How to Add Bows to Your Soft-Sole Leather Shoes

A solid color shoe with a matching bow is a classic for young girls. By adding a leather bow to a solid pair of soft-sole shoes you can make them dressy enough to wear anywhere! Be sure to add the bow prior to assembling the shoe.

Most bows for soft-sole shoes are attached along the top edge of the TOP of the shoe and are relatively large for the shoe. When attaching these bows you will want the top edge of the bow to remain on the shoe, so when lining up its location keep that in mind.

I have attached tiny bows along the side of the TOP edge; horizontal to the ground. It is important to align them exactly where the top of the HEEL will meet the edge of them. When you attach these bows arrange them so they appear on the outer side of the shoe; the right side of the right shoe and the left side of the left shoe.

I’ve provided a pattern that has 6 different sizes of bows on it. The top four will work for the center of the different sized shoes and the smallest two for the sides. For each bow that you make you will need to cut out one piece of each from leather.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Scrap Leather
• Print out of pattern

1. 
   Bow Pattern

   Click on photo to enlarge. Right click on enlarged image and select "Print Picture". You can enlarge as needed for your purposes.

2. 

   Fold Piece A in half lengthwise with the right side of the leather inside. Sew the edges together with as small a seam allowance as possible and clip close to seam. Turn right side out.

3. 

   Now take Piece B and align the bottom of it with the center of the area you want the bow to be sewn to on your shoe top. Place Piece B with right side down. Sew across bottom of Piece B several times to reinforce.

4. 

   Fold Piece B down toward the front of the shoe, so that the right side of the leather is showing. Align unattached end of Piece B with the end that is sewn on, making a complete loop. Sharply fold loose end back towards top about 1/8th an inch from the edge and sew across the fold.

5. Place a scrap piece of cotton over the bow and press, without steam, Piece B from the top where you took your first seam down and over the last seam.

6. Take one edge of Piece A and pull through the loop to the other side. With smaller bows you may find it easier to use a crochet hook; just slip your hook through the hole and catch one end of Piece A then pull it back through the opening. Adjust the ends until they are the same. I don’t add glue very often, but if you care to I suggest using a syringe so you can squire a very small amount of glue into the center of the bow to keep it in place. I suggest using Liquid Stitch.

Tips & Warnings

• When sewing small seams like this that need to be held you should pull a couple of inches out of your bobbin and through your machine ahead of time and after you seam before cutting it. When completed with the seam, tie the thread on either end of your seam manually and add some sort of fray adhesive.
• I've been sewing leather soft-sole shoes for years and I am constantly learning new and easier ways to work with leather on a standard-sewing machine. Check out my website for updated tips, great leather patterns, appliques designed just for leather, and more articles. http://www.makethemyourself.com.

[julie_c_228]

on 9/10/2007 You should show more picturers. This is cool!