How to Lace Shoes

Method for shoes with five-pairs of shoelace holes.

1. 

   
   1
   Place one end of the shoelace through the first hole, inside step (i.e., the left hole nearest the heel on a right shoe) and pull through to leave about 6 inches (15.2 cm) of lace outside.^[4]

2. 

   
   2
   Pass it under and up through the second outer hole.

3. 

   
   3
   Pass it straight over and down through second inside step hole.

4. 

   
   4
   Pass it under and up through the fifth inside step hole.

5. 

   
   5
   Pass it straight over and down through the fifth outside hole.

6. 

   
   6
   Pass it under and up through the fourth outside hole.

7. 

   
   7
   Pass it straight over and down through the fourth inside hole.

8. 

   
   8
   Pass it under and up through the third inside hole.

9. 

   
   9
   Pass it straight over and down through the third outside hole.

10. 

    
    10
    Pass it under and up through the first outside hole.

11. 

    
    11
    If you end up with more lace on side than the other, fold the extra length of the longer lace in half, put the folded end together with the end of the shorter lace, reverse the procedure to feed lace back to bring both laces to the same length.

12. 

    
    12
    Tie your two remaining ends in a bow (see below).