How to Tie Your Shoes
You can't wear slip-ons your whole life—but you don't want to have your mom or dad chasing after your floppy laces, either. Learn to tie your own shoes, and nothing can slow you down.
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You Will Need
- A pair of shoes with laces, like sneakers
- And hands!
Steps
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Step 1
Put on shoes
Put on your untied shoes.
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Step 2
Sit or kneel
Sit or kneel on the floor and bend your knee so that you can easily reach one of your feet with both hands. You can also sit on a chair and bring one foot up so that it’s resting on the seat of the chair.
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Step 3
Get foot comfortable
Make sure your foot is comfortable in the shoe. If the tongue is scrunched up, tug on it to smooth it out.
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Step 4
Hold shoelaces & tighten
Now hold the right-hand shoelace in your right hand, and the left one in your left hand. Pull gently but firmly on each to tighten the shoe comfortably around your foot.
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Hold the laces near the holes rather than at their ends for the snuggest fit.
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Step 5
Cross laces
Cross the lace in your right hand over and then under the one in your left hand. Grab it with your left hand to pull it all the way through. Grab the other lace with your right hand.
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Step 6
Pull to tighten
Pull both laces to tighten them.
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It’s fine to cross the left lace over the right one to start. You might find this feels more natural if you’re left-handed.
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Step 7
Make a loop w/ right lace
Make a loop out of the right lace and hold the bottom of it close to the shoe with your right hand. This part can be a little tricky. Everyone does it differently, so experiment until you figure out how it works best for you.
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Step 8
Make loop w/ left lace
Make a same-size loop with the left lace, and hold it near the shoe with your left hand.
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Step 9
Cross loops
Now do exactly what you did in the beginning with the laces: cross the right-hand loop over the left-hand loop, and then under it.
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Step 10
Grab loops & tighten
Grab the loop that’s now on the left with your left hand, and grab the other loop with your right hand. Pull tight, and your shoe is tied!
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Tie the loops one more time to create a double knot that won’t come undone.
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Step 11
Repeat w/ other shoe
Repeat with the other shoe, then hit the road!
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Shoelaces were invented in 1790. Before then, shoes were fastened with buckles.
