How to Sew Shoe Bows out of Thread
Shoe bows, hair bows, sweatshirt bows, backpack bows…bows are all the rage right now. I came across this video for Shoe Bows on TikTok by Flynn_and_Mabel but there were no instructions (that I could find). I just had to try it! My take features 12 wt. Cotton Petites Thread. Making the Shoe Bows wasn’t as easy as I anticipated, but once I stitched the first bow I had it down. Of course, I had to share my method with you!
SHOE BOW SUPPLIES
- Pair of canvas shoes (similar to Converse; I found these)
- Sulky 12 wt. Cotton Petitesâ„¢ Thread
- Removable fabric chalk
- Hand sewing needle
- (2) ball-head pins
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SHOE BOWS HOW-TOS
Mark a dot for the center of each bow you plan to add to the shoe(s). I added seven marks and they’re placed 3/8″ apart and 1/2″ from the outermost stitching line beyond the laces.
Use a removable fabric chalk so you can easily change the placements if needed.
Thread the hand sewing needle with two strands of Sulky 12 wt. Cotton Petites Thread. Knot the thread ends.
Bring the needle up through the inside of the shoe at the uppermost mark.
Place a pin 3/8″ from the thread/mark on both sides.
Next, wrap the thread around the pin on the left side.
Then, wrap the thread around the pin on the right side.
Continue wrapping, leaving 10 passes of thread between the pins.
BOW FINISHING
Insert the needle into the upper thread wrap opening and out along the lower-edge center of the wrap.
To form the bow shape, insert the needle in the shoe at the upper-edge center of the thread wraps.
Pull the thread taut and repeat three to four times to create the bow center.
Lastly, remove the pins to reveal the bow loops.
Repeat to create all seven (more or less) bows along the shoes where desired.
Try your hand at these dainty thread bows and add them to canvas shoes, shirt collar points, button plackets and more. All you need is a spool of your favorite Sulky heavyweight thread!
