Equality Knot

Preliminary Step:

Begin by re-lacing the tops of your shoes so that the shoelace ends emerge from the sides of each shoe – preferably the outside so that the Equality Knots will be more visible to others.

These diagrams show basic Criss Cross Lacing modified for side knotting – but other lacing methods can be similarly adapted.

Step 1:

Begin each shoe with both ends emerging from the same side of the shoe. This diagram shows the ends emerging out the right side, as they would be on the right shoe.

Step 2:

Pass the lower (yellow) end up behind the upper (blue) end.

Step 3:

Begin to wrap the right (blue) end around the front of the upper (yellow) end to finish up at the back of the gap between the laces.

Step 4:

Feed the right (blue) end through the gap to emerge at the lower front. Pull both ends tight to complete the knot.

The result is a regular left-over-right Starting Knot – only oriented vertically.

Step 5:

Make both ends into “loops” by simply doubling them back onto themselves. People often refer to these as “Bunny Ears”.

Step 6:

Pass the left (yellow) loop behind the right (blue) loop. The yellow loop is now the “right” loop while the blue loop is the “upper” loop.

Step 7:

Begin to wrap the right (yellow) loop around the upper (blue) loop to end up in front.

Step 8:

At the same time, begin to wrap the upper (blue) loop around the back. You will end up with the ends of both loops on opposite sides of the “hole” in the middle.

Step 9:

Feed both ends of the loops through the hole in the middle. The right (yellow) loop goes out the back and the upper (blue) loop comes out the front.

Step 10:

Now, simply pull the loops vertically to tighten the knot. The whole twisted mess of the previous drawing will rearrange itself into the vertical equivalent of my Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot.