Decorative lacing
Loop Back Lacing: Step-by-Step Shoelace Tutorial
Loop Back Lacing creates a wonderfully unusual intertwined pattern running straight up the centre of your shoe. Instead of simply crossing from side to side, the two lace ends twist around each other before looping back towards their own side, creating a series of spring-like links.
It’s decorative, distinctive and a real talking point. A chunky lace in a contrasting colour shows the loops particularly well - and once you understand the twist-and-loop movement, the pattern is surprisingly simple to repeat.
Difficulty
★
★
★
Medium
Time
5–10 mins
Best for
Trainers and casual shoes
Lace length
120–140cm per lace
Intertwined springs down the middle - Loop Back Lacing turns a simple twist into a wonderfully decorative repeating pattern.
Watch the video tutorial
Overview
Watch Lindsay demonstrate how to create Loop Back Lacing from start to finish. Each pair of lace sections twists together in the centre before looping back towards the next eyelets, building the distinctive linked pattern as you travel up the shoe.
The secret is not to over-tighten it. Give those centre twists enough room to form and you’ll soon see the spring-like pattern taking shape.
- Difficulty: Medium
- Time required: 5–10 mins
- Best for: Trainers and casual shoes
- Lace length: 120–140cm per lace
The Story Behind This Style
Some lacing styles are practical. Some are designed for comfort. Loop Back Lacing is here to show off.
What makes it so distinctive is that the two lace ends don't simply cross and continue on their way. They meet in the middle, twist around one another and then loop back towards their own sides.
Repeat that movement and something rather clever happens: the twists begin to stack one above another, creating what looks like a pair of intertwined springs running up the centre of the shoe.
It has a slightly handmade character too. The loops don't have to sit with mathematical precision - a little movement and variation is part of its charm.
And with a bright lace against a dark shoe, it becomes almost impossible not to notice.
Definitely one for the “How did you do that?” collection.
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow each step to create this lace pattern.
1
Step One: Start Straight Across
Thread the lace straight across the bottom eyelets, feeding both ends from the 'inside' to the 'outside'. Pull through until the two ends are roughly equal in length.
2
Step Two: This is what you are aiming for
Here, I want to show you what you are aiming for and why you will need to cross the laces twice.
3
Step Three: Make Your First Twist
Bring both lace ends towards the centre of the shoe. Cross them over and twist them around each other once to create your first looped link.
4
Step Four: Cross Towards the Centre Again
Bring the two lace ends together and cross them in the centre again, keeping enough slack for the next twist to form.
5
Step Five: Loop Back Towards the Sides
Take each lace back towards its own side of the shoe and feed it through the next available eyelet. This locks your centre twist into place.
6
Step Six: Repeat the Twist and Loop
Bring the lace ends back towards the middle and repeat the same movement: cross, twist together, then loop each lace back towards its own side.
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Step Seven: Continue to the Top
Keep repeating the pattern through the remaining eyelets. Adjust the centre loops as you work so they form a neat chain running up the shoe.
8
Step Eight: Tie Your Bow
Once you've reached the top eyelets, gently straighten the loops and adjust the tension. Tie your usual bow and your Loop Back Lacing is complete.
The History of This Style
Loop Back Lacing belongs to the more decorative side of shoelacing, where the route taken by the lace becomes part of the design itself.
Rather than following the familiar criss-cross pattern, the lace ends repeatedly meet, twist and return towards their own sides. This creates the linked centre pattern that gives Loop Back its distinctive appearance.
Decorative lacing techniques like this demonstrate just how much variety can be created using the same basic ingredients: a shoe, a row of eyelets and one pair of laces.
There may not be a grand historical tale behind every lacing technique - sometimes the fun lies simply in discovering another ingenious route from the bottom of a shoe to the top.
Did You Know?
Loop Back Lacing creates its distinctive appearance through repetition rather than additional knots. The same simple twist is repeated between successive eyelets, and those individual twists combine visually to create the spring-like chain running up the centre.
Shop Laces That Work Beautifully
Choose a lace colour and style that helps this pattern look its best.
Laceologist's Style Tip
This is one pattern where contrast really matters. Try a chunky, bright lace against a black or dark trainer to make every twist and loop stand out. For a softer look, reverse it with a darker lace against a white shoe. Round or slightly thicker laces can make those intertwined centre loops particularly noticeable.
Lindsay, Chief Laceologist
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to some of the most common questions about this lacing style.
Is Loop Back Lacing difficult?
It looks complicated, but the technique is repetitive. Once you've mastered the first twist and loop-back, you're essentially repeating the same movement all the way up the shoe.
Why is it called Loop Back Lacing?
Rather than simply crossing the shoe and continuing upwards, each lace loops back towards its own side after twisting with the opposite lace in the centre.
What shoes are best for Loop Back Lacing?
Trainers and casual shoes with clearly spaced eyelets work particularly well. A relatively simple shoe design also gives the decorative centre pattern room to stand out.
What type of shoelaces work best?
Thicker or round laces can show off the looped pattern beautifully. A strong contrast between the lace and shoe colour makes the centre twists particularly easy to see.
Do the centre loops have to be perfectly straight?
No. Try to keep them reasonably centred, but don't worry if individual loops move slightly to one side. A little variation is part of the handmade character of this style.
Can I wear Loop Back Lacing normally?
Yes. Once you've finished the pattern, adjust the overall tension until the shoe feels comfortable and tie the two ends normally at the top.
Happy Lacing!
And there you have it - Loop Back Lacing!
A simple twist, repeated all the way up the shoe, creates one of those wonderful lacing patterns that looks far more complicated than it really is.
Play with contrasting colours, experiment with thicker laces and don't worry if every loop isn't absolutely identical - that's part of the character of this one.
Most importantly, have fun with it. After all, your shoelaces don't always have to take the obvious route.
One pair of shoes. So many possibilities.
I'm Lindsay, Chief Laceologist at Love Your Laces.
Until next time... Happy Lacing!