Page 1 of 1 [ 12 posts ] 

GreenDragon42
Emu Egg
Emu Egg

User avatar

Joined: 21 Jan 2024
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Posts: 4
Location: United States

07 Feb 2025, 7:08 pm

Does anyone else struggle with tying knots? I wasn't able to tie my shoes until 3rd grade, and its still the only knot I know how to really do. Tying neckties is out of the question for me, so I have to get someone else to do it for me. And don't even bother asking me about rope!

I know people with ASD often have motor skill issues, so I just wanted to see how many others struggle with knot tying and learn how you cope with it.



King Kat 1
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 14 Aug 2020
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Posts: 934
Location: Ohio

07 Feb 2025, 7:16 pm

It took me a long time to learn to tie shoes and even now at 44, I'm still not great at it but I make it work somehow.


_________________
Oh oh Pilot, woah oh pilot
This paradise is lost forever
Oh oh Pilot, woah oh Pilot
We place our trust in the flyer
To deliver us from the fire
We have made- Ian Thomas Band


renaeden
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 12 Jun 2005
Age: 47
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,377
Location: Western Australia

07 Feb 2025, 10:28 pm

My sister taught me how to tie my shoelaces when I was in Year 4 (age 9). Before that I had Velcro. Now I tie them in in an awkward but functional way. Always a double bow.



ToughDiamond
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 15 Sep 2008
Age: 72
Gender: Male
Posts: 12,212

08 Feb 2025, 1:03 am

I remember struggling to learn how it was done, but I can't remember how old I was at the time. I still dislike tying knots. I tend to feel it's a job for people with 3 hands and that it can't really be done easily with 2. The lace or the string always slips a bit and messes the job up. It works well enough I suppose, but I'm a perfectionist at heart.



Envirozen8666
Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmouse

Joined: 28 Aug 2024
Gender: Male
Posts: 32
Location: South Africa

08 Feb 2025, 6:37 am

I must have been 11 or 12 when an uncle of mine finally succeeded in showing me an easy way to tie my shoelaces.

I had to wear a necktie during my first few years of working. My Mom or stepdad used to assist me in tying the knots.

Fortunately I haven't needed to wear one in the past 30 years or so, and less formal clothes has been the norm. Otherwise I would still be battling!

My other difficulty was trying to drive a manual vehicle. I had to settle for driving automatics as I couldn't get the gearshift coordination right.

Lastly, I battle to cut things accurately or to wrap gifts, tie ribbons etc.



Envirozen8666
Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmouse

Joined: 28 Aug 2024
Gender: Male
Posts: 32
Location: South Africa

08 Feb 2025, 6:40 am

Oh yes and my shoelaces still regularly come undone especially sport/running shoes but I use special no-tie laces that are rather pricy but work extremely well.



nick007
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 4 May 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 27,742
Location: was Louisiana but now Vermont in capitalistic military dictatorship called USA

09 Feb 2025, 11:38 pm

I learned to tie my shoes when I started 5th grade because the school I started goimg to had a strict dress code that required loafers(it was a Catholic school) & my parents spent the whole summer before teaching me to tie my shoes. Before that I wore shoes with velcro & I wear velcro shoes as an adult. It takes me longer to tie shoes than most people & the knots are probably not as good. I only know how to make one other type of knot which is very basic & isn't that good either but I can just double tie to make it more secure. I've always had extremely bad handwriting as well & I have the pencil grip of a left-handed person despite being right-handed. My ways of dealing with these problems are by trying to avoid em. Most stores won't sell velcro shoes for adults but I can buy them online & I can avoid writing by doing things online or having my girlfriend write paperwork out. I have a tremor disorder that acts up when things with fine motor-skills or when anxious, stressed, or tired so that's probably some of my problem.


_________________
"I don't have an anger problem, I have an idiot problem!"
~King Of The Hill


"Hear all, trust nothing"
~Ferengi Rule Of Acquisition #190
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Ru ... cquisition


lostonearth35
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 5 Jan 2010
Age: 51
Gender: Female
Posts: 12,906
Location: Lost on Earth, waddya think?

10 Feb 2025, 12:21 pm

I didn't learn to tie laces until I was 9 or 10 but I can tie them very well now. I think the problem was that whenever someone showed me how to tie shoelaces I was unable to see it from their perspective and would end up confused.



funeralxempire
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 27 Oct 2014
Age: 40
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 30,262
Location: Right over your left shoulder

10 Feb 2025, 1:51 pm

I struggled with tying my shoelaces until I was 9 or 10. I tried using 'hacks' like the bunny ears method but still failed consistently. Then one day it clicked and I never really struggled again.


_________________
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
You can't advance to the next level without stomping on a few Koopas.


Carbonhalo
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Age: 63
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,674
Location: Musoria

10 Feb 2025, 4:06 pm

My father was a scout leader and a sailor...
Like I could have got away with being unable to tie knots.



notboston
Hummingbird
Hummingbird

Joined: 18 Jun 2024
Gender: Male
Posts: 24
Location: Illinois

10 Feb 2025, 5:13 pm

This website was probably the most help for me: https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/ianknot.htm

This particular knot I find really easy to tie and the diagrams and such are much easier to learn than sitting through a lecture.

For neckties I usually do a Pratt knot because you can have it stay tied after slipping it off your neck.



nick007
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 4 May 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 27,742
Location: was Louisiana but now Vermont in capitalistic military dictatorship called USA

10 Feb 2025, 6:21 pm

I forgot to mention that about the only time I've had to wear ties was when my high-school required it & I always wore clip-ons. It might be tacky but I didn't give a f#ck. I hated the feeling of having my shirt tight around my neck(might be sensory issues &/or PTSD) so I would never chose to a wear a necktie even if I could tie it myself or if someone would do it for me.


_________________
"I don't have an anger problem, I have an idiot problem!"
~King Of The Hill


"Hear all, trust nothing"
~Ferengi Rule Of Acquisition #190
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Ru ... cquisition