Restringing ballet shoes is an important part of proper ballet shoe care. Not only does it help keep the shoes looking new, but it also keeps them in the correct fit and helps prevent injury to the dancer.
Restringing is a simple process that requires a few basic tools and supplies.
Tools and Supplies Needed for Restringing
To restring your ballet shoes, you’ll need a small pair of scissors, a spool of elastic string, and a small awl or needle. You may also want to have a piece of chalk handy to help mark where you need to tie knots in the string.
Steps for Restringing Ballet Shoes
1. Begin by using your scissors to cut off the old elastic string from the shoe. This can be done at either the toe or heel area, depending on which you prefer.
2. Once all of the old string has been removed, use your awl or needle to poke two holes into each side of the shoe at both ends. The holes should be even with one another.
3. Take your spool of elastic string and cut off enough to fit both sides of the shoe when stretched out tautly between them.
Make sure that there is enough slack left over for tying knots later on.
4. Now thread one end of the elastic string through one hole on one side of the shoe, then pull it through from the other side and tie a knot at this end.
5. Next thread the other end of the elastic string through one hole on the opposite side of the shoe, pull it through from the other side and tie another knot at this end.
6. Finally, use some chalk to mark where you need to tie knots in between each pair of holes in order to make sure that they are evenly spaced out along each side.
Restringing ballet shoes is an important part of proper ballet shoe care that can help keep them looking new and in good shape while providing support for dancers during performances or classes. With just a few basic tools and supplies, anyone can easily follow these steps for restringing ballet shoes properly.