Double Ian Shoelace Knot
By hanging onto the loops and repeating the Ian Knot technique, the result is the more secure Double Ian Shoelace Knot. This is also handy for consuming excess lace to keep the ends from dragging.
Step 1:
Begin with a completed Ian Knot. Ideally, you'll still be hanging onto the loops. Make sure you have fairly long loops to work with.
Step 2:
Repeat steps (3) and (4) of the regular Ian Knot to rotate the loops and cross them over each other. The main difference is that there are no loose ends to which you must pay attention – the loops can be crossed any way you want.
Step 3:
Start to feed one side of each loop through the opposite loop. Again, as neither end is loose, it doesn't really matter which side you choose – although obviously it's easiest to repeat the exact same movement as used in the regular Ian Knot.
Step 4:
Once each hand has a hold of the other side's loop and has let go of its own, pull tight to complete the knot. If done correctly, the second knot will work its way downwards to end up on top of the first knot.
NOTE: It's worth mastering the regular Ian Knot before attempting this variation!
Finished Knot Gallery
The finished Double Ian Shoelace Knot is quite bulky, which is helpful for consuming excess shoelace to keep the ends from dragging.
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Technical Details
Untying the Double Ian Shoelace Knot
The Double Ian Shoelace Knot can usually be untied by simply pulling the ends, especially if the second Ian Knot is tied fairly loosely. However, if tied tightly, this can end up jamming at the last minute, requiring fierce wriggling or resorting to picking apart the second knot.
It's also near impossible to untie three or more repetitions (as seen in the 2nd photo above) any other way than picking the knots apart one by one.
Other Uses
I've found that a double or triple Ian Knot is a very quick & efficient way of tying closed the loop handles of plastic shopping bags, which I like to reuse as garbage bags. The loops are exactly like the loops of shoelaces, and two or three repetitions of the Ian Knot is much quicker and easier than the two or three overhand knots that people normally use to tie these bags closed.
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More “Double Ian Knot” Pages
Flip Book
Animated Flip Book for the Double Ian Knot.
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Related Links
Ian Knot
More detailed instructions on the loop-through-loop procedure.
Ian's Secure Knot
Simpler secure knot that can be more easily untied.
Double Knot
Different knot that also consumes excess shoelace length.
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Ian
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