Ian's Shoelace Site – Supernova Lacing

Overlapping diagonals both inside and outside, all crossing at the middle. Needs maximum shoelace length and thus “shortens” ends.

Eight pairs of eyelets

Pairs

8

7

6

5

4

3

Flip

⇄

Lacing diagram Copyright (c) 2023 by Ian Fieggen

Step

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Lacing Technique – Variation 1 – for even numbers of eyelet pairs

• Begin straight across on the outside (grey section) and in through the pair of eyelets just below the middle.

• Cross the ends diagonally upwards on the inside and feed out through the next vacant set of eyelets up the shoe.

• Cross the ends diagonally downwards on the outside and feed in through the next vacant set of eyelets down the shoe.

• Continue running diagonally up on the inside and diagonally down on the outside with progressively taller crossovers until lacing is completed.

Variations

• Variation 1 begins with a horizontal segment across the outside (shoes with even numbers of eyelet pairs).

• Variation 2 begins with a horizontal segment across the inside (shoes with odd numbers of eyelet pairs).

Features

Decorative look

Top opens wide

Loose fit

31% shorter ends (approx.)

Notes

This lacing method, like most decorative methods, is more difficult to tighten. However, this method has the advantage that the top is like a V-neck garment. Once the knot is untied, the top of the shoe can be opened wide to easily slip the foot in or out without needing to loosen or re-tighten all of the lacing.

Supernova Lacing Gallery

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Shoelace Lengths for Supernova Lacing

Graph of Supernova vs Criss Cross Lacing

NOTE: Most lacing methods require a length of shoelace in almost direct proportion to the number of eyelets. Supernova Lacing has an exponential requirement, as can be seen in the red line in the graph at right. Every additional pair of eyelets requires an even greater additional length of shoelace.

Pairs of eyelets:	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Length needed:	71 cm 28 inch	82 cm 32 inch	96 cm 38 inch	113 cm 44 inch	131 cm 52 inch	153 cm 60 inch	178 cm 70 inch
Lengths available:	27"	36"	36"	45"	54"	63"	72"

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

Longer shoelaces needed than those for basic Criss Cross Lacing.

Shorter ends if existing shoelaces are re-used (−31% on average).

More details.

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Supernova Lacing

Lacing Technique – Variation 1 – for even numbers of eyelet pairs