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The “Granny Knot”

fieggen.com

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Re: The “Granny Knot”

#31

Post by Kozmik1 »

As others have mentioned, Ian's knots has great reccommendations, but overlooked is the "surgeon's knot".

This one has two twists instead of the normal one, and comes out like a square knot if done right. It won't come untied by itself, ever. But you can untie it by tugging on the tails of the laces. You can do this one with a thumb on the initial bend, unlike the "bunny ears" style knots.

It's a hell of a lot better than the "double knot" your kids' teachers will do if they go to school with any kind of single knot, square or not. Double knotting just results in big jams when one tries to untie it later.

Check out the surgeon's knot: https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/surgeonknot.htm

Re: The “Granny Knot”

#32

Post by kilovoltaire »

iandinwoodie wrote: post #6

A few years ago I switched from the "Granny Knot" to the "Ian Knot" [0] in order to (1) eliminate the need for "double knotting" and (2) straighten the bow. Despite the few embarrassing times early in the process where friends observed me struggling to tie my shoes, I can confidently say the switch has been worth it. [0] https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/ianknot.htm

I recently did this too, took about a week to get in the habit but now it's great!

Re: The “Granny Knot”

#33

Post by Kozmik1 »

flatline wrote: post #9
qwnp wrote: post #5

The "Ian Knot"[0] (which, I just discovered, was invented by the author of that site) is quite possibly the coolest and fastest way to tie your shoes. [0] - https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/ianknot.htm

That would not work for me. I need to keep one finger on the slip knot at all times or it becomes loose, resulting in a very unsatisfying knot. This has been by far the biggest hurdle to teaching my kids to tie a decent knot in their shoelaces: they can move through the motions just fine but it's always loose. I actually start with my left index finger on the slip knot then transition to my right index finger halfway…

Try the Surgeon's Knot instead: https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/surgeonknot.htm

Re: The “Granny Knot”

#34

Post by b112 »

Kozmik1 wrote: post #31

As others have mentioned, Ian's knots has great reccommendations, but overlooked is the "surgeon's knot". This one has two twists instead of the normal one, and comes out like a square knot if done right. It won't come untied by itself, ever. But you can untie it by tugging on the tails of the laces. You can do this one with a thumb on the initial bend, unlike the "bunny ears" style knots. It's a hell of a lot better…

I don't know why, but the picture of the shoe, with the knot at the toe end of the shoe, makes me angry. I mean, literally angry, very angry, yet there is zero valid reason to be that emotionally charged about it.

Intellectually, I wonder "how will one get their shoe off, without lots of work". Yet the anger is intense for some inane reason.

Now I wonder if I need therapy, due to some shoe related horror in the past.

Re: The “Granny Knot”

#35

Post by Someone1234 »

waynesonfire wrote: post #27

https://www.ted.com/talks/terry_moore_how_to_tie_your_shoes

People are very negative about these kinds of TED talks, but I actually improved my hand drying technique after the TEDx on it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FMBSblpcrc

That and using the back of my hand/arm to push off the water from my body after a shower keep our towels much dryer and nicer.

Re: The “Granny Knot”

#36

Post by zikzak »

leephillips wrote: post #19
qwnp wrote: post #5

The "Ian Knot"[0] (which, I just discovered, was invented by the author of that site) is quite possibly the coolest and fastest way to tie your shoes. [0] - https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/ianknot.htm

After I stumbled upon this site years ago, the Ian knot is how I tie my shoes every time. The hardest part about this knot is making sure that somebody is watching while you do it. Every time I tie my shoes alone, I feel an upwelling of regret, as if there has been an opportunity lost.

There is a special t-shirt folding method with this same property.

Re: The “Granny Knot”

#37

Post by searine »

iandinwoodie wrote: post #6

A few years ago I switched from the "Granny Knot" to the "Ian Knot" [0] in order to (1) eliminate the need for "double knotting" and (2) straighten the bow. Despite the few embarrassing times early in the process where friends observed me struggling to tie my shoes, I can confidently say the switch has been worth it. [0] https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/ianknot.htm

>the switch has been worth it.

So I think it is clear that there are better alternatives to a granny knot in a technical sense, I am still skeptical that there is really value added.

Outside of achieving fashion perfection on a Hollywood red carpet, I find it hard to imagine there is value in spending the time and energy to learn and remember to tie your shoes the right way, rather than just a double knot. It seems like more of a burden than anything.

Re: The “Granny Knot”

#38

Post by oldandboring »

iandinwoodie wrote: post #6

A few years ago I switched from the "Granny Knot" to the "Ian Knot" [0] in order to (1) eliminate the need for "double knotting" and (2) straighten the bow. Despite the few embarrassing times early in the process where friends observed me struggling to tie my shoes, I can confidently say the switch has been worth it. [0] https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/ianknot.htm

I've been using the Ian knot since around 2005 and it's easily the most impactful "life hack" I've ever made. My shoes basically never come untied.

Re: The “Granny Knot”

#39

Post by cecilpl2 »

b112 wrote: post #34
Kozmik1 wrote: post #31

As others have mentioned, Ian's knots has great reccommendations, but overlooked is the "surgeon's knot". This one has two twists instead of the normal one, and comes out like a square knot if done right. It won't come untied by itself, ever. But you can untie it by tugging on the tails of the laces. You can do this one with a thumb on the initial bend, unlike the "bunny ears" style knots. It's a hell of a lot better…

I don't know why, but the picture of the shoe, with the knot at the toe end of the shoe, makes me angry. I mean, literally angry, very angry, yet there is zero valid reason to be that emotionally charged about it. Intellectually, I wonder "how will one get their shoe off, without lots of work". Yet the anger is intense for some inane reason. Now I wonder if I need therapy, due to some shoe related horror in the past.

> the knot at the toe end of the shoe

What are you talking about? That photo shows the knot at the heel end.

Re: The “Granny Knot”

#40

Post by Steve0 »

b112 wrote: post #34
Kozmik1 wrote: post #31

As others have mentioned, Ian's knots has great reccommendations, but overlooked is the "surgeon's knot". This one has two twists instead of the normal one, and comes out like a square knot if done right. It won't come untied by itself, ever. But you can untie it by tugging on the tails of the laces. You can do this one with a thumb on the initial bend, unlike the "bunny ears" style knots. It's a hell of a lot better…

I don't know why, but the picture of the shoe, with the knot at the toe end of the shoe, makes me angry. I mean, literally angry, very angry, yet there is zero valid reason to be that emotionally charged about it. Intellectually, I wonder "how will one get their shoe off, without lots of work". Yet the anger is intense for some inane reason. Now I wonder if I need therapy, due to some shoe related horror in the past.

Just pull the ends to get it off. Works great, never gets untied.
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