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A better way to tie gym shorts (or any drawstring) [video]

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Re: A better way to tie gym shorts (or any drawstring) [video]

#151

Post by kazinator »

LoganDark wrote: post #139
arijun wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A bit off topic, but I hate that Ian just slapped his name on a knot and people call it that. He even has a little link on there saying "Yes I'm the inventor," which, if you click on it, amounts to "trust me bro." That knot was how my father learned to tie his shoes in the 60s, so Ian must have time-traveled back after "inventing" it in '82.

He surely invented "Ian's Knot" (the term for it). Even if there already existed a knot tied the same way, if people didn't know it by a name, surely there's some benefit to having a name for it?

Ian's Knot is a new procedure for achieving the same configuration as a standard knot or double loop knot. The procedure involves inserting the loops into each other simultaneously. Basically, it is like a reverse unravelling.

When you pull the two string ends of a standard knot at the same time, the loop shrink and pull out of each other at the same time. Just figure out how to do that backwards and you probably have Ian's Knot or something very close.

Re: A better way to tie gym shorts (or any drawstring) [video]

#152

Post by kazinator »

delichon wrote: post #60

This knot is not for me. I need my drawstrings to be permanently connected together, or else when I wash those shorts they frequently get pulled into the pants where I can't reach them, and it's a pain to fish them out again. And I can't remember to tie them together before each wash.

You can get an inexpensive drawstring tool off AliExpress.

Re: A better way to tie gym shorts (or any drawstring) [video]

#154

Post by kazinator »

argee wrote: post #113
wccrawford wrote: post #45

I did this for a while after seeing that video, but after some of my shorts ended up tightening into a knot that I couldn't get loose easily, I gave up on it. I instead just use the "Ian Knot" that I use to tie my shoes. It's very quick, I already use it all the time anyhow, and it rarely goes wrong. (Sometimes, I think I end up with an end through a loop accidentally, and have to fix it.) Learning this extra knot di…

If you have round laces, Ian’s knot reliably comes undone. Ian’s secure shoelace knot is better in that case, though it’s slightly slower and trickier to do. The double Ian knot is interesting too, but it (and several other alternatives) won’t have the “pull just once to untie” mechanic.

Ian's knot is not new kind of knot with its own properties; it's a kind of procedure for producing the standard knot. The resulting knot doesn't remember which procedure it came from.

Re: A better way to tie gym shorts (or any drawstring) [video]

#155

Post by beAbU »

varenc wrote: post #57
SoftTalker wrote: post #39

Life is too short to make simple things more complicated.

You could also say life is too short to waste time retying inferior drawstrings. If learning the knot takes 5 minutes, it seems like it could easily save you time overall.

I've been tying shorts for more than 35 years. I can do it with my eyes closed. I can do it while running, or while swimming. I don't need to look down, finagle an end into an ampersand and whatnot. I don't have to worry about grabbing the right loop+end combo to increase or decrease tightness. I just undo the knot, and redo it according to preference.

I'd argue I'm just about as fast adjusting my shorts than this guy in the video.

Re: A better way to tie gym shorts (or any drawstring) [video]

#156

Post by Rotdhizon »

This is similar to how traditional Afghan pants are tied. For those who have seen then, the first time putting them on can be a shock. Because when fully extended out, the waist is like 75-100 inches around, you'd think there was a mistake but that's how they come. You tie the drawstring like this so you can pull that waist all the way in comfortably and it lets the pants be very airy, comfortable, and cool.

Re: A better way to tie gym shorts (or any drawstring) [video]

#157

Post by silisili »

exclipy wrote: post #132
jeremyjacob wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here’s an animated version: https://knots3d.com/en/lapp-knot

This. The ampersand method in the OP video (and the sibling slipped-lapp-knot comment) is needlessly complicated. Just follow this super simple animation instead (except pass a bight in the last step to make it quick-release). The Lapp knot (aka. lapp bend) is my favourite of all the knots and very underrated. It's so versatile and simple, even simpler to tie than a square knot. As shown in the OP, it can be tightene…

It's almost nonintuitive(at least to me) how many ways there are to tie the same knot. I must have watched 15 different snell techniques before I found one that seemed simple enough to remember and actually use with wet hands and slick lines.

Re: A better way to tie gym shorts (or any drawstring) [video]

#158

Post by argee »

kazinator wrote: post #154
argee wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you have round laces, Ian’s knot reliably comes undone. Ian’s secure shoelace knot is better in that case, though it’s slightly slower and trickier to do. The double Ian knot is interesting too, but it (and several other alternatives) won’t have the “pull just once to untie” mechanic.

Ian's knot is not new kind of knot with its own properties; it's a kind of procedure for producing the standard knot. The resulting knot doesn't remember which procedure it came from.

Sorry, I chose to use the same terminology as the comment I replied to. Should I have started with the explanation you’ve posted, would that make my comment better?

Re: A better way to tie gym shorts (or any drawstring) [video]

#159

Post by sfdlkj3jk342a »

varenc wrote: post #57
SoftTalker wrote: post #39

Life is too short to make simple things more complicated.

You could also say life is too short to waste time retying inferior drawstrings. If learning the knot takes 5 minutes, it seems like it could easily save you time overall.

Why not just buy clothes that fit properly?

I haven't tied a drawstring or used a belt in maybe 15 years, when I realized it was worth finding clothes that fit well. They're more comfortable and look better.

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