How to Sew Ribbons and Elastics Onto Pointe Shoes

Pointe shoes are special dance shoes worn by ballet dancers that allow them to dance “en pointe” or on the tips of their toes. Ballerinas use ribbons and elastics attached to their pointe shoes to keep them firmly affixed to their feet during a routine. Most new pointe shoes do not come with ribbons or elastics attached, so dancers will sew these pieces onto their shoes to customize the fit and ensure their shoes remain secure while dancing.

Here’s what you need to sew ribbons and elastics onto your pointe shoes:

1. 1. Pointe shoes: Ensure your ballet shoes are well-fitted (ideally during a shoe fitting by a professional)—once you sew ribbons or elastics onto your shoes, you won’t be able to return them.
2. 2. Ribbons: Pointe shoe ribbons are a specific type of ribbon, usually polyester or nylon, around one-inch wide. They typically come as one long piece of ribbon, about 88 inches long, that you cut to size for your shoes.
3. 3. Elastics: Pointe shoe elastics are special elastics, usually a half-inch wide, that are stretchy but not as chafing as other elastics.
4. 4. Sewing thread: Choose a sewing thread that matches the color of your pointe shoes so that it blends in. Some dancers use dental floss in a pinch—if you choose to use dental floss, use an unwaxed, unscented variety.
5. 5. Needle: Any sewing needle works for sewing pointe shoes—choose one that is sharp enough to pierce the lining of your shoes, with a thin eye that won’t leave wide holes in your lining.
6. 6. Scissors: Keep a pair of scissors close by for trimming sewing thread and elastic.
7. 7. Sewing pins (optional): Pins can help you anchor your ribbons and elastics in place while you sew.
8. 8. Match (optional): Some dancers use matches at the cut ends of their ribbons to prevent them from fraying.
9. 9. Pencil (optional): A pencil can come in handy when marking where to sew your ribbons or cut your elastics.

Whether it’s your first pair of pointe shoes or your fifth, here’s the process for sewing ribbons onto them:

1. 1. Cut your ribbons. Most pointe shoe ribbons come as one long piece, usually 88 inches long. To prepare your ribbons for your pointe shoes, cut the ribbon in half, and then in half again. Twenty-two inches is a good average length for pointe shoe ribbons, but you can customize the length to your preference.
2. 2. Fold the heel of your pointe shoe. Fold the heel of the shoe so that it’s lying flat against the bottom of the shoe. This fold will create a diagonal line across each side of the shoe, which you’ll follow when sewing your ribbons in place. Make a pencil mark on this line to make it easier to place your ribbons.
3. 3. Place and pin the ribbons. Following the lines that you made when you folded the heel of your shoe, place your first ribbon against one line and use a sewing pin to pin it to the side of the shoe. Repeat this process for the ribbon on the other side.
4. 4. Thread your needle. Cut a long piece of sewing thread (about the length of your arm) from your spool. Take one end of your thread and slip it through the needle eye, letting it dangle a few inches from the eye—avoid tying the thread to the needle. On the other end of the thread, tie a knot or two atop each other so it won't slip through your shoe.
5. 5. Make stitches along one long side of the ribbon. Fold the raw bottom edge of the ribbon under itself for a slightly cleaner look. Next, make stitches along one of the long sides of your ribbon, beginning at the bottom edge and working your way up to the binding edge of the shoe. Working from the inside of the shoe, take the needle, pierce it through a small piece of the shoe lining, and then back through. (The needle should remain on the inside of the shoe in the lining, rather than being pulled through to the outside of the shoe satin and back again.) Once you have a small piece of the lining on your needle, pierce it through the underside of the ribbon and pull the thread until it’s taut. Repeat this process along the ribbon to create stitches.
6. 6. Stitch along the binding. Once you make it to the binding edge of your pointe shoes, fold the ribbon flush against the binding for a clean look. Make your stitches along the top of the binding. Avoid stitching through the drawstring because stitches will prevent you from pulling it tight when necessary.
7. 7. Stitch along the rest of the ribbon. After you’ve stitched the ribbon to the binding, continue your stitches back down the long remaining edge, and finally, along the short folded final edge.
8. 8. Tie off your last stitch. Once you’ve finished making stitches, thread your needle through a loop of stitching, tie a knot in the thread, and then cut it close to the knot to avoid a loose thread.
9. 9. Repeat with the other ribbon. Repeat this process with the other ribbon, so your shoe has one ribbon on either side.
10. 10. Repeat with the other shoe. Repeat this process with your second pointe shoe.
11. 11. Secure the cut ends (optional). Cut ribbons may fray, so secure the back edges of your ribbons to prevent them from fraying. To do this, light a match and briefly pass the end of the ribbon into the flame to melt the threads together and make it more secure.

Here’s a step-by-step guide for sewing elastics onto pointe shoes:

1. 1. Determine the length and angle of the elastic. Put your pointe shoe on and stand with your foot and leg at a 90-degree angle. Carefully tuck one end of the elastic into the top seam near the back of your heel, then wrap it around your ankle and make a pencil line to note the length of the elastic. Your elastic should be tight enough that it will hold the top of your shoe in place while dancing but not so gripping that it hurts your Achilles tendon or cuts off circulation. Repeat with your other shoe. Remove your pointe shoes and cut the elastics to the proper length.
2. 2. Place and pin one end of the elastic. Place one edge of the elastic on the inside of your pointe shoe, with one corner on the top edge of the lining and the other corner near the middle of the back seam. Use a sewing pin to anchor it in place while you sew.
3. 3. Thread your needle. Cut a long piece of sewing thread (about the length of your arm) from your spool. Take one end of your thread and slip it through the needle eye, letting it dangle a few inches from the eye—avoid tying the thread to the needle. On the other end of the thread, tie a knot or two atop each other so it won't slip through your shoe.
4. 4. Make stitches along the edge of the elastic. Now you’ll stitch the edge of the elastic to the lining of your pointe shoe. Working from the inside of the shoe, take the needle, pierce it through a small piece of the shoe lining, and then back through. (The needle should remain inside the shoe’s interior lining, rather than being pulled through to the outside of the shoe satin and back again.) Once you have a small piece of the lining on your needle, pierce it through the underside of the elastic and pull the thread until it’s taut. Repeat this process along the elastic edge to sew it to your shoe.
5. 5. Check the fit of your elastic (optional). Once you’ve sewn one end of your elastic to your shoe, put your shoe back on to ensure your elastic is at a good angle and will be the right length for a comfortable fit. If not, make small adjustments.
6. 6. Stitch the other edge of the elastic. Line up the other edge of the elastic to the opposite side of the back seam in a mirror image of the first edge. Repeat the stitching process to affix the edge of the elastic to your shoe lining.
7. 7. Repeat for the other shoe. Repeat this process for the elastic on your other pointe shoe.

Practice ballet with Misty Copeland, the principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. Get the MasterClass Annual Membership and learn how to put individual barre techniques together to create powerful performances and introduce artistry to your choreography.