I broke my shoelaces! ... But it’s no problem, I know how to make new

Last week, I broke my laces 😅 too eager to go on an adventure... I guess! Anyway, I told myself I'd follow my mantra according to my resolutions "if you can do it yourself, do it!"

Since making your own laces isn't complicated, I thought I'd make a little tutorial for you! We're going to replace my broken pair of laces but also modify those of the white tennis shoes for which I have a project postponed for too long! I really need to get started!

So, enough time wasted... let's get to work!

Method 1: "folded/sewn" laces

In the seamstress's basket:

cotton poplin (patterned is even nicer, little flowers, stripes...)
good quality matching thread
lace tips

For this method, you need:

1. Measure the length of the laces to be replaced.

2. Cut rectangles:

- length: lace to replace + 2cm margin

- width: between 3 and 4cm depending on the diameter of your shoes'/sneakers' eyelets

3. Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise, wrong sides together

4. Open the fold and fold each raw edge towards the middle of the rectangle (the crease you just made 😊) iron again

5. Fold the middle crease onto itself and iron

6. Pin

7. Stitch with a rib stitch on each side of the lace thus formed

8. Roll the ends of the shoelace onto themselves so that the shoelace forms a "little roll" that can be inserted into the shoelace tip

9. Push the ends into the tips, using a small tool if needed

10. Close the claws of the lace tip using pliers. To tuck the "little sausages" into the tip, I use the flat part of the seam ripper to press the fabric.

Here is the first method, quite simple to do and which allows you to "pimp" your sneakers at a low cost!

For my sneakers, I chose a bag of golden tips from the shop which contains the materials to make 3 pairs of laces. They also come in silver and gunmetal to match your sewing projects.

I am really happy with the result of this first pair! Let's move on to the second pair with the second method...

2. The "sewn/turned" laces

For this second method, you will need the same supplies as for the first, that is: cotton poplin, threads and lace tips.

The first two steps are the same as for the first method.

1. Measure the laces to be replaced

2. Cut the rectangles

3 Fold the rectangles lengthwise, right sides together; I recommend pressing the fold for more precision.

4. Pin the raw edges and stitch close to the edge to create a "tube" with a diameter of 7 to 8 mm

5. Cut the margin, leaving no more than 2mm. For this step, I use embroidery scissors to be as precise as possible

6. Turn the shoelace inside out. To succeed in this step, I used the smallest guide from the Prym brand set. It’s a tool I use a lot to turn belts, ribbons, and now shoelaces. It’s really very handy in the workshop.

7. Iron your shoelaces because after turning them inside out, they will be all wrinkled

8. Roll the ends of the shoelace onto themselves so that the shoelace forms a "little roll" that can be inserted into the shoelace tip

9. Push the ends into the tips, using a small tool if needed

10. Close the claws of the shoelace tip with pliers. To fit the "little rolls" into the tip, I use the flat part of the seam ripper to press the fabric.

I’m really a fan of my super girly shoelaces... for subtlety, we’ll try again... I feel like I’m going to make some jealous kids in the 4-10 age group!

Third method: use bias tapes

And yes, if you don't want to cut your precious fabrics or if you don't have long enough scraps with small patterns, or if you fall for a very specific bias pattern... you can do the first method directly with 20mm bias tape! Often 20mm bias tapes feature small patterns created expressly for their small size; these patterns therefore make very good options for shoelaces!

You just need to fold the bias tape over itself and resume method 1 from step 6. Even easier and faster!

In the shop, you will find floral and ethnic patterned bias tapes to make super nice shoelaces!