How to Lace Shoes

You might've been taught how to tie your shoelaces, but has anyone really shown you how to lace them? It's a great way to personalize your shoes, especially if you buy laces in different colors and patterns. The methods shown here are a few of the most common ways to lace shoes.

Steps   

Criss-Cross Method   

  1. Put a shoe in front of you with the toe facing away from you. Starting from the two frontmost opposite facing holes, insert each end of the shoelace from the inside. Make sure both sides of the remaining laces are equal.
  2. Working in a diagonal direction, insert the right end of the shoelace into the next left hole (from the top). Alternate method: You can insert the lace pointing from the front of the shoe inward (instead of going from the inside pointing outward), to give a more neat appearance.
  3. Insert the left end of the shoelace into the next right hole.
  4. Continue working your way down until you reach the ends.
  5. Make a bow (as below).


Straight-Lace Method   

  1. Place one end of the shoelace through the top right hole (the toe end) and the other end through the left hole on the bottom (near the beginning of the shoe). The left hole should have a short length of lace left; only enough to tie the lace at the end.
  2. Using the right end, insert it in the opposite hole in a straight line.
  3. Bring it out from the bottom, and insert it (from the bottom again) through the next hole.
  4. Continue moving it horizontally across the holes until you reach the last hole.
  5. Tie your two remaining ends in a bow (see below).


Tying the Bow   

  1. Hold both ends of the lace straight. Place the right end over the left, then bring the left above the right and through the loop. Pull both ends tight.
  2. Take hold of the right lace and form a loop, placing your finger in between to hold it. Bring the left lace over the right, and underneath it in a circular motion.
  3. Then bring the left lace through the small loop. Pull tight.
  4. Your shoes are now tied!



Tips   

  • If the bow keeps coming undone, then tie a double knot. Tie a second bow (with bow loops) after tying first bow. Or, after step #2, bring the loop back up & through the small hole again before pulling it all tight.


Warnings   

  • If your laces are too long, tie bigger loops, tuck the remaining ends into the shoe, or look into using a different lacing method. You don't want to be tripping over your laces!