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Fabric Covered Shoes

Skill level: Beginner

You will need:

  • A pair of canvas, pump-style shoes
  • Cotton (non-stretchy) fabric scraps – enough for the areas of the shoe you would like to decorate
  • Ricrac – the amount you would like to use. We used 20cm.
  • Embroidery thread
  • Fabric scissors
  • Small sharp scissors
  • Clips
  • Fabric glue
  • Glue spreader/brush
  • Needle

To make:

Remove laces and if using pre-loved shoes, ensure they are as clean as possible. Place the laces to one side.

Choose the areas of the shoe you would like to apply the fabric to and cut out pieces of fabric, slightly larger (roughly half a cm) than these areas. If using pre-loved shoes, you might want to choose areas that are more worn than others.
If you are going to cover the tongue, allow enough fabric to cover the front of the tongue and also an overlap of 1-1.5cm approx.

Using the glue spreader/brush, apply the fabric glue to an area where you would like to add fabric.

Place the fabric piece on the glued area, flatten out each piece and allow to dry. Add the glue and fabric on the areas you would like to decorate. If you are covering the tongue, apply glue to the front of the tongue and approximately 1cm around the edge. Add the fabric, ensuring the overlap is neatly glued to the back of the tongue. Add clips around the edge to hold in place whilst the glue is drying.

When the glue is dry, using the small, sharp scissors, carefully trim the fabric to the correct size and shape. You may need to add a touch of glue to the edges as you go.

Add fabric glue to the areas you would like to trim your design with ricrac. Place the ricrac onto the glue and cut to the correct size. Allow to dry.

Thread your needle with your embroidery thread and make a knot at one end. Take your shoelace and starting at the end, stitch a running stitch from one end to the other, with the stitches and gaps 1cm approx. You can draw a 1cm marker on the end of your thumb to help keep the stitches and gaps the same size.

Repeat steps 1-7 for the second shoe.

Tips and ideas

  • Do not wear in wet weather.
  • This is a great way to bring second-hand/preloved shoes back to life!
  • You could cut out shapes – dots, hearts, stars etc. from the fabric to glue to your shoes.