How to Tie Laces in a Double Knot

Co-authored by Victor Adrian

Last Updated: October 28, 2024

A double knot is a great way to keep your shoelaces tied, so you don’t have to worry about them coming undone and potentially tripping on them. You can also use a double knot when your shoelaces are too long to keep them from dragging or getting caught on something accidentally. To tie your laces in a double knot, start with a standard shoelace bow knot. Note that it will be difficult to make a double knot if your laces are very short after you tie them in a regular shoelace bow.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Making a Standard Double Knot

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1
Tie your shoelaces in a standard bow knot. Make a loop with 1 end of the laces by doubling it back over itself. Wrap the other end of the laces around the base of the loop you made, then push it through the hole you just made by wrapping it and pull it into another loop. Pull both the loops in opposite directions to tighten the bow knot.^{[1]
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- For the best results when tying a double knot, make sure the loops and laces are even on both sides of your bow knot.
- Use this method if you’re having problems with your laces coming undone all the time or if they’re too long and you want to keep the excess length out of the way.
2
Pass the left loop over top of the right loop and wrap it around the back. Pinch the right loop between the thumb and forefinger of your right hand. Grab the left loop with the thumb and forefinger of your left hand, then wrap it on top of and around the back of the right loop.^{[2]
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- This is basically the same thing you did when you created the second loop for your standard bow knot, except this time you’re doing it with the loop you already made.
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3
Put the tip of the left loop through the hole created between the loops. Slip the left loop into the little hole that you made by wrapping it over and around the right loop. Push the tip of the loop through the hole until you can grab it from the other side.^{[3]
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- When you pull the left loop through the hole, you will be pulling it towards the right.
4
Pull the loops in opposite directions to tighten the double knot. Grab the left loop, which is now going to the right, with your right hand and the right loop, which is now going to the left, with your left hand. Pull them firmly until the knot is tight.^{[4]
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- To untie this standard double knot, just work your fingertips in between the knotted loops to loosen them up and pull them apart. After that, you can untie the standard bow knot as normal by pulling on the straight loose ends of the laces.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Creating an Easy-Release Double Knot

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1
Make an overhand knot like you would to start a standard bow knot. Wrap the right lace over and under the left lace or vice versa. This is exactly the same as the first step of tying your laces into a normal bow knot.
- Use this method if you want a double knot that you can untie quickly by pulling on the laces instead of picking at them to loosen them.
2
Loop 1 end of the lace over the other end again in another overhand knot. Wrap the right lace over the left lace again or the left lace over the right lace again, depending on which way you wrapped them to start with. This is exactly the same as making the first overhand knot.
- Your laces will now look like a simple overhand knot with 3 loops in it, instead of the normal 2 loops.
3
Make 2 bow loops just as if you’re tying a normal bow in your laces. Pinch the right end of the lace into a loop and wrap the left lace around it. Push the left lace though the space between the laces that you created by wrapping it, then pull it unto a second loop.
- This is exactly the same process as when you tie a standard bow knot.
4
Wrap the left loop around the right loop and pull it through the hole it creates. Pass the left loop over the right loop and pull it around the back. Push it through the space between the 2 loops and pull it through to make a double knot.^{[5]
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- This is the same as tying a standard double knot. The thing that makes it quick-release is the additional overhand knot at the beginning.
5
Tighten the easy-release double knot by pulling on both loops. Grab the loops, 1 in each hand, and pull them in opposite directions. Stop pulling when the knot is all the way tight.^{[6]
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- To untie this quick-release double knot, just pull firmly on one of the loose straight ends of the laces.

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Tips

A double knot is pretty bulky, so it’s great if you want to tie up some lengthy laces on something like a pair of hiking boots to keep them from dragging or prevent them from getting snagged on something in the woods.^{[7]
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Warnings

Keep in mind that the standard double knot is not as fast to untie as a bow knot. If you want to be able to untie your laces and take off your shoes more quickly, go for an easy-release double knot.^{[8]
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