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Shoe Bows in Thread

How to Sew Shoe Bows out of Thread

finished purple shoes with bows

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

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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.

marking shoe for bow placements

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.

beginning bow stitch on shoe

Place a pin 3/8″ from the thread/mark on both sides.

pins in shoe for creating bows

Next, wrap the thread around the pin on the left side.

thread wrapped around pin on shoe

Then, wrap the thread around the pin on the right side.

wrapping thread around right pin

Continue wrapping, leaving 10 passes of thread between the pins.

bow stitching on shoe

BOW FINISHING

Insert the needle into the upper thread wrap opening and out along the lower-edge center of the wrap.

forming bow shape

To form the bow shape, insert the needle in the shoe at the upper-edge center of the thread wraps.

finishing shoe bow

Pull the thread taut and repeat three to four times to create the bow center.

bow shape completed

Lastly, remove the pins to reveal the bow loops.

removing pins at bow loops

Repeat to create all seven (more or less) bows along the shoes where desired.

Shoe Bows finished

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!

finished bows on shoes being worn

I am the Director of Content for Sulky of America. The former Editor in Chief of Sew News and Creative Machine Embroidery magazines, I hosted Sew it All TV on PBS for nine seasons. I've appeared on It's Sew Easy on PBS, DIY Network's Uncommon Threads, Hallmark's Marie Osmond Show, MacPhee Workshop and more! Come sew with me!