How to Embroider Sneakers
Sneakers can be personalized in many ways, including adding jewels and using fabric paint. Because of daily wear and tear, however, these options are not always practical for the long run. Embroidering the shoes, by contrast, adds a longer-lasting creative touch. Because of the small amount of space available, embroidering sneakers may be at first, but it can be accomplished with practice and the use of proper techniques.
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Instructions
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Decide where on the shoe you want to embroider the design. Choose a space big enough for the image, such as the sides close to the heel, the top of the toes or the top of the tongue.
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Draw an image that will fit in the selected area. Make it as simple as possible if you are embroidering thick materials such as vinyl or leather. Add details for cotton shoes, which are easier to stitch.
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Place the design on the shoe and tape it into place so that it doesn't move as you trace it. Trace the design by making small holes in the areas where the thread will go through. Make the holes close enough together to avoid gaps once the thread is passed through all of the holes, and make them equidistant from each other. If the needle doesn't go through easily, use a larger one.
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Tie a knot at the end of the thread. Pass the thread from the inside of the shoe to the outside in the first hole of the pattern. Determine where to start according to your design. Stitch throughout the lines of the pattern, using a basic chain stitch. Try more complex stitches if you have used them in other embroidery projects and if the shoe is large enough for intricate details.
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Finish by passing the needle from the outside of the shoe toward the inside. Make a knot and hide the remaining strands of thread inside the shoe.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a shoe clamp, provided with some sewing machine, which is made especially for embroidery on sneakers as an alternative to hand embroidery.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images
