zipper ruffle ballet flats TUTORIAL

Have some flats you’d like to dress up? Here’s the how-to on adding a zipper ruffle to your shoes. Take those drab shoes to fab flats!

*This may not work with all shoes and shoe sizes. Please use for Personal Use ONLY.*

Supplies

  • pair of flat
  • 12-14″ zipper, sides separated in a color that goes with your shoes
  • high heat glue gun
  • lighter
  • sewing machine
 
Sew a basting stitch along the edge as close as you can without going off the fabric.
 
Leave the threads long so you can gather the zipper. 
 
Start by gluing one side of the zipper on the inside of the shoe close to the front. Don’t glue down all the excess fabric.
Wrap the zipper around the front, gluing every inch or so to keep zipper in place. Be careful not to melt your shoe or get glue in the zipper tines.
 
Wrap the end into the shoe.
Trim pff the excess zipper, singe the edges to prevent fraying, and glue down.
Should look something like this. Edges nicely tucked in.
Using what’s left of the zipper, repeat previous steps to create a second ruffle layer.
Trim threads and left over zipper.
Now you have a fabulous pair of flats!

*I have several pairs of zipper ruffle ballet flats for sale in my shop in both gray and black.*

Share and Enjoy

About Linda@CraftaholicsAnonymous

Hi! I'm Linda, the craft addict and the girl behind Craftaholics Anonymous, a craft and DIY blog. Crafting is cheaper than therapy, right? When not crafting, I can be found chasing my 2 small {but very energetic!} boys. Or hunting down designer fabric. Or shoe shopping... because you can never have too many shoes! Happy crafting! ♥

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Comments

  1. 1
    Valerie says:

    I am on the hunt for some plan flats now!! Thanks for sharing the how-to. They are ridiculously cute! I am filing this at thecraftersfilebox.com.

    Thanks for sharing!!

  2. 2
    Shabna says:

    So simple and cute! Thanks so much <3

  3. 3
    Tasha says:

    I think these shoes are just adorable! Thanks so much for sharing!

  4. 4
    Kim @ seven thirty three says:

    You inspired me to add zipper flowers to a hat and it turned out adorable! I linked to your tutorial in my post. :)

    Kim
    seven thirty three – - – a creative blog

  5. 5
    MaryJanes and Galoshes says:

    love it! Great idea and the zippers really add texture. I will have to find some plain flats!

  6. 6
    The Oxford Family says:

    very cute! Thanks for sharing!

  7. 7
    michelle@somedaycrafts says:

    Beautiful! You are too talented. Over 1000 followers! Way to go!

  8. 8
    theteo5 says:

    Adorable! I wish I didn't have such crazy small feet (women's size 4 1/2). I can hardly find "normal" shoes to fit me, let alone ones to play with!

  9. 9
    Kari @ Ucreate says:

    Linda…I featured these today on Ucreate! So in love with the idea of using zippers! You are super creative!

  10. 10
    The Comfort Girl says:

    I LOVE this idea! So cute! I definitely plan to make these for my daughter- she'd love them.

  11. 11
    Kim's Treasures says:

    SOOO CUTE!

  12. 12
    mustangkayla says:

    Great tutorial! Those shoes are adorable!

  13. 13
    Linda @ My Trendy Tykes says:

    I love these cute shoes!

  14. 14
    cindi says:

    Thank you so much for posting this tutorial. I can't wait to try it!

  15. 15
    Bridget says:

    I love them! I've been saving a pile of zippers from a jean quilt I've been working on, I'm so glad I did. Great idea.

  16. 16
    slommler says:

    Kaaaa-ute!!!! And so easy!! TFS!!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

  17. 17
    ClassiclyAmber says:

    I think that this is JUST what my plain black flats needed! Thank you for this wonderful tut! =-D

  18. 18
    w says:

    so smart. and perfect! love it!

  19. 19
    Anonymous says:

    WOW!! I love these. I sent this over to my niece to see if she liked it and of course now this has been added to the list I now call "Auntie Please" I cannot wait to see what you create next.
    Wendy

  20. 20
    Katherine says:

    Those are absoultely adorable! Love it!

    ~Kathy

    ps where did you get those flats? They are so cute!

  21. 21
    Sonja @ Craft-Werk says:

    I just bought a pair of purple ballet flats for € 2 ($ 1.50) the other day – and here is my project. Great idea, thanks for posting!!!

  22. 22
    Juliana says:

    OMG I love these. I want to make them, maybe I will do this week. I love crafts and I think you have some amazing ideas. What a beautiful blog!

    I am a new follower and saw you when we both got the beautiful blogger award. I hope that you will come by my blog and follow back if you would like. I love meeting new bloggy friends. Have a good week. Juliana from A Blonde Walks Into A Blog

  23. 23
    Lei says:

    These are absolutely darling! And one more thing on my list now!

  24. 24
    Beansieleigh says:

    ADORABLE!! What a great idea! Thanks for sharing! ~tina

  25. 25
    amy d says:

    loving this idea!!! can't wait to try it with some thrift store flats that just need a little something!!!
    you have such an adorable blog!!

  26. 26
    Lorie says:

    Very cute!! I love them!

  27. 27
    Larissa says:

    Seriously! So cute. Just found your blog, and I might want to make these yesterday.

  28. 28
    SisterDG says:

    What an adorable idea! Thank you so much for the how-to. I have a pair of flats that totally needs this treatment.

  29. 29
    K says:

    Adorable! Thanks for the idea.

  30. 30
    Emily says:

    These are SO dang cute! I can't get over them!

  31. 31
    marissa says:

    oh my gosh these are so stinking cute, thanks for sharing

  32. 32
    kermiefrg says:

    These are so cute! I would never have thought of doing this!

  33. 33
    Queen Bee says:

    Dear Linda,
    I am so in-love with these shoes that I could just cry! Unfortunately, I'm sewing-challenged, to say the least. I checked out your shop (love, love by the way) and saw that you have the black ones for sale. HOW ABOUT THE GREY??? Pretty Please???? And are they in whole sizes only???? (I was going to order the black ones, too, but no 8.5)
    Thank you for sharing all of your amazing talents.

    In need of New Kicks.
    Jen a.k.a. Queen Bee

  34. 34
    Anonymous says:

    I love these!!! Thanks for sharing the great idea and the tutorial. I just made a pair for myself and I used E6000 glue applied with a toothpick instead of the hot glue…worked like a charm!!! I am soooo not a fan of hot glue…yuck! E6000 is awsome!!!

  35. 35
    Amy says:

    Where do you get your flats?!

  36. 36
    Rebekah says:

    I love this, I was just look at some grey flats today at target and now I have to go back and get them!

  37. 37
    Rebekah says:

    Yes, I am going to go back and get them this weekend! No problem, I love you tutorials, I just started sewing so I love finding all these cute projects that I can now make!
    Thanks,
    Rebekah

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