Have you ever bought a new shoe and found the laces were too long? Shoe laces that are too long can be stepped on and damaged, or you could fall over and injure yourself. However, don't rush off to buy a new pair of shoelaces either. With a few simple tools you have at home, you can easily shorten your shoelaces so you don't have to worry about snagging the laces and falling over.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Measuring and Cutting Shoelaces
Step 1. Put on the shoes
Don't just think about the length of the rope to cut. It is best to put on the shoes and see how long the laces are on each side. Tie the rope as usual until you get to the most comfortable position and mark how much you will cut.
When you're trying to estimate how long your shoelaces will be cutting, think about how you tie your shoes. If you want to do a double knot, tie the shoelaces as you normally would and see how long you have to cut each side
Step 2. Mark the shoelaces
You need to know exactly where to cut the shoelaces. So, mark the exact location. Use a marker to draw a line at each end of the rope to show the excess rope to be cut.
- It's okay to keep your shoes on while marking, but it's often easier to use a ruler to determine how long you want to cut the laces at each end, then remove the laces to mark them.
- Shoelaces usually come in standard sizes, such as 75 cm, 100 cm, or 130 cm. So, knowing what shoelace size you usually use, you can easily mark the same length in the future.
Step 3. Cut the shoelaces
It's usually pretty easy to cut shoelaces. Scissors can help you with this. However, make sure your scissors are sharp so you don't let the strings fall apart when you cut them. Follow the markings you've made to make sure you're cutting in the right place.
Do not cut excess rope at one end only. This will cause the laces to have one end cut off, and the other end not. When worn, the straps will look mismatched
Step 4. Consider cutting the excess rope in the middle
Instead of cutting the rope at each end and having an untidy end, you can work around this by cutting the excess rope in the middle. That way, you'll have two ropes with an aglet at each end. That way, you only need to tie the two pieces of rope together to get one long rope.
- Try on the shoes, use a ruler to see how long the excess laces are on each side, add the two numbers together, then cut the middle to the sum of the numbers.
- Tie the two pieces of shoelaces as tightly as possible. Add a little instant glue to the knots to strengthen the bond. Wait for the glue to dry. If you see excess string on the outside of the knot, trim it with scissors. Alternatively, you can also sew both pieces of string.
Part 2 of 3: Forming the End of the Rope
Step 1. Wrap the toe of the shoe with tape
Place a piece of tape on a flat surface (sticky side up) and place the end of the string around the center of the tape. Carefully roll the tape around the rope so that you get a tight, neat end called an aglet. If any part of the string is sticking out of the tape, trim it with scissors.
- To make the ends of the rope even more solid, you can add two drops of glue under the ends of the tape before securing it to the rope.
- Wrapping the ends of the laces with tape will result in ends that resemble the plastic aglets commonly found in store-bought shoelaces, so you can also choose to trim the excess at each end if you wish.
Step 2. Apply glue to the end of the rope
Put a little glue on the end of the rope and when the glue starts to dry, press the glue so it can absorb into the rope fibers and reduce the thickness of the glue. Once the glue is completely dry, you can trim the remaining rope and add a little more glue to increase the aglet's resistance and make it look smoother.
- Do not use instant glue, such as Krazy Glue, as this will stick to the skin, making it difficult for you to shape the ends of the shoelaces.
- The best option is an acetone-based glue, such as Elmer's because it is water-resistant and clear when dry, making it perfect for aglets.
- If you don't have a suitable glue, you can use clear nail polish.
Step 3. Use a tube that will shrink when exposed to heat
Such tubes are usually used to insulate electrical wires and are strong and flexible enough to form an aglet. Cut the tube to a standard aglet size, usually about 1.5 cm. Tuck the tube at each end of the string, then hold the tube over a candle, lighter, or other flame so the plastic can shrink.
- Choose a tube with a diameter that will make it easier for you to slip the end of the rope. In most cases, a 4-5 mm diameter tube is a good choice.
- When tucking the end of the rope into the tube, twist the rope to help ease you on and not damage the fibers.
- No need to overheat to shrink the tube. So make sure you don't hold it too close to the flame. If the tube starts to smoke or bubble, it means it's too hot.
- If you have a small hair straightener, you can use it to safely heat the tube. Clamp the tube with a straightener for 5 to 10 seconds to shrink the plastic tube and form the end of the rope.
- The transparent tube will give the most similar appearance to a commercial aglet.
Step 4. Melt the ends of the rope
If the laces are synthetic, you can melt them to get a smooth, neat end. Hold the end of the string over a candle, match, or other flame to melt enough of the string to form a closed end.
- Make sure not to hold the rope too close to the fire as it can burn the entire rope. It is recommended to melt the tube over the sink to avoid the risk of fire.
- Do not touch the synthetic material once it has started to melt as it can stick to your skin.
Part 3 of 3: Attaching Shoelaces
Step 1. Start at the bottom eyelet
When attaching shoelaces, always start with the eyelet closest to your finger. This way, you can pull the laces from each pair of holes to tighten them for a comfortable fit. Push the end of the rope through the bottom pair of holes and adjust it until the rope is the same length on both sides.
- Whatever method you use to shape the ends of your shortened laces, make sure you wait until the laces are completely dry or cool before attaching them.
- Many shoe models have two pairs of eyelets on each side: one close to the tongue and one further away. If you have wide feet, use the hole closest to the tongue so that your feet have enough room. If you have skinny feet, thread the laces through the hole furthest from the tongue to secure the shoe for a more snug fit.
Step 2. Cross the shoelaces
There are many ways to tie shoelaces, but crossing the laces is the most commonly used method. After inserting the rope in the bottom hole, pull the rope on the right side and then insert it into the hole on the left, above the previous hole. Do the same thing by threading the string on the left side into the hole on the right. Repeat the same process alternately until you reach the last pair of eyelets.
This crossing method usually provides maximum comfort because the crossing occurs in the space between the two sides of the shoe so it doesn't put pressure on the foot
Step 3. Tie the shoelaces
Make a knot as you normally would. Now that you've cut the rope, there's no need to do a double knot to tie it. After tying the rope, you can see if the rope is cut to the right size.
If the laces are still too long, you can trim them a bit more and repeat the same process to shape the ends
Tips
- Use your creativity when using tape or tubes that will shrink when heated to make aglets. Tapes and tubes are available in a variety of colors. So, you can create a shoelace tip that matches the color of your favorite team, school, or favorite color.
- If you're afraid you'll burn your fingers when you use the flame to form the aglet, wear gardening gloves or the like that will allow you to grip the ends of the rope securely. If you use glue, gloves can also protect your skin.
