I recently wrote an article about the Ian Knot, and what I’ve done with all the extra time I’ve gained from learning it:

https://blog.klungo.no/2025/12/31/two-years-of-the-ian-knot/

> I also have to admit that it’s really not the best for small knots or when having to knot with limited lace, mostly due to the required finger setup.

On the other hand, when the length of lace is limited and you need to maintain tension (e.g. wrapping gifts, tying ice skates) the Ian knot is better than many other methods. Although nobody ever asked, I imagine every onlooker is wondering how I can maintain tension in the lace without asking someone else to put a finger on the first overhand knot. It's because of my finger placement when I tie the knot!