How to Sew Pointe Shoes

Pointe shoes have become necessary for ballet. They frequently arrive without elastic or ribbons to keep them on your feet. For pointe dancing, it’s crucial to know how to sew pointe shoes for a snug fit.

In a criss-cross or loop fashion, you can firm the elastic. After that, stitch the ribbon around the elastic for additional security and style.

A pointe shoe, also known as a ballet shoe, is a specialized shoe worn by ballet dancers while dancing on the tips of their toes.

Pointe shoes were introduced to aid dancers in appearing weightless and sylph-like and evolved to let them dance en pointe (on their toe tips) for elongated periods. They come in different colors, usually light pink.

Your chosen elastic should be around 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) wide and the same color as the pointe shoes. Also, you might search for some elastics, which are comfortable against your skin if you wish to put on pointe shoes without stockings.

• You should consider visiting a craft supply store to purchase some elastic.
• You will require 1 yard (0.91 m) of elastic.

You should pick a ribbon about 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and the same color as your pointe shoes. Attempt to look for a ribbon type similar to the finish of your pointe shoes, like a satin finish ribbon if your pointe shoes contain a satin finish.

• You may look for a ribbon at your local craft supply store.
• For sewing your pointe shoes, you will need at least 2 yards (1.8 m) of ribbon.

Pointe shoes don’t always show which side you will wear each shoe, so you might need to resolve that for yourself. Attempt shoes to observe which shoes suit best on which feet. After that, you should mark the shoe bottom with an R or an L to identify the side.

You’ll require a bulky-duty needle to confirm that it’ll become capable of penetrating the shoe’s thick materials at that point. Push the thread end through the eye of your Needle and pull until there is half of the thread on either side of the Needle. Then, knot down at the thread edge to keep it in the right place while sewing through the elastic and the shoe.

• Be sure to pick a thread color that coincides with your pointe shoes and elastic so that it mixes in with them.

Wear the shoes and do an elastic position so that one edge begins near your heel and the other remains next to your foot in front of your ankle. The elastic should overlap the shoe edge by about 0.25 inches (0.64 cm). Mark the position on your shoe inside or pin the elastic in place so you can stitch it in the desired position.

• Attempt various positions to notice what is most natural to you.
• The elastic edges should remain on the shoe inside, but you can put them on the outside if you are worried about irritating your feet.

Begin with sewing from the shoe inside and stitch along the outer edge of 1 of the elastic bands. Intromit the needle so it can run through the shoe and the elastic, and then reiterate on the opposite side of the shoe.

• Ensure you drag the thread all the way through after the 1st sew to get the tie against the shoe and the elastic, and continue the same after each subsequent stitch.

Stitch in a square shape around the elastic band edge where it overlaps the shoe. It’ll confirm that the elastic remains well-protected. Also, you might even double-stitch around the elastic edge to keep it from moving or fraying.

Once you complete sewing one elastic edge, bind the thread end in a knot near the inside of the shoe. Then, cut out the excess thread extending from the knot.

• After stitching each elastic edge, you require threading your needle through a new 18-inch (46cm) strand.

When you’ve completed securing 1-end of the elastic band, continue the same thing to protect the other end of the elastic band that you’ve pinned or where you’ve marked the shoe. You might not attempt the shoe on again to confirm that this positioning will still function and adjust the position as required.

When 1-shoe is finished with criss-crossing elastic, stitch the elastic onto the other shoe. Reiterate the same process for the other shoe so that the elastic feels and looks the same when you wear the shoe.

Wear your pointe shoes and finish wrapping a piece of elastic from 1 side of your ankle to the other so the elastic edges overlap the pointe shoe edges by about 0.25 inches (0.64 cm). The elastic should remain snug but not so compact that it stops your circulation. Identify your elastic to the desired length and cut it out.

• Reiterate it for the other piece of elastic for the other shoe, or utilize the first piece of the elastic to measure and chop an equal sized piece of elastic.

Each end of the loop should remain on 1-side of your heel for the loop around the ankle elastic. While putting on shoes, place the edge so they can remain about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) apart from one another. Mark the shoe positions with a pen or pin them in place.

• Depending on where you want it, you place the elastic band edges on the inside or outside of your shoe. Some want to keep elastic on the shoe outside as it vexes their heel when it remains inside.

Stitch along 1-edge of the elastic where it overlaps with the shoe. You stitch into a square and move over the edges twice to confirm the elastic entirely remains secure. Run in the needle in and out of the elastic and shoe and drag the thread after each sew.

• After sewing the elastic, tie the thread on the shoe inside and cut it.

Follow the same process to sew the other end of the elastic to the other side of the heel. Then, repeat this process for the other shoe.

• Ensure that you have stitched the elastic in the same position on both shoes so they feel and appear the same.

Your forearm will be the ideal length for each strand of ribbon. Grasp the ribbon edge using 1-hand and drag it up to your elbow. After that, chop the ribbon by maintaining this length. Utilize the 1st piece as a guide and chop the other to the same length.

• Confirm you chop each piece of ribbon clearly with a sharp pair of scissors and overlook any jagged edges.

Light a lighter or light a candle to prevent the edges from blurring. After that, move each edge of each piece of ribbon over the flame for a few seconds to secure the end. Indeed, it’ll aid in preventing the fibers in the ribbon from fraying.

• Ensure you don’t put the ribbon edge over the flame for too long or hold it on fire because the ribbon edges might melt too much.

The ribbon should be overlapped about 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) over the edge of the pointe shoe, angled slightly toward the toes. Also, you may pin the ribbon end where you like and the angle it as you want.

• Doing it while putting on the shoe is a better idea so that you may have it exactly how you expect it before sewing it on.
• Folding the heel is possible when you are not putting on shoes. Align the ribbon edge with the side of the shoe at your point of folded heel.
• The ribbon should arrive directly up but at an angle corresponding to the pointe where the back of the pointe shoe gets folded.
• If you do not intend to tie the ribbon directly vertically, you are about to have a bunch of gaps in the ribbon.

Run the threaded needle into the ribbon and pointe shoe near the edge of the pointe shoe. Then, stitch around the ribbon edge in a square shape. Ensure to pull the thread tension after each sew. Now, chop and close the thread on the shoe inside to secure the thread edge.

• You might wish to do 2-passes to ensure the ribbon will remain secure. Indeed, only 1-edge of each piece of ribbon is secure.

Accomplish the identical thing to secure the next strand of ribbon, however, on the reverse side of the shoe. Place this ribbon piece so it becomes the mirror image of the first piece.

• When you finish sewing the ribbon on 1-shoe, reiterate the same method to attach the rest of the 2-ribbons to the other shoe.

Read also:

• Measure a Boot Shaft
• Wear Chelsea Boots
• Prevent Blisters from Work Boots