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Half & Half Lacing
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Shoelaces can be purchased with half one color and half another color. An alternative is to dye one half of a
normal shoelace with a different color, or to use two half shoelaces of different colors. The resulting bi-color
shoelace can be used for any
Lacing Method.
This page starts with three different Half & Half techniques applied to
Criss Cross Lacing, then the same three techniques applied to the popular
Straight (Bar) Lacing. Finally, some other examples of methods that work well with Half & Half Lacing are shown.
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Half & Half / Criss Cross Lacing
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This section contains three different Half & Half techniques applied to
Criss Cross Lacing. The result is a series of crossovers with one color crossing over the other.
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Method 1: Bi-Color Shoelace
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Half & Half / Criss Cross Lacing Technique - Method 1 - Bi-Color Shoelace:
1. Using a bi-color shoelace (either purchased or home-made), lace the shoe normally as per
Criss Cross Lacing.
Features:
Decorative look
Regular tightening
Regular tying
Hard to get bi-color laces |
Method 2: Knotted Halves
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Half & Half / Criss Cross Lacing Technique - Method 2 - Knotted Halves:
1. Take two different color shoelaces, each a tiny bit longer than the correct length for the shoes.
2. Cut both shoelaces in half.
3. Tie half of one color shoelace and half of the other color shoelace firmly together using a simple
Reef Knot (or any similar knot). For extra security, add a dab of glue, or if you're handy with a needle and
thread, try sewing the ends together.
4. Run the knotted section straight across the bottom with the ends emerging through both bottom eyelets.
5. Continue lacing the shoe normally as per
Criss Cross Lacing.
Features:
Messier look
Work required
Slight discomfort |
Method 3: Separate Halves
Faint sections are underneath |
Half & Half / Criss Cross Lacing Technique - Method 3 - Separate Halves:
1. Take two different color shoelaces, each a tiny bit longer than the correct length for the shoes.
2. Cut both shoelaces in half, then tie off each of the cut ends with a simple overhand knot or a more secure
stopper knot, such as a "Figure of Eight Knot".
Wikipedia: Figure of Eight Knot.
3. Feed one half shoelace of each color through the bottom eyelets so that the stopper knots are hidden inside.
4. Continue lacing the shoe normally as per
Criss Cross Lacing.
Features:
No visible knot
Work required
More discomfort |
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Half & Half / Straight (Bar) Lacing
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This section contains three different Half & Half techniques applied to
Straight (Bar) Lacing. The result is a series of horizontal bars that alternate between two colors. For a
uniform look, the join between the two colors can be hidden under the side of the shoe (as in the bottom-right of
the following diagrams), or, in the case of shoes with an odd number of eyelet pairs, with separate knots at each
side of the shoe.
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Method 1: Bi-Color Shoelace
Faint sections are underneath |
Half & Half / Straight (Bar) Lacing Technique - Method 1 - Bi-Color Shoelace:
1. Using a bi-color shoelace (either purchased or home-made), lace the shoe normally as per
Straight (Bar) Lacing.
NOTE:
If the join between the two colors is hidden underneath the side of the shoe (as in the bottom-right of this
diagram), this will result in one end being longer than the other because it passes through fewer eyelets. You
may choose to cut the ends to uniform lengths, then fit them out with
new aglets. |
Method 2: Knotted Halves
Faint sections are underneath |
Half & Half / Straight (Bar) Lacing Technique - Method 2 - Knotted Halves:
(This is the preferred technique for shoes with
even numbers of eyelet pairs).
1. Take two different color shoelaces, each a tiny bit longer than the correct length for the shoes.
2. Cut both shoelaces
not quite in half so that one piece is a few centimetres longer than the other.
(See below for how to calculate the exact difference in length between the two pieces).
3. Tie one longer piece of one color (purple in this diagram) and one shorter piece of the other color (orange in
this diagram) firmly together using a simple
Reef Knot (or any similar knot). For extra security, add a dab of glue, or if you're handy with a needle and
thread, try sewing the ends together. Use the remaining pieces to make the bi-color lace for the other shoe.
4. Pull the longer (purple) end out through the bottom right eyelet, feeding from inside the shoe, until stopped by
the joining knot.
5. Continue lacing the shoe normally as per
Straight (Bar) Lacing.
NOTE:
To minimize any discomfort caused by the knot or join, position it on the side nearest your little toe. |
Method 3: Separate Halves
Faint sections are underneath
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Half & Half / Straight (Bar) Lacing Technique - Method 3 - Separate Halves:
(This is the preferred technique for shoes with
odd numbers of eyelet pairs).
1. Take two different color shoelaces, each a tiny bit longer than the correct length for the shoes.
2. Cut both shoelaces
not quite in half so that one piece is a few centimetres longer than the other.
(See below for how to calculate the exact difference in length between the two pieces).
3. Tie off each of the cut ends with a simple overhand knot or a more secure stopper knot, such as a "Figure of
Eight Knot".
Wikipedia: Figure of Eight Knot.
4. Feed the longer of the two cut shoelaces (purple in this diagram) out through the bottom right eyelet and the
shorter of the two cut shoelaces (orange in this diagram) out through the left eyelet 2nd from bottom (ie.
diagonally across from the bottom right eyelet) so that the stopper knots are hidden inside.
5. Continue lacing the shoe normally as per
Straight (Bar) Lacing. |
Cutting to Length:
Because the joining knot is at the side of the shoe rather than in the very middle, the two colored pieces of
shoelace need to be different lengths. The actual difference in length also depends on whether the shoe has an
even or odd number of eyelet pairs:
- For even numbered, the difference in length is the horizontal distance (H) between the bottom two eyelets plus
the vertical distance (V) between the bottom and 2nd from bottom eyelets (ie. H+V).
- For odd numbered, the difference in length is only the vertical distance (V).
If you then take
half that calculated difference in length, the result is the offset from the middle of the shoelace at which
they should be cut. In other words, fold a shoelace in two, then from that centre fold, measure half the calculated
difference in length towards one end and cut the shoelace at that point.
If this all sounds too complicated, use my
Shoelace Length Calculator to get the exact lengths of each piece of shoelace.
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Symmetry Between Shoes:
Because each colored shoelace has been cut into one long piece and one short piece, the color combination will
alternate between the two shoes. For example, one shoe will have the purple lace at the bottom whereas the other
shoe will have the orange.
If you would prefer both shoes to look identical, you'll need to begin with one longer shoelace of one color and
one shorter shoelace of the other color, each cut exactly in half. Then each shoe will be laced with the same
colored longer end at the bottom.
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Other Half & Half Lacing Variations
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The following section contains four additional examples of the Half & Half lacing technique applied to different
Lacing Methods. These four were chosen not because they are the only possibilities but simply because they look
interesting. In fact, the Half & Half technique can be applied to
ANY regular lacing method in order to transform it into a bi-color method.
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Half & Half / Lattice Lacing
For lacing technique, see the regular
Lattice Lacing. |
Half & Half / Loop Back Lacing
For lacing technique, see the regular
Loop Back Lacing. |
Half & Half / Spider Web Lacing
For lacing technique, see the regular
Spider Web Lacing. |
Half & Half / Zipper Lacing
For lacing technique, see the regular
Zipper Lacing. |
Three or More Colors
Finally, note that the left and right shoes do not have to be laced with the same colors. Use different colors on
the two shoes to end up with a total of three or four colors. This is great when representing countries or teams
whose flags or emblems require more than two colors. |
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Recent Photos (sent by site visitors)
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Hover over any photo for details, or click to enlarge in the
Shoe Lacing Photos page.
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Related Links
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Criss CrossLacing
Single-colored version of the first of the above Half & Half Lacing techniques.
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Straight (Bar) Lacing
Single-colored version of the second of the above Half & Half Lacing techniques.
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This page last updated: 26-Jul-2010. Copyright © 2004-2010 by
Ian W. Fieggen. All rights reserved.
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