Cascade Lacing

A decorative lacing with each row looped under the previous row, forming a diagonal series of loops that appears to “cascade” down the shoe. (From: Tim Talley)
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Lacing Technique
• Begin with the shoelace fed through the bottom-left eyelet, with the inner (blue) end much shorter than the outer (yellow) end.
• The inner (blue) end runs all the way up the inside and out through the top-left eyelet.
• The outer (yellow) end runs across on the outside and is peaked towards the right side before feeding into the bottom-right eyelet.
• The right (yellow) end runs straight up the inside and out through the next higher eyelet, then loops under the previously peaked row.
• The right (yellow) end is once again peaked on the right side before continuing across the shoe and into the adjacent eyelet.
• Continue up the shoe, alternately running straight up the inside or across on the outside and looping under the previously peaked row.
• On shoes with an odd number of eyelet pairs, finish with a diagonal segment on the inside to emerge through the top-right eyelet.
Features
Decorative look
Harder to tighten
Laces wear more
“Lengthens” ends
Notes
• To make the loop-unders consistent, take care to alternate the direction in which the lace end is fed under the previously peaked row. Based on the non-flipped diagram:
- After emerging from a right-hand-side eyelet, feed under the right side of the previously peaked row and out at the bottom before continuing over and to the left.
- After emerging from a left-hand-side eyelet, feed over the left side of the previously peaked row and in at the bottom before continuing under and to the right.
• This method is asymmetrical. Lacing the left and right shoes in reverse (flipped horizontally) creates a symmetrical looking pair.
Cascade Lacing Gallery


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Shoelace Lengths for Cascade Lacing
Pairs of eyelets | Approximate length needed | “Lengthens” ends by | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
8 pairs | 121 cm | 48 in | +6.3 cm | +2.5 in |
7 pairs | 115 cm | 45 in | +4.2 cm | +1.7 in |
6 pairs | 101 cm | 40 in | +5.8 cm | +2.3 in |
5 pairs | 95 cm | 37 in | +3.6 cm | +1.4 in |
4 pairs | 82 cm | 32 in | +5.0 cm | +2.0 in |
3 pairs | 76 cm | 30 in | +2.6 cm | +1.0 in |
2 pairs = (N/A) |
NOTE: These are approximate shoelace lengths for using this lacing on an average sized sneaker. For more accurate lengths, use the Shoelace Length Calculator.
Comparative Length
• Shorter shoelaces needed than those for basic Criss Cross Lacing.
• If the original shoelaces are re-used, this method effectively lengthens the ends.
More details about length comparisons.
Visitor Feedback
I've been trying out as much as I can on the site and I can say some of these lacing methods have fascinated people as I have had them on my various shoes. Some of them I will admit like the Cyclone Fence Lacing I sent you last time while it can be done with flat shoe laces, it ends up as a mess unless you really straighten it up and round laces are the best way to do it - if your not a neat freak about it like me. The same goes for the Cascade Lacing as well which took me several tries to get right somehow.
– Ian S., New York, USA, Oct-2018
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