Shoe Makeover

I love the simple, carefree style of laceless tennis shoes, especially in the summer. They're the best shoes to slip on before running errands, shopping, being outside, or really anything.

I've been drooling over these Keds for a while now...

However $50 for one pair of shoes really isn't in my budget. 

So when I saw plain white Keds knock offs at Walmart for only $5 , I knew exactly what I wanted to do. 

Materials Needed:

• Plain White or Off White Tennis Shoes (Walmart has them for $5 and Target has them for $9)
• RIT or other brand Fabric Dye
• 1.5 " wide Elastic
• Strong Needle and Thread (in coordinating color)

Although I love the muted colors that Keds sells. I wanted a fun color that popped. What's more fun than sunshine yellow? Perfect for the summer. 

First take out the laces

In a large pot Boil your water. The RIT package says to boil 3 gallons of water and add the whole package. I cut this in half and only used half my packet with 1.5 gallons of water

Rinse your shoes off in the sink with hot water

When your water is boiling, turn it down to more of a simmer and add your dye. Put your shoes in the pot (they won't fit perfectly, you'll have to kind of wedge them in there or just dye one at a time) 

Let them sit, stirring them around every once in a while, for about 10 minutes or until they reach your desired shade. 

Pull them out and give them a thorough rinse in the sink.  Admire that pretty color. 

Now you can either let them sit outside for a few hours to dry or do what I did and throw them in the dryer with a few towels. They'll dry much faster this way. 

Here's how mine looked once dry:

The bias around the shoe didn't take the color as well which turned out to make a really nice contrast.

Now all you need to do is sew in your elastic. The elastic keeps the tongue of the shoe from being too loose and is really necessary to make your shoes laceless.  If you're absolutely not a sewer then you can pick up almost the exact same shoe at Target with the elastic already sewn in for $4 more.

Cut a roughly 6 inch piece of your elastic and pin under the tongue of your shoes. 

Now grab your matching thread and thread it through your needle.

Notice my needle is thicker and stronger than an everyday sewing needle.
This is necessary to get through the thick canvas of the shoes 

Make sure to go through all three layers (elastic, tongue, and the outer shoe)  and sew right along the existing seam. Do this all the way down the elastic and then back up.

Cut off the extra elastic.

Repeat on the other side and for the other shoe and your done!  Admire your hard work.

The day after I dyed my shoes, my sister saw them and asked if I could dye hers as well.  Of course I said yes, afterall it really is a lot of fun.

This is the before of her shoes

A late night run to Walmart and we found this pretty color.

Here's how they turned out

I'm loving that pretty teal color. Hmm what's next maybe a nice coral?

Total Cost For This Project

Shoes-  $5

Dye-     $2.50

Elastic- $0 (since I already had it on hand)

Total: $7.50 woo hoo!

**Update 7/13/11**

Unfortunately, it seems they're not selling these shoes at Walmart anymore, bummer! They do, however, have them at Target still. Get your pair quick, before they stop carrying them!

Linking to...

http://todayscreativeblog.net/

http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/

http://www.yesterdayontuesday.com/

http://niftythriftythings.blogspot.com/

http://typeadecorating.blogspot.com/

http://sweetpeasandbb.blogspot.com/

http://nightowlcrafting.blogspot.com/

http://www.yesterdayontuesday.com/

http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/

http://paisleypassions.blogspot.com/

http://www.savedbylovecreations.com/

http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/

http://www.aglimpseinsideblog.com/

http://www.mysimplehomelife.com/

http://mommaskindacrafty.blogspot.com/
http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.com/

http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/
http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/

http://www.skiptomylou.org/

http://sarahndipities.blogspot.com/

http://www.thirtysixthavenue.com/





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