Pointe-rs
Darning Your Pointe Shoes
Learn how to darn your pointe shoes. Darning your pointe shoes can be an effective way to increase the longevity of your pointe shoes, increase friction, and more.
What is pointe shoe darning? Pointe shoe darning is the act of modifying the box of your pointe shoes with embroidery floss, crochet thread, or elastic chord to create a wider platform to balance, create additional friction for turning, or to quiet the box. Pointe shoe darning is one of those secrets that gets passed down from dancer to dancer to extend the life of the shoe, and improve your ability to perform. But if you’re reading this, then you’re most likely looking for tips to darn your pointe shoes. So let’s get to it.
Tips for Darning Pointe Shoes
What you need to darn pointe shoes: Needle. We recommend using a thick needle or leather needle to get the job done.
- Thread. We recommend crochet thread because it’s thick and non-slippery— making it better for traction and turning. You can also use embroidery floss or elastic chord.
- Thimble. Protect your fingers 🙂
- Scissors. You have to cut the thread somehow.
How to darn your pointe shoes
There are a number of ways you can stitch your pointe shoes to darn them. I prefer using a whip stitch. When stitching, make sure you push the needle into the first layer of the box. Not just the satin. Keep in mind, this can take a while for a set of pointe shoes. Here’s a step-by-step.
- Start by looping the thread around the box multiple times (8-10 loops sometimes more).
- Next, whip stitch them together around the box, while holding the wrapped threads together. Here’s a tutorial on whip stitching, and we’ll also have a video tutorial below.
- Cut away any excess thread
Once you’re done, your pointe shoe should look similar to the image below.
Here’s a video using a method similar to the one we listed above, but using ribbon instead of thread.
There are several different ways to darn your pointe shoes, including the two mentioned above. You can also play with the different spacing with the stitching, and experiment with different materials to see what works best for you. Alternatively, you can always use a stick suede patch using a good quality haberdashery glue. For more info on pointe shoes check out these resources:
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What does darning a pointe shoe do?
Darning modifies the box of the pointe shoe with thread or elastic cord to create a wider platform for balance, add friction for turning, and quiet the box. It is a trick passed between dancers to extend a shoe's life and improve performance.
What thread should you use to darn pointe shoes?
Crochet thread is recommended because it is thick and non-slippery, which improves traction and turning. You can also use embroidery floss or elastic cord.
What supplies do you need to darn pointe shoes?
You need a thick or leather needle, crochet thread or embroidery floss, a thimble to protect your fingers, and scissors to cut the thread.
How do you darn a pointe shoe step by step?
Loop the thread around the box multiple times, often 8 to 10 loops or more, then whip stitch the wrapped threads together around the box while pushing the needle into the first layer of the box, and cut away any excess thread.
Is there an alternative to darning pointe shoes?
Yes. Instead of stitching, you can apply a stick-on suede patch to the platform using a good quality haberdashery glue.
