Shoe Makeover: Graceful Lace Flats

I have a thing with lace and shoes. A really, really big thing. In fact, this is the THIRD pair of shoes that I have made lacy this year.

On the one hand, I will always have a pair of lace shoes to perfectly complement any outfit. On the other hand, who really cares? Lace is awesome and on-trend this fall and if you don’t have any lacy shoes, yet, you need to listen up!

I feel like I have really perfected my lace covering technique. I’ve learned from past mistakes and I was informed that these shoes look just like I bought them at the store. Not kind of DIYed or anything, but honestly and truly from the store awesome.  So if you want to learn from my experience and make a pair of laced up shoes with me you will need:

• shoes
• lace fabric, approximately 1/4 yard
• spray adhesive
• scissors
• Mod Podge & small brush
• utility knife

First take and cut a portion of your lace that is generously larger than the actual shoe.

Turn your cut lace upside down (pretty side down, less attractive side up) and give a nice layer of spray adhesive. Allow sitting a moment to become tacky.

Starting with the toe portion of the shoe, place the lace with a good focal point on your shoe. Smooth the lace down and around the entire toe and sides of both shoes. Allow drying for approximately one hour.

When you get to the back of the shoe, cut the lace directly down the middle. Take one side and pull it inward and trim any overlap with the center of the shoe. Glue down.

Take the other side and trim so that the lace is just overlapping the first piece. Glue down.

Come back around with your spray adhesive and tack down anything that didn’t stick well the first go.

Continue with this step as soon as the lace is no longer tacky to touch, or if when touching the lace it doesn’t try to pull up with your finger. Run along the sole/shoe upper with a small brush and Mod Podge. Apply generously. This step is going to stiffen up your lace so that it will be easier to trim and prevent any unraveling after trimming.

Take your utility knife and run along the seam that connects the sole to the upper. Areas where the lace is thicker and more detailed will take a bit more pressure. Take care that you don’t push so hard that you cut through the shoe.

Go slowly on this step. The quality of your trimming is going to affect whether your shoes look fabulous or homemade.

Use your hot glue gun to trace just inside of the shoe in spans of about 3 inches. Turn the lace over into the shoe and tamp down on the hot glue to set. Quickly wipe away any excess.

Since hot glue dries so quickly, after the last step your shoes are pretty much wearable. Keep a close eye on the inside where you used the hot glue it may wear a bit quickly if you kick off your shoes (like rubbing one foot against the other). It’s no big deal if it does come loose, though. Just tack it back down!

See you next week…

Allison

A crafter since her earliest years, Allison spends a little time every day making something. She crafts, sews, paints, glues things onto other things, and is a firm believer that a life spent creating is a life worth living. Visit Allison’s blog, Dream {a Little} BIGGER.