{Should I Darn Pointe Shoes|How To Darn Pointe Shoes|Darning Pointe Shoes|How To Darn Point Shoes

It surprises me how often I’m asked how to darn pointe shoes. I thought darning pointe shoes had more or less died out. I grew up with the idea that pointe shoes must be darned! In my day, students wouldn’t be allowed in class if they hadn’t darned the platforms of their shoes. Nowadays, it’s much rarer. I must say, I’m also pleased when someone asks me how to darn. I like darning for many reasons. First, it extends the life of the shoe. Also, I always felt it gave me more grip on the floor. Finally, you can’t deny that a darned shoe looks smarter than one with a dirty, frayed platform.

It’s true that it darning takes time. Getting a needle through the satin can be tough, especially at the base. If you’re not used to sewing, you’ll probably need several attempts. Don’t fret too much about making it neat. When your shoes are new, a neat pattern of stitches will look better than an uneven one. But it doesn’t take long for the toes to get dirty and matted, so you can’t make out the individual stitches.

You can use any darning stitch you like. Blanket stitch and chain stitch are the two most commonly used. Big stitches will produce a more open weave,which will wear out a little faster. On the other hand, it’s much quicker to use a big stitch. When deciding which stitch to use, think about how long your shoes last – there’s not much point spending hours on neat, dense stitches if your shoes usually “die” quickly elsewhere

For specific information on stitches, here are a couple of articles on how to darn pointe shoes

Don’t be afraid to give darning your pointes a try. Think about it – even if you make a hash of it, what harm have you done? All you have to do is cut the satin off the platform – which is what you should do anyway if it’s not darned. Dancing on an uncovered satin platform is dangerous because it can become slippery. Also, the satin will wear unevenly and fray – neat cut looks slightly less ugly! Don’t cut it too far back though, as it will start to roll back over the box.
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