margarite Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 DD’s pointe shoes are slipping off her heels despite me moving the ribbons several times, so her teacher has advised she has elastic sewn on to them. I’ve seen two methods: one piece in a loop around the foot or two pieces going from back to front that cross over - which is best? Any advice appreciated ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strawberyy Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 My DD uses mesh elastic sewn just in front of the ribbons. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 Depends largely upon what type of feet she has, in my experience. If she has “banana feet”/very high arches I would go with a criss cross of two pieces of elastic. If she has straighter feet and the shoes are just slipping down at the heel then go with a loop as the criss cross method might pull her back off pointe slightly. In either case I’d use the “mesh” elastic and sew it to the outside of the shoe as it can rub if sewn on the inside. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margarite Posted November 27, 2018 Author Share Posted November 27, 2018 Great - I’ve ordered some mesh elastic. Thanks Anna for the advice re shape of foot - just what I needed! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 1 hour ago, margarite said: Great - I’ve ordered some mesh elastic. Thanks Anna for the advice re shape of foot - just what I needed! Excellent! You’re very welcome. ☺️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanut68 Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 (edited) My best tip is to encourage your DD to take on sewing ribbons & elastics to her future pointe shoes as soon as you can 😉 This way she takes ownership, feels like a pro (lots of utube videos of pro dancers showing how they sew/prep shoes) & it’s then not your fault if they don’t feel right! They soon get the hang of it & actually like knowing that they do it ‘their way’. I actually felt super proud once DD no longer asked me to sew ribbons/elastics/darn toes (& dare I say also a little sad as no longer needed?? That feeling didn’t last long rest assured!!) We were probably 1 year & 3 pairs of shoes in before this stage so good luck until then if you are new in this pointe shoe journey! Edited November 27, 2018 by Peanut68 Typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixiewoo Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 I was just googling the same thing myself! 😎 I think I'm going to do a loop at the back, but will check with DDs teacher first! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margarite Posted November 27, 2018 Author Share Posted November 27, 2018 34 minutes ago, Peanut68 said: My best tip is to encourage your DD to take on sewing ribbons & elastics to her future pointe shoes as soon as you can 😉 This way she takes ownership, feels like a pro (lots of utube videos of pro dancers showing how they sew/prep shoes) & it’s then not your fault if they don’t feel right! They soon get the hang of it & actually like knowing that they do it ‘their way’. I actually felt super proud once DD no longer asked me to sew ribbons/elastics/darn toes (& dare I say also a little sad as no longer needed?? That feeling didn’t last long rest assured!!) We were probably 1 year & 3 pairs of shoes in before this stage so good luck until then if you are new in this pointe shoe journey! They’re her first pair of pointe shoes as she’s only 11, she actually sewed the first set of ribbons on as she got them fitted at school - bless her they were a bit wonky! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 Margarite - it may be worth getting a second opinion on fitting at a different shop? Just to make sure..... Sometimes with narrow feet it can't be avoided - my DD is the same...... Good luck. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 Cross posted. Just be aware that fittings at school are often not given the same appointment length as you get by visiting a shop. Maybe try locally in Xmas holidays? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margarite Posted November 27, 2018 Author Share Posted November 27, 2018 Thanks Sarah, I might well take a trip to CG in the hols if the elastic doesn’t work. She does have little, narrow fairy feet! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 Sometimes the heels slip until the shoes are broken in properly (although dd’s first couple of pairs were outgrown before they were broken in!). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanut68 Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 1 hour ago, margarite said: They’re her first pair of pointe shoes as she’s only 11, she actually sewed the first set of ribbons on as she got them fitted at school - bless her they were a bit wonky! Ah that’s so impressive - good for her! Is she away at vocational school? If so, others (older dancers) will probably help with elastic/shoe/sewing advice & help. I agree with the fitting advice... my DD has only had limited brands to choose from & similarly has narrow feet..... 4 years in I still have to plan the long promised CG trip to go around & try all the brands there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margarite Posted November 27, 2018 Author Share Posted November 27, 2018 Yes she’s at Hammond, popping to see her this weekend so will take elastic with me! Luckily we live in London so not too much of a mission for another fitting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SissonneDoublee Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 2 hours ago, Anna C said: Sometimes the heels slip until the shoes are broken in properly (although dd’s first couple of pairs were outgrown before they were broken in!). I was just about to say exactly this! Especially with a first pair. She is likely to underestimate how much breaking in they need. I also second getting her to do the ribbon sewing, even if it needs a bit of a retouch... my 11 year old DD is so proud of having done her own, without much in the way of sewing experience before that! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margarite Posted November 27, 2018 Author Share Posted November 27, 2018 12 minutes ago, SissonneDoublee said: I was just about to say exactly this! Especially with a first pair. She is likely to underestimate how much breaking in they need. I also second getting her to do the ribbon sewing, even if it needs a bit of a retouch... my 11 year old DD is so proud of having done her own, without much in the way of sewing experience before that! She did do the first ribbons on her pair - as I said they were a little wonky - it was like Frankenstein’s ballet shoes 😆 Good tip about the breaking in though, fingers crossed that’s all this pair needs too ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SissonneDoublee Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 1 hour ago, margarite said: She did do the first ribbons on her pair - as I said they were a little wonky - it was like Frankenstein’s ballet shoes 😆 Good tip about the breaking in though, fingers crossed that’s all this pair needs too ... Frankenshoes! The perfect description of every Year 7 vocational DD’s pointe shoes 😂 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 fitting should include advice on elastics - well a good fitter will ... as for duration of fitting ... again a factor ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletbean Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 (edited) On 27/11/2018 at 09:57, margarite said: Great - I’ve ordered some mesh elastic. Thanks Anna for the advice re shape of foot - just what I needed! Challenging to sew so I tend to use darning thread to secure the elastic. Just keep an eye on the elastic. It can wear out over a term. Just replace. So make sure you have spare for running repairs. Ps. Just picking up from other posts. First pointe shoes may not last as long as the next few pairs. The feet/toes change shape quite quickly as they get used to the pointe shoe and therefore the box may feel too big and the feet sink in further. Hence the slip on the heel. Definitely worth having another feeting over the holidays. Edited November 28, 2018 by balletbean 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margarite Posted December 29, 2018 Author Share Posted December 29, 2018 Went to CG today and got DD fitted for new pointe shoes - got a lovely pair of Grishko which seem a much better fit for her narrow D width feet, and no slipping off at the heels! Thanks all for the advice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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