How to Sew an Elastic Strap on a Ballet Slipper

Each dancer will tell you that no two feet, and no two ballet slippers, are the same. Finding the type of shoe you want to use and breaking them in are difficult tasks, unique to each dancer. Sewing the elastic bands on a ballet shoe can vary from dancer to dancer, but there are a few basic steps most ballerinas follow.

Things You'll Need

• Ballet slippers
• Elastic
• Needle
• Thread

Instructions

1. Place the shoes on your feet, tighten the drawstring and take a few steps. You will notice that the heels of the shoes may want to slip off of your heel with each step that you take. In order to know where you have to affix the elastic, note if the shoe slips a little or a lot.

2. Try out a position for each end of the elastic strap. Using safety pins, tack each end of the elastic down. If your shoes slipped only a little, put the elastic near the middle of your arch. The more the shoes want to pull off your feet, the further back toward your heel you will want to put the elastic.

3. Dance around in your shoes before you permanently place your elastic. Move all around and do a series of jumps and turns to make sure the shoe is secure.
   This will save you from having to remove the elastic and start sewing over again.

4. Buy thread that matches the color of your slippers. Using a regular sewing needle, you will have to make a number of stitches to ensure that the elastic will withstand the strain of dancing. You can do a zig-zag pattern from the top of the shoes down about a quarter of an inch down into the shoe or sew the elastic in by making a square of stitches close to the width of the elastic and finish with making an "X" through the center of the square.

Tips & Warnings

• Some shoes, such as Sansha's and Grishko's are better suited to have two pieces of elastic criss crossed over the top of the foot. If your foot is more tapered, you may need to use this method to ensure a proper fit during dancing. For this style of elastics, secure one end on the back part of the arch, nearer to the heel and the other end on the opposite side near the top part of the arch, or near the ball of the shoe. Repeat with the other side.

• Do not sew your elastic over the drawstring in the shoe, as the drawstring needs to move freely.