Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

The “Granny Knot”

fieggen.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

121–130 of 262 posts

Re: The “Granny Knot”

#121

Post by keithnz »

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

love this guys site, and I like that fast one, but I find this one a really good one https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm

Re: The “Granny Knot”

#124

Post by birktj »

ddlatham wrote: post #48
procinct wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesn’t it still produce the same knot as the standard shoe tie knot? I thought it was just a faster method?

Yes. I'd guess he means Ian's Secure Knot, which I also now use. https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm

Is it easy to do a tight Ian's Secure Knot? The only place I would need a more secure knot is when skiing and then I also need to tie the laces very tight. Keeping the laces tight while creating the loops seems slightly difficult.

Re: The “Granny Knot”

#125

Post by geocrasher »

After reading this website that does such a deep dive into an every day thing I rarely think about, I feel insufficient for just about everything else. I wish I as much about any subject as this fellow does about granny knots.

Re: The “Granny Knot”

#126

Post by iaw »

So for me the granny knot's instability made sense after I started trying to tie square knots. When you screw those up it becomes pretty obvious.

Re: The “Granny Knot”

#127

Post by biryani_chicken »

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…

With the Secure Ian's knot, I keep the slip knot loose and only strengthen the other one against that one. It stays firm and my shoe stays comfortable.

Re: The “Granny Knot”

#128

Post by maxerickson »

tiagod wrote: post #104
oldandboring wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

How do you do it? I've been using it for more than a decade too and I can't make it that solid. I'm very active and clumsy so I'm really stressing the knot lots of times.

Try doing a double knot. There's a double starting knot shown:

https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/doublestartknot.htm

And then also a surgeons knot is shown:

https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/surgeonknot.htm

(which doesn't use the double starting knot)

I do both together, starting with two twists and then also wrapping the loops twice.

I experimented with the double knot following some foot pain; the advantage for me is that the knot doesn't really slip any, allowing me to set the tension I want and not have to revisit it. I guess you then also have to make sure not to over-tighten.

I read about it here: https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/running-doc-d...

Re: The “Granny Knot”

#129

Post by wrycoder »

wffurr wrote: post #102
lmilcin wrote: post #90

My favorite shoelace knot is berluti knot. https://www.bestshoe99.in/how-to-tie-shoelaces/ It is symmetrical, it looks beautiful, it takes about as much time to tie and it has exactly zero chance of untying itself. It has never failed me since I learned it.

The Berluti knot looks a lot like "Ian's secure knot" mentioned in other threads: https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm

It is also the same as the Turquoise Turtle knot, mentioned by Brian Toss in his great book, "The Rigger's Apprentice". He discovered it in a clothing store of that name.

The Berluti knot traces back into European aristocracy.

Ian's secure knot neglects to tuck one of the loose ends - it's not as secure.

Re: The “Granny Knot”

#130

Post by jet_32951 »

samatman wrote: post #112

Random terminology question: While I was aware of the term "Reef knot", that knot is commonly, almost exclusively, called a "Square knot" in my (midwestern American) dialect of English. Is this a British thing?

Among American sailors you will find "reef knot" dominates: it is the knot used to "reef" or diminish a sail's useful area. Among Boy Scouts (and no offense intended here) you will find the term "square knot" dominates.
Post reply on HN