Pentagram Lacing

Forms a decorative “pentagram”, or five-pointed star, which appears everywhere from Converse sneakers to the flags of various countries.

Pentagram Lacing Tutorial

Eight pairs of eyelets, variation 1

Pairs

8

7

6

5

Flip

⇄

Lacing diagram Copyright (c) 2026 by Ian Fieggen

Step

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Lacing Technique – Variation 1 – Regular pentagram

• Begin straight across on the outside (grey section) and in through the middle eyelets. Adjust so that the left (blue) end is a little longer than the right (yellow) end.

• The left (blue) end forms the bottom “cross” as follows: Straight down on the inside (left), diagonally up on the outside, straight down on the inside (right), diagonally up on the outside.

• The left (blue) end then continues to form the upper “rung”: Straight up on the inside (left), straight across on the outside, straight up on the inside (right) and out through the top right eyelet.

• The right (yellow) end forms the middle point as follows: Straight down on the inside (right), diagonally up on the outside to loop around the middle of the top “rung”, diagonally down on the outside.

• The left (yellow) end then runs all the way up the inside to emerge through the top left eyelet.

Variations

• Variation 1 forms a regular pentagram, which will appear normal when other people look at your shoes.

• Variation 2 forms an inverted pentagram, which will appear normal when you look down at your own shoes.

Features

Decorative look

Loose fit

Tricky to tighten

“Lengthens” ends

Notes

• If the crossovers of the laces are carefully woven as shown, there will be a couple of benefits. Firstly, the centre of the pentagram will have all of the “overpasses” running clockwise, giving it rotational symmetry. Secondly, each point of the pentagram has the same number of overpasses and underpasses, which helps to maintain the shape more securely.

• This lacing works best with thinner or flat shoelaces because several eyelets have to accommodate two passes of shoelace.

• When feeding a second pass of shoelace through an eyelet, take care that the aglet (shoelace tip) doesn't catch on the shoelace fibers and cause any damage.

• These diagrams are drawn with the pentagrams fairly symmetrical and centered. Running the horizontal sections through different eyelets will change the proportions of the five points.

• An inverted pentagram (see above), particularly one inside a circle, is used by some people as a Satanic or occultic symbol.

• On shoes with a tongue centering loop, the top point can be run through that loop to eliminate the upper “rung”. Same goes for an inverted pentagram on shoes with a lower centering loop. (See both variations in the 10th photo below).

• Although I haven't yet created diagrams for fewer than five eyelet pairs, it's possible to create a pentagram using four eyelet pairs (see the 7th photo below), while an inverted pentagram is possible with as few as three eyelet pairs. Simply use the diagram with the fewest eyelet pairs and leave out any empty rows of eyelets.

Pentagram Lacing Gallery

More photos of Pentagram Lacing

Contribute a photo (via e-mail)

Shoelace Lengths for Pentagram Lacing

Variation 1 – Regular Pentagram
Pairs of eyelets	Approximate length needed		“Lengthens” ends by
8 pairs	124 cm	49 in	+4.5 cm	+1.8 in
			“Shortens” ends by
7 pairs	124 cm	49 in	−0.7 cm	−0.3 in
			“Lengthens” ends by
6 pairs	107 cm	42 in	+2.8 cm	+1.1 in
			“Shortens” ends by
5 pairs	107 cm	42 in	−2.4 cm	−0.9 in
4 pairs	96 cm	38 in	−2.5 cm	−1.0 in
3, 2 pairs = (N/A)

Variation 2 – Inverted Pentagram
Pairs of eyelets	Approximate length needed		“Lengthens” ends by
8 pairs	115 cm	45 in	+9.3 cm	+3.7 in
7 pairs	115 cm	45 in	+4.1 cm	+1.6 in
6 pairs	100 cm	40 in	+6.0 cm	+2.4 in
5 pairs	100 cm	40 in	+0.8 cm	+0.3 in
			“Shortens” ends by
4 pairs	93 cm	37 in	−0.9 cm	−0.4 in
3, 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

• Depending on the actual shoe dimensions and number of eyelets, this method may need either longer or shorter shoelaces than those for basic Criss Cross Lacing.

• If the original shoelaces are re-used, this method may either shorten or lengthen the ends.

More details about length comparisons.

Visitor Feedback

I wanted to complement you on your dedication to what most people would consider a mundane subject (tying your shoes). I have gotten so many complements about the pentagram lacing on my chucks!

– Ashe B., West Virginia USA, Oct-2023

I showed your website to my family, only to find my son wearing what I discovered to be your own Pentagram shoe lace tying method. I was horrified, and had to go through extensive family therapy courtesy of the church at a discounted rate.

I assumed you posted this shoe lace tying method in order to warn people to not accidentally give their shoes to Satan. However, there are no disclaimers. Ian, you've become either irresponsible or have set foot on a dangerous path.

– Franz, Jan-2016

its the 4th of july in the united states. To you that means little. to us here it means “stars and stripes forever”. I have red white and blue, chuck taylor’s that needed a boost. I used your pentagram lace design to rev-up my shoes for the holiday. That star pattern works great for the holiday!

– Ron P., USA, Jul-2015

I'm a big fan of the decorative Pentagram laces. I lace many of my shoes this way, even my dress shoes for work.

– Seán D., Aug-2014

I was just looking at your diagrams and realized the bar formed in step 5, aside from being unpleasant to my eyes, is unnecessary if your shoe comes with a tongue centering loop right where that bar would go. So I figured I could simply merge steps 5 and 6 together routing the blue lace end straight to the top, and replacing step 9 by inserting the yellow lace end between the shoe's side and the bit of blue lace tucked inside the shoe at step 4, which becomes hidden by the blue lace in step 3, and routing it straight to the opposite top eyelet.

– Alexander L., Mar-2014

now my shoes are possessed by Satan :D

– Derek B., Costa Rica, Aug-2012

I also learned the Pentagram, which I thought would be nice with a star on the All-American Converse, but it was too loose of a fit.

– Michael D., California USA, Aug-2012

I had some trouble at the spot where the one lace loops around the other to make the top point of the star, so I ran the lace instead through the fabric loop on the tounge. I thought it was pulling down one the lace too much, so this seemed better for what I wanted.

– Mark, Florida, USA, May-2012

I have a picture of the “Pentagram Lacing” but with my shoes, I used the nylon loop built into the tongue of the shoe to loop the top of the star through. I like it because it puts no strain on the top rung so the lace will not droop at all. Thanks for the great web page!

– Adam H., Jun-2010

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Pentagram Lacing

Pentagram Lacing Tutorial

Lacing Technique – Variation 1 – Regular pentagram