Tying Pointe Shoe Ribbons

Ballerina Barbie has her pointe shoes tied incorrectly. It drives me crazy. You'd think the people at Mattel would have done a little research on this first but they didn't. Ballet teachers everywhere are faced with the task of convincing young girls that pointe shoe ribbons are not supposed to be laced up to your knees and tied in pretty little bows!

How to put your shoes on correctly and tie your ribbons:

1. After putting your pads on hold your pointe shoe evenly with both hands and pull it on your foot making sure you go under any elastic you've sewn on your shoe.
2. If you have a drawstring, you'll need to tie a knot and cut the ends of the drawstring so you have only about an inch on both sides. Before you cut, make sure you do not have your drawstrings pulled too tight. They should never dig into the back of your heel. Tuck the ends inside the box of the shoe.
3. With your foot flat on the floor, begin with the inside ribbon and wrap it across the front of your ankle and around the ankle, not the calf, like Ballerina Barbie! Hold it securely.
4. Repeat the process with the outside ribbon being sure to overlap the piece that lies across your ankle. Both ends should now be on the inside of your ankle.
5. Tie a double knot being careful to tie the knot so it rests on the inside soft part of your ankle, not on the Achilles tendon in the back of your ankle and not on the front or outside your ankle.
6. Now you want to make sure you leave enough ribbon but not too much. If you are designating a right and left shoe, cut the ends of your ribbons so that there is about 1 1/2 inches of ribbon after the knot. Tuck the ends under the knot.
7. If you are alternating shoes, you will want to lightly mark each of your ribbons in pencil on the inside before you cut them. Put the same shoe on the other foot and mark them again. Cut on the mark closest to the end on each ribbon so that you will be able to alternate your shoes. (The ends will not be exactly the same length after the knot.)

Note: Don't designate a right and left shoe unless you need to to accommodate differences in your feet. Your shoes will last longer if you alternate them.