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 the ones on the white tennis shoes for which I have a project postponed for too long! I really need to get started!

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

Method 1: the "folded/sewn" laces

In the seamstress's basket:

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

For this method, you need:

1. Measure the length of the laces to replace.

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 toward the middle of the rectangle (the crease you just made 😊) then 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 formed this way

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 tip, using a small tool if needed

10. Close the claws of the lace tip using a clip. To fit the "little rolls" 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 low cost!

For my sneakers, I chose a bag of gold 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’m really happy with how this first pair turned out! 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, namely: 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. Clip the raw edges and stitch close to the edge to create a tube with a diameter of 7 to 8 mm.

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

6. Turn the lace back on itself. 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 laces. It’s really very handy in the workshop.

7. Iron your shoelaces because after turning them inside out, they’ll 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 tip, using a small tool if needed

10. Close the claws of the shoelace tip with a clip. To tuck 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... discretion is out the window... I feel like I’m going to make some kids aged 4-10 jealous!

Third method: use bias tape

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

Just fold the bias tape over itself and follow method 1 starting from step 6. Even easier and faster!

In the shop, you’ll find floral and ethnic patterned bias tape to make some really cool shoelaces!