You can sew your Vans shoes. If you see your worn-out pair with holes or have a tear, do not just throw it in the bin.
Vans is one of the most comfortable footwear you can find around the globe, which has a very timeless design. If you own a pair, it is no wonder that it would be really hard to part with.
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What fabric is used for Vans?
Vans shoes are made of either suede or canvas. You can also find Vans shoes with suede and canvas combined. With the combination of suede and canvas, you get the strengths of both fabrics.
Vans started as shoes for skateboarding enthusiasts. They were designed with skateboarders in mind, but many people have discovered how hip and comfortable it is and how it can go with almost any outfit.
Vans shoes date back to 1966 when brothers Paul and Jim Van Doren, with their friends Gordy and Serge, established the Van Doren Rubber Company in Anaheim, California. Paul’s 20-year experience at a shoe factory in Boston paved the way for the creation of Vans, the shoes that have gone phenomenal globally.
Vans shoes undergo vulcanizing during the shoemaking process. Vulcanizing is the process of heating raw rubber to cure it. The process turns the gummy, stretchable, and easy-to-tear rubber into a tough and ready-to-wear material for the soles and reinforcements for the toes and heels.
The vulcanizing process is the main reason why only suede and canvas are the fabrics used to make this particular brand of shoes. Synthetic materials like nylon and EVA foam tend to melt during the vulcanizing process; that is why only fabrics that can withstand high temperatures like suede and canvas are used.
If you are looking for Vans shoes for men and women, check them out on this Amazon link.
What is the difference between suede and canvas Vans?
The difference between suede and canvas Vans is that one is made from suede while the other is from canvas, but they look basically the same.
Each material has advantages over the other depending on your preference and needs. If you consider the cost, canvas Vans will be the more affordable option between the two. Canvas is a lighter material but is not as durable as suede.
If you need shoes that will last longer, as skateboarders do, you might want to go for the suede Vans. It will cost more but will last longer than the canvas shoes. You may find your suede Vans on this Amazon link.
Skateboarders agree that suede does better than canvas when it comes to skateboarding. They will choose suede Vans over canvas Vans, hands down, especially when participating in heavy skateboarding competitions. Skateboarders are more interested in the shoes that will last than those that can be kept clean easier.
When it comes to cleaning your shoes, canvas Vans are in the lead. They can be tossed into the washer when it needs cleaning. On the other hand, avoid your suede Vans from getting wet because it will be hard to bring them back to their original appearance. If you are searching for canvas Vans, look them up on Amazon.
If you want the benefits of both materials, you can choose the combination of suede and canvas and enjoy the look and the extra durability of a combination Vans.
How do you fix ripped Vans?
There are different ways you can fix your ripped Vans, depending on how tiny or huge the holes and rips are. You have the option of gluing, patching or sewing your ripped Vans.
On the occasion that your Vans get ripped due to wear and tear or from skating hard, give it a second life by fixing it. You can help reduce textile waste; at the same time, you can transfer your shoe budget to your other interests.
Before you can start repairing your damaged Vans shoes, there are a few steps you should go through first.
- If your ripped Vans has laces, remove them first. Before fixing your ripped shoes, you need to clean the surface first. Mix a solution of 2 drops of dishwashing liquid with 2 cups of hot water.
- Using an old toothbrush, clean the surface of the canvas. Scrub with the old toothbrush and the dishwashing solution along the sides to remove the dirt accumulated.
- Allow the Vans shoes to dry.
- Identify the torn part of the shoes. Cut the frayed parts of the tear, then press the edges of the tear together.
Gluing Vans
If the tear is small, gluing it may be the most appropriate solution. Place a dab of glue on a piece of cardboard. Dip a cotton swab on the dab of glue, then apply generously on the tear. Make sure that the edges of the tear are pressed symmetrically together. For your fabric glue choices, find them here.
Patching Vans
If you have a bigger rip on your Vans shoes, you can try patching it up. Cut a piece of fabric or canvas bigger than the tear of your shoes. Glue the fabric or canvas over the tear. You may also use similar patch designs on each shoe to add a hint of personality. You can find various patch designs for your Vans on Amazon.
Sewing Vans
Lastly, you can sew the tears and holes on your Vans shoes if gluing and patching are not enough. Usually, the part of the canvas shoes that get worn out first is where the toes are.
If your Vans develop holes or tears that cannot be fixed simply by gluing or patching, you need to sew it to reinforce the fabric and cover the holes. Using a needle and thread with the same color as your Vans shoes, you can fix the holes or rips by making stitches that will cover them.
Then, get some latex-based clear glue to seal the stitches you made on the hole. If you are satisfied with how the holes are fixed by stitching them, then your Vans are good to go after the glue has dried.
You can also re-design your Vans shoes and make them look new. You can use acrylic paint mixed with water at a 50:50 ratio. Use the color of your choice or, better yet, a darker color than the original canvas to conceal the hole that you covered by stitching. For various colors of acrylic paints, check them out here.
If you have an artistic vibe, you can paint your shoes any design you want, and you will have your one-of-a-kind Vans footwear, sans the holes and tears.
Related:
- Is it possible to sew Enviromesh?
- Is it possible to sew patches on nylon?
- Is it possible to sew lace back together?
Can you embroider Vans?
You can embroider on your Vans footwear. Canvas fabric is thin enough to puncture with an embroidery needle.
You can choose a large area of your Vans shoes where you can embroider your design. Usually, the upper part of the Vans shoes is the best part to embroider.
To embroider your Vans shoes, you need a few basic materials for sewing, such as an embroidery needle, embroidery floss using the color of your choice, pencil, masking tape, scissors, and a pair of Vans you are going to embroider.
Follow these few steps to custom embroider your Vans shoes.
- Choose the area on your Vans shoes where you want to embroider. Mark the location with a piece of masking tape.
- Using your pencil, write the phrase or words you want to embroider on the masking tape. Write using the exact size and font you want to use for your embroidery. Make sure that your words are exactly placed where you want them. You can adjust the masking tape to make sure that it is centered properly.
- Separate your embroidery floss according to the thickness of the embroidery that you want. Usually, three strands of floss is a good thread thickness to use. Thread your floss through the embroidery needle. Knot the end of your floss after threading.
- Start your first stitch from the inside of the shoe. Make sure that the end of your thread is properly knotted, so there is no risk of pulling it out while stitching.
- You can use backstitch or any stitch that is suitable for your embroidery design. Stitch along the pencil marks you drew on the masking tape as your design.
- After embroidering the design or the words on your Vans shoes, knot the ends of your threads inside the shoe.
- Remove the masking tape after completing your embroidery. Now you have a one-of-a-kind Vans design.
For your embroidery floss needs, check this link on Amazon.
How can you revamp old Vans?
Vans are hard-wearing shoes and can be very hard to let go of. You don’t have to part with your favorite shoes because there are several ways you can revamp your old Vans without a hitch.
Your Vans uppers may have one or two tears or holes from wear and tear, but with a few tricks, hacks, and very little cost, you can revive it and make it look better than it was before.
The first thing to do is to remove the dirt and stains from overuse. Then, you have to repair the holes or tears, if there are any before you re-design your old Vans shoes.
Here are a few easy and creative ideas to restore your old Vans and give them a new life.
1. Iron-on patch/ Sew-on patch
Probably sewing on a patch is the most common hack you would think of to repair or restyle your canvas shoes. It may also be the easiest and the cheapest since the sew-on patch is easy to find.
Patches can be ironed on your canvas shoes. You can get them at dollar stores, any craft stores, or online craft stores. There are also patches that you can sew. The sew-on patch makes it sturdier and yields a better result when you need to patch a hole or tear.
You can also find the sew-on patch for Vans on Amazon.
2. Bleach
Did you know that you can revamp your old sneakers using an ordinary household item such as bleach? Using bleach and a spray bottle, you can personalize your old Vans and make them look neat and cool. For your bleach spray, check out different brands of household bleach spray on Amazon.
You can bleach your colored slip-on or low-top Vans shoes. Make sure to remove the laces first before you spray with bleach. It is also important that you do the bleaching process outdoors.
After spritzing enough bleach on both shoes, let them sit for about 15 to 30 minutes. The color will get lighter and will get splashes of lighter colors on your once plain-colored Vans. Your finished product will be newly customized Vans shoes.
3. Dip and Dye
Your beat-up Vans shoes or plain white canvas shoes will look more interesting by dipping in dye. If your Vans look bleak because of overuse, you can clean them and dip them in a dye color of your choice. You can purchase dye powder for fabric on Amazon.
You will need fabric dye, water, petroleum jelly, baking powder, and an old toothbrush to dye your Vans.
- Prepare your Vans shoes by removing laces. Coat the soles with a thin layer of petroleum jelly to prevent the rubber sole from discoloring.
- Mix the dye with hot water and salt as per packet instructions. It would help if you thoroughly wet your shoes first to help them take the dye evenly. If you want to create a color gradation on your Vans shoes, dip them 1/3 of the way. The next time you dip your shoes, dip them higher than the first dip.
- Repeat the previous steps until you achieve the color gradation you like. Then, get a clean damp cloth and gently rub the color to create a smooth transition from dark to light.
- Allow your shoes to sit for five minutes, then rinse with under running water until the water runs clear. Hang your shoes to dry overnight.
- Once the shoes have dried, you can remove the petroleum jelly using the baking powder. Pour baking powder on the petroleum jelly and allow it to sit for a couple of minutes. Using an old toothbrush, scrub away until the petroleum jelly and baking powder clumps together. Wipe the soles with a paper towel.
- Put the laces back and wear a totally different pair of Vans shoes.
4. Lace
If you are bored with your slip-on Vans and want a fancy look, you can cover your sneaker top with lace. You will need black lace, fabric glue, a paintbrush, a pair of scissors, and your slip-on Vans sneakers. To find the right fabric glue, check this link on Amazon.
Cut your lace enough to cover the upper part of your Vans sneakers. Using the paintbrush, apply fabric glue evenly on the areas you will top with lace. Gently place the lace over the areas applied with glue. Allow the glue to set, then cut the extra lace. You get yourself chic shoes from plain Vans sneakers.
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