How to Relace a Glove

Gloves aren't as easy to relace as shoes, and when a glove comes apart, it could result in a missed catch or injured hand. Baseball and softball gloves are made up of several pieces of leather, all attached by laces. Rawhide laces are strong and supple, but if they dry out from age or lack of care, they can break. While relacing a glove is time-consuming, care for your glove using leather conditioner to replace natural oils and you won't have to do it again soon.

Things You'll Need

  • Scissors
  • 48-inch rawhide lace
  • Needle-nose pliers
  • Leather oil, petroleum jelly or glove oil
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Instructions

    • 1

      Rub leather conditioner into the new lace, working the leather until it is more pliable. Allow it to sit overnight and soak up all the conditioner. If there are two lacing sections to replace, prepare two new laces.

    • 2

      Tie a simple knot at the end of the new lace and pull it tight. Using the scissors, cut the other end of the lace into a point so it is easier to thread through the holes in the glove.

    • 3

      Follow the pattern established by the original lace. Thread the new lace through the holes in the same way, pulling tight with the needle-nose pliers.

    • 4

      Tie a square knot once you have relaced the rawhide through each hole. Cut off any excess rawhide as close to the glove as possible.

    • 5

      Brush the new lace and the glove with conditioner or glove oil one more time, making the leather more pliable so it doesn't dry out and break.