Elastic Shoes

Because tying laces is for suckers! You're a grown-up now, you've spent enough time tying your shoes. Shave valuable seconds off your day by converting your Converse into easy slip-on shoes! People everywhere will covet your new, unique shoes, and secretly berate themselves for tying their laces every morning like saps. So grab your favorite lace-up kicks, find some snazzy elastic, and let's do this.

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Step 1: Materials

For this project, grab:

a pair of lace-ups
some elastic (doesn't have to be as wide as in the picture, but how can you not love that!) I used less than 1/2 yd, but if you use thin elastic, you might want to use more than one strip
a needle
some heavy-duty button thread

lyonpridej says: Mar 19, 2013. 10:09 PM

I just found this on pinterest & have saved it to my instructables favorites. This is such a great idea! I can just see my granddaughters with shoes like this & I would wear them myself - at age 51, I quit tying my shoes if at all possible about 30 years ago :D -Thanks!

Sbarnetts14 says: Mar 28, 2012. 7:35 AM

I can't seem to find the elastic on the website anywhere. Does anyone have a direct link to the item or another website?

eklein1 says: Mar 4, 2012. 12:13 PM

I love these! I'm going to do this to an old pair of shoes for when I have to run to class!
Where did you get the elastic like that?

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scoochmaroo (author) in reply to eklein1Mar 4, 2012. 12:39 PM

We have a really cool fabric shop in town called Britex. They might even have it for sale online!

eklein1 in reply to scoochmarooMar 4, 2012. 4:48 PM

! I searched, and they do! Thanks, it looks like I'm going to be using that website a lot now.
(I love your instructables by the way, they're always so creative and useful)

yellowfish in reply to eklein1Mar 5, 2012. 9:40 PM

Adorable! I really want to make these but am looking all over the internet and don't see wide elastic like that anywhere. I feel kind of silly but I looked on the Britex site and don't see it... did you see wide elastic like that on Britex and if you did do you mind posting a link?

eklein1 in reply to yellowfishMar 6, 2012. 7:09 AM

When I went to the site the other day it was under "flat elastics" under "notions," but I couldn't find it either this morning.
They still have thick ruffled stuff though.

atterack833 says: Mar 5, 2012. 7:32 PM

hot

gotsparkles says: Mar 5, 2012. 12:06 PM

SUPER, super cute!! I won't make them, but would love to buy them!! :)

toekneebullard says: Mar 5, 2012. 6:16 AM

I've been doing a similar thing by using old bike inner tubes to make stretchy laces. Tie once, then they're slip-ons. This, however, is much cooler looking. Plus, my laces would break after a few months...

rifakungen says: Mar 4, 2012. 6:48 AM

Damn cool looking leggings! :D

kittyasauras in reply to rifakungenMar 4, 2012. 10:20 PM

You can get some at Target! >w< I have some too, they are called 'Sweater Tights' or something like that. $7? I think.

rifakungen in reply to kittyasaurasMar 5, 2012. 12:00 AM

Oh cool! thanks a lot! :3

Schuyler says: Mar 4, 2012. 8:14 PM

Um. . . . I have an almost identical pair of sneakers with elastic shoelaces. Work like a dream, though they are not cheap(the shoelaces). Many sources on the web.

rainbowkisses says: Mar 4, 2012. 5:15 PM

OMG! they are sew (hahaha) cool, i am just about to buy my 4 kids new shoes for autumn, think i will definately have to buy some extra ones for this idea.
A+

vincent7520 says: Mar 4, 2012. 1:23 PM

Great !…
One of those inventions that will be taken by top brands, it it's not already done …

The Ideanator says: Mar 2, 2012. 10:36 AM

Neat! I'll have to do something like this.

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scoochmaroo (author) in reply to The IdeanatorMar 4, 2012. 12:40 PM

We have a really cool fabric shop in town called Britex. They might even have it for sale online!

alisonb says: Mar 2, 2012. 4:19 PM

I love this idea, I have just the pair of shoes that I want to do.

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scoochmaroo (author) in reply to alisonbMar 4, 2012. 12:40 PM

We have a really cool fabric shop in town called Britex. They might even have it for sale online!

javajunkie1976 says: Mar 2, 2012. 4:37 PM

Hey Scooch, how well do you think this would work in an industrial setting, say with work-boots? Or, perhaps, with running shoes?

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scoochmaroo (author) in reply to javajunkie1976Mar 4, 2012. 12:40 PM

We have a really cool fabric shop in town called Britex. They might even have it for sale online!

flyingpuppy says: Mar 4, 2012. 9:52 AM

This is one of those innovations that would make life easier for older people too. Mind if I post a link to this on my Alzheimer's blog?
Thanks

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scoochmaroo (author) in reply to flyingpuppyMar 4, 2012. 12:38 PM

Wow, I never thought of that! What a great idea. I would love for you to share it!

deladybex says: Mar 4, 2012. 9:31 AM

What a cool looking shoe and no one else wiil have it once you make it your own! humm grreat idea WAtch out for designers to steal it now? Thanks
deLadyBex