Scrapbuster No. 18 / Challenge Submission: Scrappy Shoelaces (Tutorial)

By now, the secret is out ... Sara and Sara don't throw away much! When spring cleaning comes around, it is fun to try and think of ways to use up those scraps.

For this challenge, I'm submitting The Scrappy Shoelace, made from scraps of fabric, tulle, and t-shirts ~ these shoelaces certainly spruce up my kids well worn Converse! (and my New Balance) ...Grab your scraps and give your shoes a quick makeover!



mix and match - if you dare!





the super scrappy shoelace (above)... had to piece together 3 fabrics to get to 31" in length ... looks really cute all laced up.



tee shirt laces; fabric laces; tulle laces

If you're just dying to make your own, here's what you'll need! And certainly email us or leave a comment if you have any questions. :-)

Materials:

• Fabric Strips: 2" by length of shoelace you are replacing. I'd recommend measuring the length of the shoelace you're upgrading. Option: Use Tulle instead of fabric! Tulle is sold on a roll that is 6" wide ...use the 6" width and in the directions, do Step 1 and then skip on down to Step 6.
• Heat Shrink Tubing in Size 1/8".  Heat Shrink Tubing is generally used to encase electrical wires ... so you're gonna need to take a trip to your local Radio Shack, or someplace like that. Ask for it, they'll look at you like you're crazy, tell them you're making shoelaces and they'll really look at you like you're crazy, and so on. Here is a link to what I bought at Radio Shack. THIS is a multi pack with three sizes of tubing; you're only going to use one size: 1/8". With this particular pack, you'll get a RED, WHITE, BLUE & CLEAR. All of them but the clear have funky print on them ... you'll recognize it as that weird print that is on your electrical cables ...once on the shoelace, you don't really notice the weird print.

• Heat. Embossing Heat Gun or a match.

• Regular sewing supplies.

Step 1. Determine necessary / desired length of your new shoelace (measure existing shoelace and make it longer / shorter as you wish). If you do not have a long enough strip to get the length you need ... no problem! Piece scraps together until you get the length you're going for. (See the red / blue / yellow pair above? That's what I did for those).

Step 2. Cut a 2" strip of fabric x the length you determined in Step 1. The kids converse measured 31" long, and my New Balance measured 44". One 2" x length piece will make a PAIR of LACES -- because in a step or 2, you'll be cutting this in half lengthwise.

Step 3. Make "bias" tape. You definitely need not worry about cutting your fabric on the bias ... you just want to create that nice fold that bias tape has. I have a bias tape maker that makes this quick as can be (it's a 1" bias tape maker which equates to 1/2" double fold bias tape - that is what we want). MADE has a really great post here all about making bias tape and what measurements you need when using a bias tape maker; check it out.

the long strip; you're going to cut down the middle in the next step

No bias tape maker? No worries ... just do it this way: Iron strip in half lengthwise so that it's 1" wide. Open it up, and fold each long side into the middle (just under 1/2" on each side). Fold the sides over each other and press.

Step 4. Cut the long strip in half down the middle (lengthwise that is). Now you have two 1/2" strips that are as long as your length. 

now there are TWO long strips - your PAIR!

Step 5. Run a zig zag stitch down the long end that has open edges. This will create a long tube and minimize fraying. Thsi blue/green one has matching blue thread, but I made some with contracting thread and that was really cute.

contrasting thread ^^ on the blue on blue circle pair

Step 6. For one pair of laces cut FOUR 1/2" pieces of heat shrink tubing. Squeeze together / fold over the lace ends and slide the 1/2"piece of tubing over each end of the laces. Twist and turn it on there ... trust me, it'll work.

slide the tubing onto the lace until the ends are flush (i am still sliding in this pic above)

Step 7. Grab your heating element. I happen to have an embossing gun (because once upon a time I had some fun using embossing powder & stamps). I tested a match just to see and it worked like a charm. Apply heat to the plastic tubing and watch it shrink up! The kind I used has about a 2:1 shrink ratio. When I started playing with this, I found a WONDERFUL website that is all about shoelaces with instructions on using heat shrink tubing; here.

now the fun: heat & shrink!



trim any funky looking end off so it's flat

Step 8. Repeat over and over, exhibit A:


lots of bias tape laces ready to be prepped!

 

Here's an example of of a tulle pair; love its fluffy bow!

crazy belle makes a great shoe model!



my shoes got an upgrade too.



laces from tee-shirt scraps

Have fun with it! Let us know if you've got any questions or if you make a pair or 2!  


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