I'm always surprised to be asked how to pointe shoes. I rarely see darned pointe shoes these days. 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. It's a different story these days. I'm always delighted to help when someone wants to learn. 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.

I can't deny that darning a pointe shoe is a slow business. The underside of the box is tough to get a needle through. If you're not used to sewing, you'll probably make a few false starts. Don't worry about getting all the stitches even. At first, uneven stitching will be obvious. But it doesn't take long for the toes to get dirty and matted, so you can't make out the individual stitches.

It also doesn't really matter which stitch you use. I use either blanket stitch or chain stitch. Large stitches will give a more open weave which won't last quite as long. However, if you're in a hurry, they're much faster to do. When assessing 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 for other reasons

Here are some articles with more information on how to darn pointe shoes

Don't be afraid to give darning your pointes a try. Let's face it, even if you make a mess of it, what's the harm? If it all goes haywire, you can simply cut the satin off the platform - which is recommended anyway, if it's not darned. Dancing on an uncovered satin platform is dangerous because it can become slippery. Also, a neat cut looks much nicer than leaving the satin to fray by itself.

It surprises me how often I'm asked how to darn pointe shoes. I thought darning pointe shoes had more or less died out. When I was young, you wouldn't be allowed in class if you hadn't darned the toes of your shoes. These days, it's close to becoming a lost art. It pleases me no end to be asked how to do it. I was always taught that darning made the shoe last longer, and that it gave a more secure surface. And last but not least, a nicely darned toe looks much smarter than fraying satin.

I can't deny that darning a pointe shoe is a slow business. The underside of the box is tough to get a needle through. If you're not used to sewing, you'll probably make a few false starts. Don't worry if it's not that neat. When your shoes are new, a neat pattern of stitches will look better than an uneven one. But the point of your shoes will get dirty quickly, and then the individual stitches won't be so noticeable.

You can use any darning stitch you like. Most people use blanket stitch or chain stitch. Big stitches will produce a more open weave,which will wear out a little faster. However, if you're in a hurry, they're much faster to do. when considering what size of 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

Here are some articles with more information on how to darn pointe shoes

Don't be afraid to give darning your pointes a try. Let's face it, even if you make a mess of it, what's the harm? If it goes horribly wrong, you can just cut the satin off the toe - which is what you should do anyway. An uncovered satin platform can be dangerous because it can become slippery. Also, a neat, even cut looks much smarter than leaving the satin to fray by itself.

I'm surprised how often I'm asked how to darn pointe shoes. I thought darning pointe shoes had more or less died out. There was a time when not darning your shoes was unthinkable - you wouldn't have been allowed in class. It's a different story these days. It pleases me no end to be asked how to do it. I was always taught that darning made the shoe last longer, and that it gave a more secure surface. Finally, it's easy to see which looks better - a darned toe or frayed satin.

I can't deny that darning a pointe shoe is a slow business. The underside of the box is tough to get a needle through. If you're not used to sewing, you'll probably make a few false starts. Don't worry if it's not that neat. To begin with, you might be self-conscious about uneven stitches. But it doesn't take long for the toes to get dirty and matted, so you can't make out the individual stitches.

It also doesn't really matter which stitch you use. Blanket stitch and chain stitch are the two most commonly used. Larger stitches will leave more open space, which means they'll wear out slightly quicker. On the other hand, it's much quicker to use a big stitch. when considering 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 for other reasons

Here are some articles with more information on how to darn pointe shoes

Don't be afraid to give darning your pointes a try. Think about it - even if your darning is a disaster, what's the harm? 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, a neat cut looks much nicer than leaving the satin to fray by itself.