How To Repair Torn Suede Shoes

You're tempted to wear these shoes every day.It affects the fabric.Don't throw your shoes away just yet because one day they may catch on something and rip.fuzzy leather can't be restored to its original state.It is possible to fit torn halves back together with fabric glue.If your shoe is missing something, patch it.It's possible to fix many tears at home.Take your shoes to a cobbler to have them repaired.

Step 1: A flexible contact glue will last a long time.

If you have them, use fabric glue or shoe glue.These products work on a lot of different materials, including tough ones.The benefit is that they don't stiffen up like superglue and hot glue, so the tear will not reappear if you move the wrong way in your shoes.Superglue and hot glue can be used, but the repair won't hold as long as it normally would.Check the label if you don't know which product to get.It needs to be listed as effective on both leather and suede.Glue works well on small tears.It can be used to fix the sole.Use a patch if you notice a big gap.Look for different kinds of glue at craft supply stores.

Step 2: The shoe glue should be spread along the edges of the tear.

Pick the glue you want to use and apply it to the suede.When you secure the material back together, spread it out uniformly.The bottle's tip can be used to spread it around.Put glue on one side of the tear and on the other side.The glue can be applied with a cotton swab.Put on a rubber glove so you don't get sticky, but you could also use your finger.

Step 3: Pull the flaps together again.

Pull one flap over the other.They have little to no overlap if you join the edges together.Press down to keep the suede together.If the glue comes out from underneath the flaps, you should wipe it up with a paper towel.Carefully shape the suede back into it's original form.The shoe may not fit properly if you pull it too tightly.

Step 4: While it dries, use fabric tape to hold the suede together.

The shape of the shoe makes it difficult to keep the suede pressed together, but fabric-safe tape can help.Put the tape over the tear if you have excess glue.The tape won't get stuck in place if no glue is on the suede's surface.To maintain the shoe's shape, keep the torn suede flat.You could try to fit a piece of furniture over the area that has been repaired.If you're able to use one, you won't have to deal with sticky tape, which is difficult due to the shape of the shoe.If you notice a lot of glue in the repair, try stuffing the shoe full and placing a solid weight on top of it.The shoe should support the weight without losing its shape.Leave it to air dry if you can't find a way to keep it together.As the glue dries, there is a chance the repair will come undone, but your shoe won't be at risk of further damage and can be repaired again.

Step 5: The glue can be dried for up to 24 hours.

The amount of drying time depends on the glue, so check the manufacturer's recommendation for specifics.Give the repair as much time as possible before wearing it again.The torn suede needs to be pressed together.Remove the tape when it has dried to check the results.It takes about 4 hours for fabric glue to dry.Some types of shoe glue can take up to 72 hours to dry.You can speed up the process with a handheld dryer.If you expose your shoe to water, wait about 48 hours.If the glue hasn't finished curing, the suede can easily pull apart.

Step 6: The repair kit has patches and glue.

Everything you need to fix a tear is in the repair kits.The patch on the kit should match the color of the shoe.If you want to get as close to a match as possible, compare the pictures with your shoe.Unless you are using a patch made from a different material, you will need fabric glue and a subpatch.To find a wider variety of patch colors, try going to a fabric store or online store.You can use the descriptions and pictures in the stores to match the patch to your shoe.Commercial subpatches are usually made of vinyl, but you could use denim or other types of fabric.It is possible to cut a patch from an old piece of suede.There are patching kits online.The components can be bought separately.They can be used to fill in gaps of missing suede or to glue a tear back together.If you want a simple solution, get a stick-on patch.Glued patches cover tears well, but are more noticeable and less permanent.

Step 7: Cut the subpatch to fit inside the shoe.

Hold the patch over the shoe.Press it flat against the torn area you're covering.If you know how to cut the subpatch, you can outline the tear in pencil.If you want to make the patch bigger than the tear, you can use fabric scissors.The patch is supposed to fit behind the subpatch to keep it level.If you can't fit a subpatch on the shoe, you might be able to complete the repair with a suede patch.

Step 8: The patch should be cut to match the subpatch.

The subpatch can be used as an outline.Try holding them together with something.Cut around the subpatch to make it fit.The patch on your shoe needs to be the right size to cover the gap.If you don't use a subpatch, cut the patch to bridge the gaps.To maintain the shoe's shape, it needs to be at least 1 in wider than the tear.

Step 9: Wrap the subpatch around the tear with fabric glue.

It can be difficult to fit the subpatch if there is a tear.If you need to squeeze it into a tight spot, have some tweezers with you.Spread a small amount of glue across the subpatch, then spread it apart.Press the patch firmly against the back of the torn suede.There is a secondary material underneath the suede in some shoes.You can mount the subpatch to the backing if it's intact.You won't need glue if you use an adhesive patch.Place the patch over the tear by peeling off the paper backing.

Step 10: Glue the patch to the shoes.

Put glue across the back of the patch.To make it look as natural as possible, try to level it with the old suede around the tear.Put glue on the back of the patch.Attach everything together by pressing the patch onto the subpatch, then putting the torn suede on the new patch.If you can, blend the patch in.It looks like a natural part of the shoe if you cut it to the correct size to fill in the tear.If you can poke consistently-spaced holes around the edges of the material, sewing is possible.It isn't recommended because it leaves very visible stitches.

Step 11: Wait at least 48 hours for the glue to dry.

Before you glue the patch to your shoe, make sure it is positioned correctly.To keep the patch in place, apply fabric tape over the edges.If you have excess glue around the tear, use a paper towel to wipe it off.Remove the tape and try on the repaired shoe after the glue has dried.You can use a dye to refresh the patch if it looks off.Rub the dye on the patch.If you dye the entire shoe the same color, the patch may still stand out.