How to Turn Children's Tap Shoes into Slip Ons

Most children's beginning tap shoes are similar to the style above - the traditional patent leather Mary Jane style.  Unfortunately, these shoes usually come with black grosgrain ribbon laces that need to be tied and ultimately get lost.  I have never been able to find replacement laces for children's tap shoes.  They can be replaced with a piece of matching 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon, but the ends will fray if they are not sealed and, they still need to be tied if your dancer cannot tie his or her own shoes (boys oxford style tap shoes usually have laces that are easier to replace - flat cotton or round type laces). 

It is very easy to turn this style of tap shoes into slip ons. All you need is two large shank-style buttons and about four inches of round elastic in a color to match the shoes (have you seen the adorable light pink tap shoes?).  A slender small hair tie will also work.  Be creative with your button choice (as long as your dance instructor doesn't mind) - this button is shiny black with crystals.  How about some of those cute colorful daisy shaped buttons?

Tie a knot in the end of the round elastic (skip this step if you are using a hair tie).  Thread the elastic (or hair tie) through the shank of the button.

Push the elastic loop on one side of the shank through the loop on the other side of the shank and pull it tight leaving the button secured on the elastic loop.

Thread the large loop you now have attached to the button through both eyelets of the tap shoe.

Place the elastic loop over the button.  You are finished!  Now, the shoe can be pulled open enough for a little dancer's foot to slide in and the elastic pulls tight to hold the shoe on.  Now make another elastic tie for the other shoe.  No shoe tying needed!  Make several sets with different buttons and your dancer can change her look whenever she wants to!

How to Repair Ballet Slippers

Supplies Needed

How to Repair Ballet Slippers

Most ballet slippers (not pointe shoes) have an elastic lace that runs around the upper edge of the shoe and ties in the front on top of the foot.  This round elastic lace is added so the shoe can be tightened around the dancer's foot.  Most experienced dancers will tie this elastic and either cut off the ends or tuck them inside the shoe after it is on their foot.  Unfortunately, if a tight square knot is not made before the ends are clipped, the knot may come untied and the elastic will slip back inside the casing.  Fortunately, this is fixable and your ballet slipper will be just fine. 

All that is needed to repair your shoe is a paperclip, strong thread, a fine needle, a stitch ripper and a bobby pin (we all know dancer's have bobby pins everywhere!).  Before beginning, use a pair of pliers and bend the ends of your bobby pin straight so they make a straight line. 



Next, feel along the elastic casing at the top of the slipper until you feel the end of the elastic.  Use your stitch ripper and remove just two or three stitches to open the casing and expose the elastic lace. 

Now, use your needle and thread (I prefer to use a heavy weight thread like hand quilting thread) and run a stitch through the round elastic about 1/4 inch from the end of the elastic. Tie a knot in the thread so it makes a loop. You will have a circle of thread hanging from the end of the elastic lace.

Next, slip your bobby pin through the loop in the thread and use the bobby pin as a "needle".

Now, guide your bobby pin through the remaining casing until it comes out the original opening for the elastic lace.

Once the bobby pin appears, gently pull it and the elastic lace through the casing and out through the original opening.  If only one side of the shoes elastic lace had disappeared into the casing, you can now tie a very tight square knot in the two ends of the lace.  If the other end of the lace is also inside the casing on the other side of the shoe, slip a paperclip through the circle of thread to prevent the lace from boinging back up inside the casing and repeat the above steps on the other side of the elastic lace.

Once the elastic lace is tightly tied and the shoe fits properly again, clip off the thread loops. 

Now, repair the hole you made in the casing when you opened it with a small amount of good quality fabric glue (I held the casing closed with a binder clip while the glue dried) and once the glue has dried, your shoe is ready to dance again. 

Happy dancing!