Oldermum Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 Anyone any handy tips to loosen the satin on the toe of the pointe shoe. My dd has just got her new pointe shoes and I've never had any that I've found so tight that I'm struggling to get the needle in to darn. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swanprincess Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 Wearing socks over the top, I work in mine at home (just basic barre- rises, releves etc) and that helps. I still use pliers to shove the needle through though!!! I find some pointe shoes are easier to darn than others- I did a pair of Suffolks in less than an hour, whereas my Capezio ones were really tough, and took much longer. Good luck!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dance*is*life Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 I am impressed that people still darn pointe shoes - I thought that went out with lambs wool! Wouldn't you like to stick suede tips on them instead??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 I cut the satin off the end first, then darn to make a ridge right round the edge of the platform, leaving the middle undarned. No need to loosen the satin! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anjuli_Bai Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 I always used Capezio's and darned every pair I ever owned. I darned right on top of the satin. I found a thimble was absolutely essential. I darned around the edge first, like an outline, and then backstitched to cover the entire platform. Then I made X's on top of the back stitches.. Because I never cut the satin it never frayed around the edges. Remember the idea is not to be neat or beautiful - but to give traction. I remember doing 6 pairs at a time - usually waiting around in rehearsal or watching TV. It didn't take that long when you get experienced doing it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Circe Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 I've been following anjuli's method since reading it on here on similar thread a while back. I use curved needle, which helps but is a bit awkward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 I've found that it helps if the shoes are worn in class once or twice before darning, as it loosens the satin enough to darn without too much bother. Don't let her use rosin though, as it gums up the needle and makes it (and your fingers) all sticky. Also, someone mentioned to me that it's a good idea to make sure that your anti-tetanus jabs are up-to-date when darning shoes, because you can get an infection from dirt in the wound if your finger gets pricked. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dance*is*life Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 I used to use blanket stitch, starting at the bottom and working up, shaping it in towards the top, which I finished off firmly. We also used to sew tapes inside the ribbons where they crossed on the instep to give more support. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liquorice Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 I love darning shoes! I do a thick chain stitch round and round from the middle and then tidy it up around the edge with a blanket stitch! Only ever done Blochs and they are really tough but didn't occur to me to get her to wear them first as I would assume they could slip too easily? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemongirl Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 Just got me thinking - if pointe shoes need either darning or suede toe caps, couldn't they be manufactured in the first place with something other than satin at the toe...? What's the reason I wonder..? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldermum Posted August 21, 2013 Author Share Posted August 21, 2013 Thanks everyone, I've darned pointe shoes for more years than I care to remember (I took my RAD pre-elementary and elementary back in the 70's and always did my own shoes). But I've never had a pair as hard to do as these. I've rubbed them in my hand, dd worn them round the house, I've even fed the needle under the satin and tried to move it around to loosen satin (something I've managed to do before on small areas) I always use a chain stitch and curved needle. The worst thing about this pair is - dd want to have a go herself. She'll just have to wear them a bit longer - we've still a full week to go. Her last pair I did in a hotel room one evening didn't take as long as it's taken me to go round one shoe just once. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Circe Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 Which brand are they oldermum ? Not that I have any words of wisdom, just interested to know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldermum Posted August 21, 2013 Author Share Posted August 21, 2013 freed studio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooky Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 Oldermum - Dd had one pair of Bloch Serenade that were just like you describe. Even using pliers to pull the needle through it took me about 10 times longer than any other pair and then to add insult to injury dd decided she didn't actually like them and they were hardly worn. Darned plenty of other shoes of all makes, including Bloch with no problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Circe Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 The first pair I attempted to darn were freed studio and I gave up wondering how anyone managed to darn pointe shoes. D had to use shoes with one shoe with half a circle darned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dance*is*life Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 Bloch do pointe shoes with suede patches on the tips. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 Dd has a pair of Studios but usually wears Classic Pro. My husband said that even cutting the satin off the Studio platform was almost impossible. Must be something about the Studios! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balletmumfor2 Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 Hi Oldermum. My dd always has classic pros or studio 11's both of which are nightmare to darn. She usually wears them a week to soften them up then darns them before she wears through the satin. Lots of plasters wrapped around your fingers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzpaws Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 I found How to darn a pointe shoe, parts 1 and 2 from youtube very useful and quick to do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BankruptMum Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 Oh dear, I have a pair of Studios waiting to be darned - she may have to go back to Bloch!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 I think some shoemakers use more glue than others, as we've had the occasional pair which have been much harder to darn than others she's had in the same make and style 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BankruptMum Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 Checked my DD's and I can hardly get a needle through the satin, not sure what I'm going to do with them :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loulabelle Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 I used to darn but as DD goes through point shoes so quickly now, I tend to just use the stick on suede patches. I do however have a new pair of soft blocks waiting to be darned, can't say it's a job I enjoy :-/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldermum Posted August 25, 2013 Author Share Posted August 25, 2013 Well I preserved and I might have sore fingers but I wasn't beaten - pointe shoes darned yeah 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballettaxi Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Hi Oldermum, I've just spotted this thread and have really taken heart from your comments on the difficulty in darning Freed's. DD only ever wears Freed Studio Professionals - they're the only ones that she 'connects' with. And I really thought I was being a bit of a 'woos' (i.e. weakling) when it came to darning them. Each shoe takes me at least 3-4 evenings do and my finger tips are throbbing by the end of it - that's with a curved needle and a thimble. But now that I realise those with far more experience at this than me find these particularly shoes 'challenging' I won't be so hard on myself. Yes, she probably should do them herself - but I get cups of tea on request and a LOT of chores completed by her while I'm struggling so maybe I'll do a few more pairs before I had them over.......... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancingDays Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Is it very wrong of me to say I've used the stick on patches that look like darning on my DD's pointe shoes???? Seriously question though...is there a specific benefit in darning them rather than using patches or is it more of a tradition thing? I'm just waiting for a new pair to be delivered and I did buy darning cotton when DD got her first pair and have never used it....so depending on what you all think, this could be the perfect time to try it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 No, it's not wrong. :-) The reason I darn now instead of using patches is that my dd likes the satin cut off and a ring of darning stitches right around the edge of the platform. Just personal choice I suppose and not something I can achieve with patches so that's what we do. If the stick on patches work for you and the teacher has no objection to them then great. :-) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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