Sewing Ribbons on Ballet Shoes

To find the correct position for sewing ribbons on ballet shoes, follow these instructions.

When sewing ribbons on ballet shoes, you will need approximately
2.5 metres length of pink satin ribbon. Cut it into 4 equal lengths.

Ribbon Position Ballet Shoes First you will need to find the correct place on the shoe to sew the ribbons. If the shoes already have elastic then you will need to remove the elastic and sew the ribbons in the same place as the elastic.

If they are new, you will need to find the correct position on the shoe to sew the ribbon, using the following method.

Take the ballet shoe and bend the back of the shoe (heel) forward until the fold is level with the heel end of the sole.

Where the top of the heel creates a line across the middle of the shoe mark this spot on both sides. Now try the shoe on the dancers foot. The places you marked should be level with the height on the instep. If it is not, mark the new spot.

Sew Ribbon Ballet Shoes At one end of the ribbon, fold over 1cm and sew the doubled ribbon, (with the fold inside) onto inner lining of the ballet shoes, making sure the good side of the ribbon faces outwards.

Be careful not to sew all the way through to the leather! Just sew onto the cotton lining of the shoe.

Make sure you do not sew through the drawstring channel.

Check here to learn how to tie ballet ribbons.

Once you have tied your ballet ribbons around your foot and ankle and knotted them, you will need to cut the ribbons so they only have a small amount of ribbon left after the knot, which can be tucked in.

Ballet Ribbons After cutting the ribbon to length, you will need to do something with the ribbon to stop it fraying. You can buy products which will spray on and stop the fray.
A cheaper, just as effective method is to singe the ribbon. Hold the cut ribbon just above a flame (lighter or match is perfect), hold it for a second or two and it will slowly start to melt. Pull the ribbon away from the flame and with your fingers, dab at it. It will have melted slightly and will soon harden. Don't leave it too long over the flame as it may catch alight or too much will melt.

If you are a child thinking of sewing ribbons on ballet shoes, ask an adult or your dance teacher for help when doing the above tasks.

TIP It is a good idea to mark inside the shoe which is right and left. You will notice once cut, the ribbons are a different length on each shoe and will only fit well on the foot it was measured for.