I’m always surprised when someone asks me how to pointe shoes. I rarely see darned pointe shoes these days. There was a time when not darning your shoes was unthinkable – you wouldn’t have been allowed in class. Nowadays, it’s much rarer. I’m always glad to hear that someone still wants to learn. There are many reasons why darning is a good thing. First, it extends the life of the platform. Second, it gives 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 pointe shoes is tedious. The underside of the box is tough to get a needle through. If you’re not used to sewing, you’ll probably need several attempts. Don’t fret too much about making it neat. At first, uneven stitching will be obvious. But the toe of your shoes will get dirty soon enough, and then the individual stitches won’t be discernible.
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 which stitch to choose, 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. Think about it – even if your darning is a disaster, 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. An uncovered satin toe can become slippery, so it can be dangerous. Also, a neat, even cut looks much smarter than leaving the satin to fray by itself.
