback
Visitors' Feedback about the Better Bow Shoelace Knot.
Related Links
Ian's Secure Knot
Similarly secure knot using a different technique (more symmetrical).
Standard Knot
Simplified, less secure variation of this knot.
Software
Graphics
Ian
Chris
Tree