How Do You Tie a Fishtail Knot?

Tying what is commonly referred to as a fishtail knot, or more accurately, a fishtail lacing pattern, involves a specific method of threading and looping your shoelaces. This technique is often used on shoes like Sperrys to create a distinct, woven look.

Steps for Tying the Fishtail Lacing Pattern

Follow these steps to achieve the fishtail look using your shoelaces, based on the described method:

1. Thread the laces through the eyelets in parallel lines. Start by inserting the laces straight across the bottom pair of eyelets from the outside, ensuring they emerge inside the shoe. Then, feed each lace straight up through the next eyelet on the same side, maintaining parallel lines across the eyelets inside the shoe.
2. Cross the laces and pull them down towards the tip of the shoe. Once the laces are threaded up through a few eyelets (creating parallel bars inside the shoe), bring the laces outside the shoe and cross them over the top of the parallel lines just created. Pull them downwards towards the toe of the shoe.
3. Loop the left lace over the right parallel line. Take the left lace and pass it horizontally over the top of the right parallel section of lace on the shoe.
4. Loop the right lace over the left parallel line. Take the right lace and pass it horizontally over the top of the left parallel section of lace on the shoe.
5. Loop each lace up and over the opposite parallel line 3 times. Starting with either lace, bring it upwards alongside the parallel lace section on its own side. Then, wrap or loop it three times over and around the opposite parallel lace section before continuing the process upwards to the next set of eyelets. Repeat this looping step with the other lace, also looping it three times around the opposite parallel line. Continue this pattern, repeating steps 3, 4 (or a variation depending on the full pattern, but the reference focuses on steps 3, 4, and 5) and especially step 5, working your way up the shoe.

This repeated looping and crossing action over the parallel lace sections creates the signature interwoven or "fishtail" appearance along the shoe's surface.