Comments
By fenomas 2026-02-061:04 As kind of a knot guy, unlike other commenters this is my #1 favorite knot site.
Other sites with animated 3D models might be useful for visualizing the topology of knots, or something. But for actually tying the knots I find this site and its curated photos much more practically useful. The fact that it's not literally animated is a feature; it shows the key stages you go through, rather than every detail.
And the photos are just clearer and better than any other resource. (If you look closely you'll see a lot of editing work has been done on them like to minimize the diff between consecutive photos.)
Only downside is that I wish it had more minor knots!
By dbolgheroni 2026-02-060:462 reply To anyone into knots, I recommend Knots 3D on Android. It is really handy because most people keeps the phone with them all the time. Beautiful and well maintained app. It's not overwhelming, in the sense that it doesn't try to add every existing knot in the same database, it has usage, which gives context, history and specially related knots, which makes it possible to compare different related knots that are usually used for the same thing.
By deceptionatd 2026-02-064:04 I use them both. I like Knots 3D better, but it's missing some knots that I use. No EStar stopper or Matthew Walker in Knots 3D, for example.
By yakk0 2026-02-0614:26 Knots 3D is also on iOS. It's great and I have used to help teach knots to Scouts quite a few times.
When you tie your shoe laces, you're probably using a square knot [1] but with double slip. If your shoe laces often open while walking, you might be doing it wrong (granny or thief knot).
If you want to learn just one new, very convenient knot, which can be used in many situations, I recommend the Bowline [2].
For shoelaces, go Ian Knot and forget about the rest.
https://www.animatedknots.com/shoelace-bow-knot-fieggen-meth...
https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/ianknot.htm
It’s a great knot to get other people interested, too, because you can go “alright, so first you start in this position like any other knot, right? Then you just zwoop and done”. Tying your laces in a single fast movement really makes your nerd friends curious. It’s like a magic trick.
By Wistar 2026-02-0617:15 I, too, am a fan of the Ian’s Knot site and for at least a couple of decades. A while ago I noticed that he has posted a page through which people can donate to the site’s operation but also which details all of the income sources that have dried up.
I donated today because his site is worth supporting.
For clarification: it's the same knot (square knot), just a different way of creating it.
Is it? From the animatedknots link:
> The difference is that the loops are NOT stacked under each other ... The loops are passed inside each other
I feel like the way we discuss knots is way too clumsy considering how old and important the topic is.
How do we live in a world that has something as successful as regex, yet we don't have similar for knots?
By fainpul 2026-02-0710:40 Yes it is - look at the end result.
The "not stacked ..." part compares it to the clove hitch, which is another knot entirely.
By AppleAtCha 2026-02-0610:28 The Ian's Secure Knot is what I've used for years and the only shoelace knot my kids were taught. Trivial modification of the usual bunny ears and hardly ever comes undone.
By fragmede 2026-02-0619:29 Ian's knot site was here just recently. (5 days ago)
By turbocon 2026-02-0610:11 Interesting, I actually learning the Shoelace Bow (surgeons)[1] from this site a couple years ago and it's my go to now for any shoelaces that don't lock tight or that I really need to stay tied (think running or backpacking)
[1] https://www.animatedknots.com/shoelace-bow-knot-surgeons
