High-End Hack: Shoe Embellishment Tutorial

Bedazzled shoes are everywhere and adorned with everything: embroidery, pom-poms, tassels, beading — you name it. With a few simple steps, it’s easy (and inexpensive!) to transform a pair of basic flat mules into designer flats.

Follow these simple step-by-step photos to create your own luxe pair of adorned shoes!
SUPPLIES

• Basic mule flats
• FSL embroidery (design featured: FSL Snake embroidery design, Wind Bell Embroidery; embroiderydesigns.com)
• Invisible thread
• Hand-sewing needle
• Beads & assorted gemstones
• Pin backs

Purchase a pair of plain flat mules.

Create your own FSL (freestanding lace) with an embroidery machine, or purchase two pre-made FSL motifs.

Find natural open spaces in the embroidered design where you can attach beads using invisible thread and a beading needle. Make sure to tie off the thread on the underside of the embroidered design.

Complete beading of the snake to your liking.

Attach a heat-fixed crystal in a darker color as the eye of the snake.

Attach two pin backs to the FSL design underside using invisible thread, one near the top of the design and one near the bottom of the design. Repeat for the remaining embroidered design.

Center the beaded designs on the top of the shoe and pin in place.

Unpin the design to feature additional shoe adornment options. With each new look, the shoes take on their own unique style and become outfit makers.

Find the pom-pom tutorial here at the Sew News Blog.

For more in-depth instructions pick up the April/May 2018 issue of Sew News and check out the High-End Hack column.

-Jessica Ziebarth, Assistant Editor