Lace Converse

Converse shoes are back in style, and can provide a trendy, fresh look to your outfit. However, lacing your Converse can be a daunting task. It does take a while to do, especially if it is your first time, and the numbers of pattern choices are endless. Luckily, there are three basic ways of lacing your shoes: straight bar, criss-cross, and double-sided. While each of these are simple, they are a great jumping off point to learn the basics of lacing. They also provide you with three wonderful sets of patterns which are interchangeable, and can provide a fresh update to an old pair of Converse.

Steps

Lacing a Straight Bar Pattern

1. Choose the right shoelaces. The shoelace length depends on the number of eyelet pairs on your Converse shoes. Note that this style of lacing only works properly if your shoes have an even number of pairs.
   • If lacing two pairs, get laces 25 inches (63 cm) in length.
   • If lacing four pairs, get laces 31 inches (80 cm) in length.
   • If lacing six pairs, get laces 38 inches (96 cm) long.
   • If lacing eight pairs, get laces 44 inches (112 cm) long.
2. Thread your shoelace through the bottom eyelets. Pull your shoelace through the bottom pair of eyelets in your Converse shoe. The ends of the shoelace should be inside the shoe. From the front, you will see a straight bar across the bottom pair of eyelets. Keep an even length of shoelace at each end.
   • This is one of the most popular lacing styles for Converse shoes, which are often worn for comfort and for fashion. This method of lacing is highly comfortable, and the lack of underlying diagonals makes it look much cleaner.
3. Bring "Side A up. "Side A," or the shoelace presently on the left side of the shoe, should be pulled through the left eyelet second from the bottom. Remember to keep the shoelace from curling up, especially if you are using flat laces.
4. Thread "Side A" across. Pull the shoelace over the front of your shoe and into the right hole lying directly opposite the hole you pulled it through. You should see a horizontal bar across the front of your shoe. The end of this side should be tucked under the side of your Converse again.
5. Bring "Side B" up, skipping one set of eyelets. "Side B," which currently lies on the right side of the shoe, should be pulled through the right eyelet third from the bottom. The hole second from the bottom should be occupied by "Side A." Remember, once again, do not curl the lace, especially if they are flat laces. Work your hands over the lace continuously until it is flat again.
6. Thread "Side B" across. Pull the shoelace end across the front of the shoe and lace it into the left eyelet third from the bottom, directly opposite the eyelet you pulled it through. This should create another horizontal bar across the front of your shoe, and the end should remain hidden from the front.
7. Lace alternate eyelets in this pattern. "Side A" should be laced through the eyelet pairs second, fourth, and sixth from the bottom. "Side B" should be laced through the eyelet pairs third, fifth, and seventh from the bottom. This should leave you with a column of horizontal bars without any diagonal underlying.
8. Pull through and tie the ends together. Pull "Side A" through the right eyelet and "Side B" through the left eyelet at the top pair. Tie together with a standard shoelace bow to complete. You can also tuck the laces underneath the cushion of your shoe so you don't have laces hanging out of the top.

Making a Criss-Cross Shoelace Pattern

1. Choose the right shoelaces. The shoelace length depends on the number of eyelet pairs on your Converse shoes. This pattern works for shoes with both even, and non-even eyelets.
   • For two pairs of eyelets, choose laces 28 inches (71 cm) long.
   • For three pairs of eyelets, choose laces 32 inches (81 cm) long.
   • For four pairs of eyelets, choose laces 36 inches (92 cm) long.
   • For five pairs of eyelets, choose laces 40 inches (102 cm) long.
   • For six pairs of eyelets, use laces 44 inches (113 cm) long.
   • For seven pairs of eyelets, use laces 48 inches (123 cm) long.
   • For eight pairs of eyelets, choose laces 53 inches (134 cm) in length.
2. Pull the shoelace straight across the bottom set of eyelets. Thread the lace along the underside of the Converse, bringing both ends up through the bottom set of eyelets. There should be a straight horizontal bar connecting the two bottom eyelets. Make the length of each end as even as possible.
   • This is the most traditional, common lacing style for shoes of all types. It is both simple and comfortable.
3. Thread "Side A" up and across. Pull "Side A," presently on the left side of the shoe, through the left bottom eyelet and into the right eyelet second from the bottom. This creates a diagonal line connecting the two eyelets. The shoelace should be pulled over the left bottom hole but pushed through the second-to-bottom hole on the right from the underside of the eyelet. Pull the lace through the right eyelet so that it comes out and over the top once more.
4. Thread "Side B" up and across. Pull "Side B," currently on the right side of the shoe, through the right bottom eyelet and into the left eyelet second from the bottom. Another diagonal line connecting the two eyelets should be created. Pull the shoelace over the right bottom eyelet but push it through the second-to-bottom eyelet on the left from the underside. Pull the lace end through the left eyelet so that it pokes through and drapes over the top once again.
5. Cross the two sides back and forth. Continue alternating "Side A" and "Side B" back and forth, criss-crossing the two laces until you reach the top pair of eyelets. Each end should be pulled through its eyelet and laced into the eyelet on the opposite side one row up.
6. Pull the ends together at the top pair of eyelets. Pull the two ends together as they come out and over the top eyelets of your Converse shoes. This should create another horizontal pathway, similar to the one at the bottom. Tie a normal shoelace knot when slipping the shoes on your feet. You can also tuck the laces underneath the cushion of the shoe if you don't want the laces showing.

Threading a Double-Sided Lace Pattern

1. Choose the right shoelaces. The shoelace length depends on the number of eyelet pairs on your Converse shoes. You will need two different shoelaces in separate colors for this lacing style, but the two laces should be equal in length. You should select flat shoelaces that are fairly thin. Each eyelet will need to hold two layers of shoelace, so it is important that the shoelaces you choose are thin and flat, regardless of length.
   • This lacing technique can be used on Converse with an odd number of eyelet pairs, but it will look most symmetrical with shoes that have an even number of pairs.
   • If using two pairs of eyelets, choose shoelace 28 inches (71 cm) long.
   • If using three pairs of eyelets, choose shoelaces 32 inches (81 cm) in length.
   • If using four pairs of eyelets, choose shoelaces 36 inches (92 cm) long.
   • If using five pairs of eyelets, use shoelaces 40 inches (102 cm) in length.
   • If using six pairs of eyelets, use shoelaces 44 inches (113 cm) long.
   • If using seven pairs of eyelets, use shoelaces 48 inches (123 cm) in length.
   • If using eight pairs of eyelets, choose laces 53 inches (134 cm) long.
2. Hold the two shoelaces together. Arrange the two shoelaces so that they are evenly lined up and back-to-back. You should have, in appearance, a flat shoelace with double thickness and two sides. Note that this technique is fairly similar to the criss-cross lacing technique and uses the same general pattern. This is a popular lacing style for converse because it is fun, decorative, and easy to customize. It is slightly harder to tighten and tie than a single-lace method, however, so you should be aware of this fact before choosing this technique.
3. Thread the laces through the bottom pair of eyelets. Pull the double-laces through the bottom set of eyelets so that "Color One" shows. The other lace, "Color Two," should be hidden behind the top lace. The shoelaces should be threaded into the eyelets from the bottom so that the ends come up through the eyelets. The ends should drape over the eyelet sides once this step is completed.
4. Cross "Side A" diagonally upward. Pull "Side A" out of the bottom left eyelet and through the second-to-bottom right eyelet. Make sure that the shoelaces are twisted so that "Color Two" is now on top while "Color One" is hidden on the bottom. A diagonal line should connect the bottom and second-to-bottom holes on opposing sides of the Converse. Pull the laces from the underside of the right second-to-bottom hole and over the top.
5. Cross "Side B" diagonally upward. Pull "Side B" out of the bottom right eyelet and through the second-to-bottom left eyelet. The shoelaces should be twisted to match the other half of the criss-cross. "Color Two" should show on the top and "Color One" should be hidden on the bottom. The two eyelets should be connected by a diagonal line. Pull the shoelaces through the left eyelet from the underside, letting them drape over the top of the left eyelet once you pull them through.
6. Twist the shoelaces to the other side. Then repeat the crossing procedure. Repeat the criss-crossing pattern, but twist the shoelaces so that Color One is now on top while Color Two is now hidden on the bottom. Alternate "Side A" and "Side B" back and forth, criss-crossing the eyelets so that each end is pulled through its eyelet and into the eyelet on the opposite side one row up.
7. Twist and cross until you reach the top. Continue twisting and criss-crossing the shoelaces. Each "x" across your shoes should be composed of a single color, but each "x" should be the opposite color of the "x" beneath it and above it.
8. Pull the laces through the top and tie when ready. When you pull the shoelaces through the top set of eyelets, it does not matter which side of the double-lace shows. Both sides will show when you tie your shoes. Alternatively, you can make tying the shoes easier by tucking one color shoelace into the top of your shoe and only tying the other color in the front of your shoe. Otherwise, you will tie your shoes using both laces.

Tips

• Try to keep from curling your laces. Every time you thread one lace through an eyelet, run your hand over it. You might have to put the lace back through, and lace it again.
• Change up your lace pattern weekly or monthly. Go for a different look, that is always fresh and up to date.
• Keep trying until you get it right. Often times it is the case that you will wind up with a short end and a long end of a lace when you go to tie a knot. Take the lace out, and rethread.
• Look for different colored laces. You can find laces in all different colors these days, including neon green, and hot pink.

Warnings

• Always buy laces which are not treated with any harsh chemical agents. Check the packaging labels for more information.
• Be patient with lacing. If this is your first time lacing, you might end up with a knot, or seriously frayed laces by the time you are done. Take your time and stay calm.

Things You'll Need

• Converse shoes
• Shoelaces

Sources and Citations

• Videos provided by stuntmotomoto

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