I am a 40 year old man, who has only just learnt how to tie my shoelaces properly. I have spent my entire life using the two bunny ear approach. My 8 year old daughter recently explained how to tie laces like an adult.
@fesshole How? Teach us

@share_sun @fesshole a shoelace is a double-slipped reef/square knot. The first half is the same as a usual reef knot (one lace crossed over then under the other).

For a reef knot, you want to then cross the rope that was on top of the crossed rope in the first half be the top rope again, but it is now on the other side. So if you went right rope crossed over left rope (and then under), for the second half you cross what is now the left rope over what is now the right rope (and under, although in the second half it is just under the new cross and not the original cross)

For a shoelace, this wants to be double slipped so you can untie it easier. So for the lace underneath, you make a loop instead of just using straight rope. For bunny ears, you make 2 loops and complete the knot. Otherwise you make the loop for the lace underneath, then pass the top lace over, and passing it through the loop halfway along the lace instead of the end.

@share_sun @fesshole the key bit is that you swap which side goes over the other with the two passes. Either right over left then left over right, or left over right then right over left. It is technically the same lace/rope that is on top both times as it changes side after the first bit
@lhsi @share_sun @fesshole Clear as mud. 🤷‍♂️

@dshan @share_sun @fesshole to tie the knot you start by laying one rope/lace over the other to form a cross or X (then tuck underneath).

When you do it the second time (usually with at least one side being a loop for shoelaces), you alternate the rope/lace that is laid over the top of the other one before completing the knot.

https://knots3d.com/en/square-knot

Square Knot

Square Knot: Simple binding knot for securing objects, not suitable for joining two ropes.