Shoelaces
Shoelaces, which are also called shoestrings, shoe laces, or boot laces, are a system, commonly consisting of pairs, used to secure shoes. The shoelace can be untied and loosened, permitting the shoe to open wide to admit the wearer's foot; it can then be tightened and knotted into a bow-shaped knot, called the bow-knot. Shoelaces did not become widely popular until the 20th century. Previously shoes were slip-on, buckled, or buttoned. Buttoned shoes used a special tool, called the button hook, to close the buttons, but this was slow and difficult.
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Criss Cross Lacing
Lacing Technique:
1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends emerge through both bottom eyelets.
2. The ends are crossed over each other, then fed under the sides to emerge through the next set of eyelets up the shoe.
3. Repeat step (2) until both ends reach the top eyelets.
Over Under Lacing
Lacing Technique 1 (for EVEN numbers of eyelet pairs):
1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends are fed in through both bottom eyelets.
2. The ends are crossed Under (on the inside) and emerge through the next set of eyelets up the shoe.
3. The ends are crossed Over (on the outside) and are fed in through the next set of eyelets up the shoe.
4. Repeat steps (2) and (3), alternating between crossing Under or crossing Over, until both ends reach the top eyelets.
Straight (European) Lacing
Lacing Technique:
1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends are fed in through both bottom eyelets.
2. The right (yellow) end is crossed diagonally on the inside and emerges through the next eyelet up the shoe, then continues straight across on the outside and is fed in through the eyelet on the opposite side.
3. The left (blue) end is crossed diagonally on the inside at a steeper angle, skipping past one eyelet to emerge through the next empty eyelet up the shoe. It then continues straight across on the outside and is fed in through the eyelet on the opposite side.
4. Repeat step (3) with each end in turn, each time running diagonally on the inside and straight across on the outside, until both ends reach the top eyelets.
Straight (Bar) Lacing
Lacing Technique:
1. The lace runs straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends are fed into both bottom eyelets.
2. One end of the lace (yellow end) runs straight up the right side, emerges and runs straight across the second set of eyelets.
3. Both ends now run straight up the left side, each skipping one eyelet before emerging two eyelets higher up.
4. Continue running both ends across the shoe, then straight up two eyelets at a time, until one end reaches the top.
5. The other end then runs straight across the second last set of eyelets, then straight up to the top.
Straight (Easy) Lacing
Lacing Technique:
1. The lace runs straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends are fed into both bottom eyelets.
2. One end of the lace (blue end) is fed straight up the left side all the way to, and emerges from, the top left eyelet.
3. The other end (yellow end) runs straight up the right side, emerges and runs straight across the second set of eyelets.
4. The same end (yellow end) works its way up and across back and forth through the remaining eyelets.
Hiking Lacing / Biking Lacing
Lacing Technique:
1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (grey section) and emerges through both bottom eyelets.
2. One end of the lace (yellow end) runs straight up the right side, is fed into and runs straight across the second set of eyelets.
3. Both ends now run straight up the left side, each skipping one eyelet before feeding in two eyelets higher up.
4. Continue running both ends across the shoe, then straight up two eyelets at a time.
5. At the top of the shoe, the laces end up on the same side and the shoelace knot is tied at that point.
Features:
Evens out pressure
Reduces snagging
Messy look
Comparative Length = 81%
Laced area uses less (about %u221219%)
Shorter laces needed (about %u22129%)
Lengthens lace ends (about +17%)
More details
NOTE:
This lacing is best suited to shoes with even numbers of eyelet pairs (eg. 6 pairs = 12 eyelets). The first picture at left shows one workaround to this limitation for use on shoes with odd numbers of eyelet pairs (eg. 7 pairs = 14 eyelets). See my Straight (Bar) Lacing page for some other workarounds.
Sawtooth Lacing
Lacing Technique:
1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends are fed in through both bottom eyelets.
2. The right (yellow) end is run straight up the inside and emerges through the next eyelet up the shoe, then continues straight across on the outside and is fed in through the opposite eyelet on the left side.
3. The left (blue) end is crossed diagonally on the inside, skipping past one eyelet to emerge through the next empty eyelet up the right side. It then continues straight across on the outside and is fed in through the opposite eyelet on the left side.
4. Repeat step (3) with each end in turn, each time running diagonally on the inside and straight across on the outside, until one end (yellow) reaches the top right eyelet.
5. The other end (blue) is then run straight up the inside to emerge through the top left eyelet.
Display Shoe Lacing
Lacing Technique:
1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends are fed in through both bottom eyelets.
2. The ends are crossed over each other, then fed in through the next set of eyelets up the shoe.
3. Repeat step (2) until both ends reach the top eyelets and end up inside the shoe.
Spider Web Lacing
Lacing Technique:
1. The lace is run straight across and the ends emerge through the second set of eyelets from the bottom (grey section).
2. Both ends are run straight down on the outside and are fed in through the bottom eyelets.
3. The ends are crossed over each other, then fed under the sides to emerge through the next vacant set of eyelets up the shoe.
4. The ends then run straight down and are looped under the existing vertical lace sections at the next lower set of eyelets.
5. Repeat steps (3) and (4), alternating between crossing diagonally upwards or running straight downwards and looping through the lower sections, until both ends reach the top eyelets.
Double Cross Lacing
Lacing Technique 1 (with gaps, shorter laces):
1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends are fed in through both bottom eyelets.
2. The ends are crossed over on the inside and emerge through the set of eyelets three rows higher up the shoe (skip past two sets of eyelets).
3. The ends are crossed over on the outside and are fed in through the next lower set of eyelets.
4. Repeat steps (2) and (3), each time crossing over on the inside and going up three sets of eyelets, then crossing over on the outside and going down one set of eyelets, until both ends reach the top eyelets.
