Sewing elastics on ballet slippers

[Guest MelissaSuzanne]

Hi everyone, I'm trying to figure out the right place to sew on the double (criss-cross) elastics to my ballet slippers. I know where to put the single elastic, but every picture I see of the double one is in a different place on the shoe! Any help would be appreciated. Also, is the difference between the single/double elastic just a preference, or does one go with leather, one with canvas, etc? Thanks!

[Victoria Leigh]

It's just a preference, Melissa. Personally, I don't like the criss-cross, I like just one 3/4 inch piece. I don't even know where one sews the ones which cross. Never done that!

[Guest MelissaSuzanne]

Thank you for replying so quickly, Ms. Leigh. Is it also just some peoples' preference to use no elastics? I've noticed some of the more advanced students in my class do this, and I was curious. It seems like it'd feel funny, since I'm so used to at least one elastic. Of course I do have strangely shaped feet, and can't get a shoe to fit "like a glove", so I feel like the elastic helps hold the shoes on for me.

Edited June 7, 2004 by MelissaSuzanne

[lampwick]

I sew my criss-cross elastic exactly where I'd sew pointe shoe ribbon--right where my foot arches. Seems to work fine.

 

I'm frankly not too picky about slippers. As long as they fit OK, they're fine. I never understand people who spend two hours buying slippers--trying every pair in the store. I've never had little differences really affect my work at the barre. Pointe shoes are another matter

[dazedandconfused]

This may be a no-brainer for some, but I have a DEVIL of a time sewing on my daughter's ribbons and elastics with my regular Singer sewing machine. I just can't get the pointe shoe to bend enough for me to get the fabric well under the foot of the sewing machine needle. Sorry if this reveals complete ignorance, but is there any good type of machine I should be using? I do have the good sense to use a heavy-duty needle (which breaks anyway). Anybody have any good tricks up their sleeves on this one?

[balletowoman]

Er... Sewing by hand! Done it for years and it's by far the most effective. Your sewing will take longer, but it will be secure and you can ensure you don't sew on the drawstring and/or well enough to avoid the ribbon to fray.

 

I also find that when I sew the ribbons well inside the shoe (from the shank outwards) there is no other options anyway to sew by hand because of the need to sew without going through the whole layer, and it works well.

[dazedandconfused]

Once again, I'm glad I chose the screen name I did so nobody will mistake me for anyone knowledgeable about much in this arena. I've been told to sew the shoes on with the machine and that's what I've been doing. That and a lot of cursing. Is there some sort of visual posted somewhere (like the one demonstrating the parts of the pointe shoe -- I forget where it is) where I can see all these types of stitches already done on a shoe?

[Guest beckster]

My slippers came with the elastics already sewn on the heel end (they are about 1 inch from the centre of the heel, either side), so I just attached the other end right by the seam that goes under the arch. I think it is a matter of personal preference. I have seen some very odd configurations in open classes though - with the crossed elastic sewn so that one end is by the heel and the other end is by the drawstring tie, for example!

[koshka]

dazedandconfused--I do know one person who sewed her pointe shoe elastics and ribbons by machine, but don't know what her "trick" was--maybe you need some kind of specially-shaped foot. Have you asked at the sewing store?

 

However, in general, elastics and ribbons are sewn by hand and by the dancer herself or himself. Many dancers would never trust anyone else to do the job!

 

beckster--I have also seen all sorts of "interesting" configurations.

[lampwick]

dazedandconfused,

For pointe shoes, I have always used dental floss and a medium to big sized sewing needle. The ends of all ribbons get melted with a lighter to prevent any fraying. I sew about an inch or so of ribbon in the shoe, going around the entire thing with looping stitches, I sew across the top of the ribbon (right under the drawstring casing, and occasionally make a big x as well through the entire structure. I never lose ribbon this way. The ribbons get sewn right where my foot arches (on my shoes it's directly on the side seam) They get sewn at an angle forward (toward the front of the shoe) and this prevent any bagginess in the ribbons. I also use the Bloch Elastorib so there's elastic on my achilles tendon instead of ribbon. Sore achilles immediately disappeared. 1 or 3/4 inch elastics get sewn on either side of the seam on the back of the heel. I sew right through the entire shoe and just go straight across. I also take a sharp razor blade and cut all the satin from the tip of the shoe, so there's no chance of fraying and creating a dangerous surface.

 

Placement of ribbon and elastic can make a HUGE difference in where the shank breaks and how the shoe functions. I have been sewing my own ribbon and elastic from my very first pair of pointe shoes at age 11 and still actually enjoy the ritual. It makes me feel connected to the whole history of ballet. Sounds stupid, I know, but it's an important feeling for me. I think your daughter should start doing this herself. She's got to learn about how ribbon/elastic placement affects the shoe's performance. She'll need to experiment throughout her dancing career as her feet and shoes change. It'll take forever to do a pair of shoes at first but it's worth it.

[MJ]

You want to put the front elastics where it would improve your arch the most. Try aiming for the area just behind the center seam on the side. Expriment with safety pins, then pencil it in where you want it.

 

Use button thread if you can find it.

[koshka]

Ah yes, button thread, also known as "button/craft thread". It is readily available in black or white, but (better yet), sewing stores sometimes carry it in soft peach, which is a pretty good match for pointe shoes...

[sylphide]

Perhaps a naive question...but shouldn't someone old enough to do pointe work should be old enought to learn to take care of her pointe shoes, therefore at least learn how to sew their shoes themselves?

[dazedandconfused]

My apologies. I'm still new at this, so I didn't check the group before I posted. I probably should've started a new topic under Pointe Shoe or Moms/Dads. I was referring to sewing my daughter's shoes and you're absolutely right, lampwick. You were bang on with your advice for what to take a future dancer to see/do in New York, and you make serious good points with having my daughter sew her own shoes. Actually, she's doing it, but being new to this ballet scenario, I thought I'd "help her out" wtih the chores, not realizing how important and personal this sewing is. And as her foot changes and grows, only she will know where the ribbons/elastics should go. Again, I feel very much like we're in the dark as far as the true, professional ballet world goes. I'm VERY grateful for the kind advice. Especially the tendinitis warning regarding ribbon placement! DD is already saying they sometimes hurt.