I thought I would post this detailed explanation since there have been several posts asking about how ribbons and elastics should be sewn.

Remember, usually ribbons are purchased in lengths of 2.5 - 3 meters long. In order to prepare your ribbons for sewing, simply fold the length of ribbon in half, then cut it. Then fold each piece in half again, and cut that. Then you will have your proper length of ribbon to sew onto your shoe. You can trim the ribbons later after your teacher has judged the tying of them.

The elastic should be long enough that if will fit over your ankle snugly, but not too tight so that it is uncomfortable.

Step 1. Set out your brand new pointe shoe.


Step 2. Fold the heel down so that it touches the insole of the pointe shoe.


Step 3. Make sure that the heel is folded down all the way- so that when you look at the bottom of the shoe, the only part of the heel that remains is what is used to make the fold.


Step 4. Make a mark on either side of the inside of the shoe where the heel is folded to be your guide when sewing on your ribbons.


Step 5. Sew the ribbons with the front edge of the ribbon placed on the mark you made. Make sure that your ribbons are angled 45 degrees toward the front of the pointe shoe.


Step 6. Fold the back of the heel so that you can easily grasp the back of the shoe and clearly see the back seam of the shoe.


Step 7. Position the first section of elastic angled 45 degrees outward so that the elastic is about a half inch away from the back seam.


Step 8. Sew each side angled in the manner described above.


Step 9. Look at your finished pointe shoe to make sure it looks like the following picture. If it does, you have sewn your ribbons and elastics correctly.

Awesome post by the residential pointe shoe specialist. It must have taken you a long time for all the picture, and this should cut down on the n00b-esque posts about how to sew ribbons/elastics. Karma!

That is very helpful. Hopefully lots people with this question will see this. Maybe add it to the sticky thread?

~bailameansdance~

What a great post! I don't think I've ever seen a better guide to sewing ribbons and elastics on pointe shoes. The illustrations, coupled with the instructions, are very clear. I sure wish the Internet had existed back when I got my first pair of pointes!

Great post! It really should be made a sticky because I see so many questions about how to sew on ribbons and elastics. Karma for you!

Great pictures, and concise descriptions. Karma!

~Linda

very nice post! karma for the pictures and good descriptions!

Sticky!!!! So I don't lose it.

great post!! nicee picturess.. you explained really well every step! **KARMA** thiss postt HAs to be sticky!

diva99

wicked post, i never knew you had to angle the ribbons in..maybe thats why mine never sit neatly..lol.
karma
EmXXOO

Wow! Thanks sooo much for posting this! It was very helpful! lol I only wish I had this when I got my pointe shoes .. I had a terrible time trying to figure out where the heck I was supposed to so the ribbons and elastics!!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
karma!
Naomi
xxx

Karma to you! Thanks for all these great pictures, they're really helpful!

This is great and very useful information

thank you so much for posting that. i'm so dumb and i had to keep sewing my elastics and ribbons on over and over again because i couldn't get it right. ya helped me out. karma for you

How fantastic!!! I ALWAYS require assistance when I tie my ribbons...at 21, I think it's a little pathetic! But thanks so much for this great post! I'll definitely bookmark it and come back when it's time for me to sew on my new ribbons.

Thanks for posting!

Great post! It helped alot!

Great job! Very, very, very useful!

I work in a dance store that speicializes in pointe shoes. When we do ribbons, we reccomend that place the ribbon so that it hugs the arch. It enhances the arch and also makes it more comfortable.

But, the problem with that is that many dancer's have narrow heels, and placing the ribbons to hug the arch, this causes the heel of the shoe to be left somewhat unsupported- so then you have problems with the heels of shoes slipping off during class/performances/etc.

Very good detailed instuctions... thanks a lot!

thank you so much! this post really helped, you had great pictures

Thanks so much, it really helped me. Almost made a little mistake if it weren't for this

Great post!

There was also a method in the 2nd edition of the Pointe Book for people who tend to sickle - sew one ribbon slightly forward and the other slightly back but it might not be the best idea if you alternate shoes (not just pairs of shoes).

I fold up my ribbons so that there is 4 layers of it (fold half once then half that) then I do a running stitch on top and bottom and whipstitch the sides. I find it harder to sew but they're much more secure.

The arch support thing was meant for dancers w/ high arches, not for people like me w/ invisible arches

Much Love Always,
Dasha

My dance teacher not to sew on elastic just to see if they would stay on ok and they did. Is that ok? she knose a lot about dancing, and point shoes. E-mail me at dancing_clay_sniffer@hotmail.com

dance_101