Ian's Shoelace Site
Fun, fashion & science in the Internet's #1 website about shoelaces – and home of the Ian Knot, the world's fastest shoelace knot. If you want to lace shoes, tie shoes or learn about shoelaces – this is the place!
Welcome!
G'day everyone, Ian Fieggen here, also known as “Professor Shoelace”. I'm a real human living in Melbourne, Australia. This website has no “A.I.” content – it's all built with “H.I.” plus Human Effort over more than two decades.
Welcome to “Ian's Shoelace Site” – made by one human, for all humans.
Table of Contents
Contains over 100 × step-by-step shoe lacing tutorials, over 2,700 × shoe lacing photos, plus the interactive “Create-a-Lace” for designing your own lacing.
Contains 25 × shoelace knots (including my world's fastest “Ian Knot”), plus info on tying correctly so that they sit straight and stay securely tied – yet can be untied without jamming.
Heaps of knowledge about shoelaces, including their construction, length calculations – even what the tips are called, as well as Ian's interviews, articles, Q&As and more.
Information about this website and the site's author, Ian Fieggen – including Ian's contact details. Also info on this site's sponsors plus ways that you, too, can support Ian.
Looking for something? This website has more than 300 pages – which can be daunting to wade through! Search the whole of Ian's Shoelace Site using Google Custom Search.
Today's Photo
08-Apr-2026
Today's pic from the archives was contributed by Morten S. in Aug-2008.
Patterned black & white Vans Widows laced with white Zipper Lacing.
First of three methods on Morten's various sneakers.
What's New?
28-Mar-2026 – Changed to more accessible braid pattern icons, plus added separate spools to visualise braiding machine setup.
Recent Visitor Feedback
I've recently come to know your website from my Mastodon feed. It represents everything I love from the open web : passionate people who, for absolutely no reason, decide to spend thousand of hours to gather niche knowledge and share it for everyone to see. Plus, your website is incredibly well done, easy to browse, with lots of content and even step by step tutorials.
In the era of AI slop, of “good enough” content, cookie banners and paywalls, your website is a net positive to humankind and open knowledge, and I'm glad I could pitch in to support you.
– Célian G., Paris, France, Apr-2026
Hey Ian! Just wanted to say thank you for all the hard work you put into your shoelaces and shoe lace education. Have a great easter weekend!
– Liliana S., Mar-2026
I've been tying my shoelaces wrong for 48 years, apparently. Thanks for setting me straight, Ian!
– Merlin A., Mar-2026
I am writing to you today mostly because I wanted to say thanks for maintaining your website, It's been really helpful to be able to come back to and double check how to do particular lacing.
And with AI muddying literally everywhere else. it is nice to see a well designed website that just has the information.
– Lyle C., Mar-2026
Great resource (and great website)!
– Michael P., USA, Mar-2026
If you'd also like to send feedback, please Contact Ian.