We dyed our pointe shoes this week! Check out our photos below!
What you need to dye your pointe shoes
What you will need: pointe shoes with ribbon and elastic, paint sponge, fabric dye, plain paper, tape, cup, workspace protected by paper, and gloves
step one: cover the parts of the shoe that you would like to avoid dyeing
Smooth down the tape especially around the edges to ensure complete contact with the surface you would like to avoid dyeing.
step two: stuff the inside with paper
Stuffing the pointe shoe with paper will help keep the insole dry and dye free and will also help to maintain its shape while drying. Using non-printed paper will help to prevent unwanted ink stains during the dyeing process.
step three: pour dye into container
We used a non-toxic permanent water based dye that did not require mixing. If you are creating a color (eg. yellow+red to make orange), mix enough to cover two shoes plus ribbon and elastic with the same batch. This particular dye comes in a spray bottle, but we choose to sponge paint the dye for these shoes.
step four: sponge paint your shoes
Here we go! Cover your work space with paper. Brush on a thin coat and try to avoid over saturating the satin. You can always do another coat after it dries.
work space for orange pointe shoes
step five: dry your pointe shoes
Allow at least one hour for your pointe shoes to dry. You can use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process. Remove the stuffing and the tape and you’re done. Enjoy your newly dyed pointe shoes!