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Black shoelace

Shoelaces (also shoestrings, shoe laces or boot laces) are the system 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. Shoestring was a BBC television show set in Bristol. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wiktionary (a portmanteau of wiki and dictionary) is a multilingual, Web-based project to create a free content dictionary, available in over 150 languages. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 402 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Shoelaces ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 402 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Shoelaces ... For other uses, see Shoe (disambiguation). ...

Shoelaces did not become widely popular until the 20th century. Previously shoes were slip-on, buckled, or buttoned. Buttoned shoes used a special tool, a button hook, to close the buttons, but this was slow and difficult. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... Archeological bronze buckles from southern Sweden A buckle (from Latin buccula) is a clasp used for fastening two things together, such as the ends of a belt, or for retaining the end of a strap. ... For other uses, see Button (disambiguation). ...

History

It is as difficult to determine the exact history of shoelaces as it is for shoes. Archaeological records of footwear are rare because shoes were generally made of materials that deteriorated readily. The first "shoes" worn by primitive humans would most likely have been a simple hide or covering bound to the foot with either leather thongs, grasses or some form of twine. The recent discovery of the bronze-age Ötzi the Iceman, who lived around 3000 BC, revealed fairly complex insulated leather shoes bound with "shoelaces" made of lime bark string. shoe for right foot A shoe is a piece of footwear for humans, less than a boot and more than a slipper. ... In footwear and fashion, flip-flops are a kind of flat, backless sandal that consist of simple soles held on the foot by a V-shaped strap that passes between the toes and around either side of the foot, attached to the sole at three points. ... Genera See: List of Poaceae genera The true grasses are monocot (class Liliopsida) plants of the family Poaceae (formerly Graminae). ... A spool of twine. ... “Ötzi” redirects here. ...

As for shoelaces in the sense that we know them today, the Museum of London has documented examples of medieval footwear dating from as far back as the 12th century, which clearly show the lacing passing through a series of hooks or eyelets down the front or side of the shoe.^[1] Interior showing the Mayors state coach The Museum of London documents the history of London from the Palaeolithic to the present day. ...

Shoelace construction

Traditional shoelaces were made of leather, cotton, jute, hemp or other materials used in the manufacture of rope. Modern shoelaces often incorporate various synthetic fibers, which are generally more slippery and thus more prone to coming undone than those made from traditional fibers. However, synthetic shoelaces often look better and wear longer. Modern leather-working tools Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides and skins of animals, primarily cattlehide. ... For other uses, see Cotton (disambiguation). ... The word Jute is also used in reference to the Germanic people, the Jutes. ... U.S. Marihuana production permit. ... Coils of rope used for long-line fishing A rope (IPA: ) is a length of fibers, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. ... Synthetic Fibers are the result of an extensive search by scientists to increase and improve upon the supply of naturally occurring animal and plant fibers that have been used in making cloth. ...

Shoelaces with a flat cross-section are generally easier to hold and stay tied more securely than those with a round cross-section. Very wide flat laces are often called "fat laces". Leather shoelaces with a square cross-section, which are very common on boat shoes, are notoriously prone to coming undone. Shoelaces can be coated, either in the factory or with aftermarket products, to increase friction and help them stay tied.

There are also various elasticized shoelaces:

1. Traditional "Elastic" laces look identical to normal laces, and can simply be tied and untied as normal. They may also come with a permanent clip so that they can be fastened invisibly.
2. "Knotty" laces have a series of "fat" sections, which restrict movement through eyelets. These can be used to adjust tension throughout the lacing area. These laces can be tied or the ends can be left loose.
3. "Twirly" laces are like a tight elastic helix, which can simply be pulled tight without requiring a knot.

Elastic laces both make the lacing more comfortable as well as allowing the shoe to be slipped on and off without tying or untying, which makes them a popular choice for children, the elderly and athletes.

Even though shoelaces have become the norm in shoe fastening, Velcro strips are also quite popular. They are considered by many to be the "lazy man's shoelace". Velcro: hooks (left) and loops (right). ...

The small plastic or metal sheath on the end of shoelaces, which keeps the twine from unraveling plus makes it easier to feed the lace through the eyelets, is called an aglet (or aiglet). A picture of aglets Aglets is also a paradigm for building Java-based mobile agents An aglet or aiglet is a small plastic or metal cladding on the end of shoelaces (or any type of lace, though shoelaces are the most commonly referenced) that keeps the twine from unraveling. ...

Shoelace tying

Basic shoe-tying knot

Image File history File links Shoelace_knot. ... Image File history File links Shoelace_knot. ...

Common bow

Shoelaces can be tied in an almost infinite number of ways. The most common bow, however, is a variant on two half knots tied one on top of the other. The second half-knot is looped in order to allow for quick untying.

A problem that arises is that two half knots can be tied together in two different ways (ignoring symmetrical configurations). One addition of a half knot to a half knot forms a square or reef knot, a fairly effective knot for the purpose of tying shoelaces. While a fairly insecure knot, it functions best when laid flat against a surface as it is on a shoe. The second combination of half knot to half knot gives a granny knot, a knot not good for tying shoes as it does not lie flat against a surface. It is terribly insecure, and most people who use it will find themselves retying their shoelaces many times a day. Reef knot Canonical Name: reef knot. ... The granny knot is a bend knot, used to tie together two loose ends. ...

Much discussion has appeared on shoelace tying websites discussing this issue and why it appears that the large majority of people (75% according to one website) are using the granny knot. Some have suggested that it may have to do with children watching their parents and mirroring them, but a total mirroring would produce, if the parent were tying a square knot, a mirror image square knot. A simpler explanation is that if one ties shoelaces first by tying a half knot and then by forming two loops and tying another (as opposed to some speedier technique), and if one consistently puts one hand over the other (left over right or right over left) one gets a granny knot. A square knot is the less intuitive knot and requires switching the top hand. First left over right and then right over left, or first right over left and then left over right. You can generally tell if you have produced the square or granny knot by the direction in which the loops lie. If they lie side to side, you have probably made a square knot. If they lie front to back, you have probably made a granny knot and should teach yourself the other.

Informal experiments seem to show that the need for retying shoelaces will drop dramatically with the square knot. Often, an extra half-knot is made on top of the bow using the free loops; this reduces the need for retying but substantially increases the difficulty of untying.

Other more secure knots

There are several more secure alternatives to the common shoelace bow, with names such as Turquoise Turtle Knot (or Shoemaker's Knot), Better Bow Shoelace Knot, Surgeon's Shoelace Knot, and Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot (or Double Slip Knot). These are all variations of the same concept of looping the top part of the knot twice instead of once, which results in a finished bow of almost identical appearance but with the laces wrapped twice around the middle. This double-wrap holds the shoelaces more securely tied whilst still allowing them to be untied with a (slightly firmer) pull on the loose ends.

Shoe lacing

Cross-laced white sneaker shoelaces.

This refers to the process of running the shoelaces through the holes, eyelets or lugs to form the closure of the sides of the shoe. Mathematically, there are almost 2 trillion ways to lace a shoe with six pairs of eyelets.^[2][3][4] The most common method, termed "Criss Cross Lacing," is also one of the strongest and most efficient, especially compared to other more decorative methods that are generally more difficult to tighten or loosen. One of the most popular decorative methods, termed "Checkerboard Lacing", is actually near impossible to tighten or loosen, thus the shoe is effectively considered to be a "slip-on." Image File history File linksMetadata Cross-laced_white_sneaker_shoelaces. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Cross-laced_white_sneaker_shoelaces. ... An eyelet is a small hole in material, the edge of which is protected by a ring of metal (eyelet), through which a piece of string, a shoelace, etc. ... For other uses, see Shoe (disambiguation). ...

Bar-laced black shoelaces on dressy shoes.

Various methods of "Straight Lacing" (also known as "Bar Lacing") are also very popular, especially on dress shoes where the sides of the shoe come together in the middle. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 594 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (928 × 936 pixels, file size: 816 KB, MIME type: image/png) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 594 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (928 × 936 pixels, file size: 816 KB, MIME type: image/png) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ...

Shoe lacing methods are also chosen for their functional benefits. For example, being faster or easier to tighten or loosen, binding more tightly, being more comfortable, using up more lace or less lace, adjusting fit, preventing slippage.

Using standard shoes and standard shoelaces, a process patent was granted for lacing in a double-helix pattern "resulting in reduced friction and faster and easier tightening and loosening." Another process patent was issued for an alternative way of tying shoelaces.

It has been demonstrated that the traditional methods of lacing (for example cross-lacing) are the strongest.^[3]

Gurkha soldiers (fighting for Britain) are said to have crawled along the ground, feeling the laces of the soldiers they encountered. British soldiers employed straight- or bar-lacing, while Japanese troops employed a criss-cross pattern. Criss-cross laces could therefore mean the difference between life and death. The importance of correct lacing was thus emphasized to British troops. Gurkha, also spelled as Gorkha, are people from Nepal and parts of North India, who take their name from the eighth century Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath. ...

Shoelace accessories

A playful pair of black shoelaces, featuring pink and white skulls

There are many shoelace accessories. There are hooks to help lace shoelaces tightly. They are especially useful for skates where tight lacing is important. Shoelace covers protect the laces, especially in wrestling. Shoelace charms are decorative, as are colored shoelaces. Some laces are colored using expensive dyes, other, more "personal" colors, are drawn-on with permanent markers. Some dress codes (especially high schools) will specifically exclude color laces and charms. Lacelocks hold laces together, eliminating the need for tying. There are shoelace tags, with two holes through which the shoelace is passed. These are worn on the section of shoelace closest to the toes, in other words the last lace, so that the image or writing on the tag is visible. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 292 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (341 × 700 pixels, file size: 297 KB, MIME type: image/png) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 292 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (341 × 700 pixels, file size: 297 KB, MIME type: image/png) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ...

Shoelace lengths

• 2 pairs of holes - 45cm (18in)
• 3 pairs of holes - 45/60cm (18/24in)
• 4 pairs of holes - 60cm (24in)
• 5 pairs of holes - 75cm (30in)
• 6 pairs of holes - 90/110cm (35/43in)
• 7 pairs of holes - 150cm (60in)
• 8 pairs of holes - 180cm (71in)

(This is a very rough guide, as the length depends on the distance between eyelets both across the shoe and vertically. See link below for an on-line Shoelace Length Calculator).

References

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Shoelaces

• Ian's Shoelace Site — exhaustive discussion of ways to lace shoes and tie knots in shoelaces
• Shoelace length calculator
• Lacelocks
• Shoelace lacing pattern patent (pdf)
• Process patent for alternative method of tying laces
• Correct tying with images
• How to tie Magic Shoelaces
• wikiHow on How to Lace Shoes
• Things to Look Out For When Lacing