Tying shoelaces- butterfly vs grown up way

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Selleri, Jun 13, 2025.

  1. Tinkerton

    Tinkerton Gardener

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    These days I just buy Sketchers Slip-Ins! No bending, no laces, no bovver!
     
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    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      I bought a couple of long shoe horns, saves bending to get shoes on now my knees are not so flexible .
       
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      • Baalmaiden

        Baalmaiden Gardener

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        My daughter is left handed and had trouble learning how to knot her shoes from me but soon learnt from her friend when she went to school. Wish we had youtube when she was little!
         
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        • Penny_Forthem

          Penny_Forthem Head gardener, zero staff

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          Mum was a right hander, I'm a leftie. I frustrated her by my inability to eat sandwiches like she did, to tie shoe laces, write legibly, or perform any simple task properly. I was, in fact, sinister.
           
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          • Tidemark

            Tidemark Total Gardener

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            I don’t remember being taught how to tie my shoe laces but I do remember, still, the stress of being shown the utterly incomprehensible method of telling the time on a clock face.
             
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            • Penny_Forthem

              Penny_Forthem Head gardener, zero staff

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              I was 'taught' to write with my right hand. She despaired of me, I was so untidy.
              It didn't help that missing parts of hands ran in the family, so I could hardly hold a pen. I've since adapted!
               
            • Tidemark

              Tidemark Total Gardener

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              Yes, my mum was naturally sinister but was forced to be dextrous when she first arrived at infant school. And in those days “forced” involved a beating with the officially approved weapon, the tawse. On a five year old.
               
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              • Selleri

                Selleri Koala

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                Lefties! My big sister is left handed and very good at crafts and art. I remember her trying to teach me how to knit but it was all the wrong way around.

                Perhaps with this early childhood influence I grew up slightly ambidextrous, I can write with either hand and pour from a bottle to a glass either way, even though my right is the preferred one.

                I'll have to ask her about the shoelaces. :biggrin:

                Oh, and returning to shoelaces. A big boss in my company described himself as a "just a plain guy, still tying my shoelaces with butterfly knot. " I suppose he was referring to the stigma of two-loop vs. one loop. :th scifD36:
                 
              • pete

                pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                My dad had the same problem as school.

                I think you have to use a rifle right handed if you join the army.
                I had a bash a clay pigeon shooting a while back and I was told you have to know if you are right eyed or left eyed, turned out I'm left eyed but right handed, so had to close my left eye to shoot, apparently most people shoot with both eyes open.

                What that has to do with tying shoelaces I'm not sure.:scratch:
                 
              • Penny_Forthem

                Penny_Forthem Head gardener, zero staff

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                I have puzzled over the one/two bow method. One bow, me!
                I am a left hander eater (not polite in some parts of the world, but can't help it). I'd pick up a sandwich and turn it upside down to eat. Drove mum mad!
                Am left eyed and footed.
                When I was teaching in the 70s, i could write on the 'blackboard' with my right hand while watching the darling feral offspring, then switch to the left. They never left my sight.
                 
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                • pete

                  pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                  Are we actually saying you end up with one bow, I'm finding the whole thing confusing as I only thought there was one way to tie a shoe lace.
                  I start with one wrap it round my thumb and push it through, it ends up with two loops.

                  I've looked at the pictures and are none the wiser about how others do it.
                   
                • ViewAhead

                  ViewAhead Total Gardener

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                  You end up with two loops, @pete, using either method. You can start with two loops and knot them together, or start with one, go round it with the loose end, and then drag the loose end through in a second loop.

                  Or just wear Crocs! :biggrin:
                   
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                  • Tidemark

                    Tidemark Total Gardener

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                    I’ve only ever done the one loop method, but trying the bunny ears method just now the knot always comes out squint with the bow at an angle to the foot. The one loop method has the bow sitting square over the foot. No?
                     
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                      Last edited: Jun 15, 2025
                    • pete

                      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                      Bunny ears method is not something I have heard of, it sounds very difficult, why do they teach kids a different method to how adults do it.

                      You only need to learn something once,, surely.

                      I can remember being shown how to tie my school tie, the way you do it lives with you all your life.

                      Even putting a jumper on and not getting it backwards.:biggrin:

                      BTW the side label is always on the left.:biggrin:
                       
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                      • SherwoodArrow

                        SherwoodArrow Gardener

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                        I tend to show the children the "bunny ears" way first but if they struggle with it I show them the one loop first method.
                        I was only taught the one loop method as a child myself and I only ever use it, I never "bunny ears" my own laces!
                        Up to 32 kids in a class with 25 wearing lace up trainers is a nightmare if they can't do them up themselves, we even rope in the kids who can tie them, to help each other!
                        We have enough on with teaching them how to use the toilet, cut up there food, put clothes on and talk properly without criticizing how they tie there shoes, all before the actual reason there in school starts!
                        (Whoever invented velcro I love you)
                         
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                          Last edited: Jun 15, 2025
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