How to Make Foot Paws

Foot paws, also known as sole savers, are a sort of modified sock which fits over the balls of a dancer's feet, protecting the soles from developing blisters and sores during hours of dance practice and rehearsal. They are expensive to buy and simple to make, so it makes sense to learn how to make your own rather than buy a piece of equipment that will be worn through quickly by consistent use and constant wearing.

Things You'll Need

  • Tights
  • Fine tip pen
  • Scissors
  • Leather straps
  • Safety pins
  • Needle
  • Thread
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pull the tights over your feet, so that your feet are snugly fit into the feet of the material.

    • 2

      Draw a line, using the pen, around your foot at the middle of the arch, being sure that the line is evenly placed over the top of your foot as well as on the underside of the arch. Repeat on the other foot.

    • 3

      Draw a point on the side of your big toe, on the outside of the first joint from the tip. Repeat on the other foot.

    • 4

      Draw a line from the tip of your second toe to the tip of your pinkie toe. Repeat on the other foot.

    • 5

      Take off the tights so that you won't cut yourself.

    • 6

      Using the scissors, cut everywhere there is ink from the pen on the tights. You should be left with footie socks that leave your toes exposed, but with a strap of fabric between the big toe and the second toe.

    • 7

      Lay the leather straps on the floor in front of you, and stand on them so that you are standing with the balls of your feet on the leather. The front edge of the leather should be just behind your toes.

    • 8

      Pointing your feet so that only the balls of your feet and your toes are still on the leather, trace around the balls of your feet. Start at the edge of the leather on one side of your toes and end at the edge on the other side.

    • 9

      Cut along the lines of ink. This should produce scraps of leather that are shaped to the balls of your feet.

    • 10

      Putting the footies back on, stand on the pieces of leather again, so that they are lined up with the balls of your feet.

    • 11

      Being careful not to prick yourself, safety pin the leather to the fabric of the footies.

    • 12

      Take the footies, safety pinned securely to the leather, off of your feet before sewing around the edges of the leather, about 1/8 inch in from the edge, all around the edges until the leather is securely sewn to the fabric.

    • 13

      Put your new foot paws on to be sure that they fit, and walk around in them for a few hours to break them in.