Page 105 - Des Pawson "Pocket Guide to Knots & Splices"

Turquoise Turtle

Named by Brion Toss, after he saw it
being used to tie up parcels in a boutique

called “The Turquoise Turtle,” this knot
is probably the most perfect for tying up

shoelaces. In fact, to some people this is
known as the “Shoemaker’s Knot.” This

knot can either start as a reef knot or as a
surgeon’s knot depending on the gap at
the top of your shoe. The second half of

the knot is a surgeon’s knot tied with the
loops as you would tie a reef bow. A little

push with the thumb will make the
middle part of the knot sit neat and tidy,
holding your shoe tied tight all day. If you

have made your Turquoise Turtle
properly a tug on the short ends of the

laces will cause the knot to come undone.

1 Start as if you are going to make a reef knot

(see page 98) and form your iaces into loops as
if to make a slipped reef bow.

2 Tuck the right bight over the left bight and
under, making the slipped reef. Keep a gap in
the middle of the knot.
3 Take the right-hand bundle, consisting of loop

and one end of the lace, and bring the entire
bundle over and down through the gap you
left in the middle of the bow.

4 Pull tight and as you are doing this work the
right-hand crossing strand to the centre of the
bow.

5 Complete by pulling tight.

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