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DIY Ice Cream Sneakers: How to Paint and Customize Your Shoes

Sneakers with red pom poms

I’m excited to announce a new partnership with Commonthread by DMC. If you enjoy crafting, you’ve likely used DMC threads — they offer an extensive range of embroidery thread and yarn and are a mainstay in the craft world. Commonthread by DMC brings together that heritage with a community of makers to offer quality craft supplies and finished handmade goods.

Over the next six months I’ll be collaborating with Commonthread to share embroidery, crochet, and other creative DIY projects. To kick things off, we’re transforming a Studio DIY classic into wearable art: ice cream sneakers. These canvas sneakers get colorful embroidered “sprinkles” and a cherry pom pom — a playful, easy project that adds personality to plain white shoes.

Sneakers with red pom pomsA close up of sneakers with strings on them

White sneakers and rainbow string

Supplies:
White sneakers
DMC Art. 115/5 Pearl Cotton Size 5 skeins (embroidery thread)
DMC Art. 486/487 tapestry wool yarn
Embroidery needle
Scissors

White sneakers and red string Someone holding a red string and white sneaker

White sneakers with colorful strings on them Someone sewing strings on a white sneaker

Someone wrapping red string Someone wrapping red string

Someone wrapping red string Someone cutting red string

Someone cutting a red pom pom

Instructions:

  1. Cut a long length of embroidery thread, thread your needle, and tie a knot at the end.
  2. Push the needle from the shoe’s interior to the exterior, then back through the fabric about 3/4″ from the first exit to create a sprinkle shape.
  3. For a fuller sprinkle, repeat a stitch over the first stitch.
  4. Trim the thread leaving a few inches, tie a knot on the inside to secure, and trim the excess. Repeat to add sprinkles across the shoe using the same color thread.
  5. To make the pom pom, cut a 6″ piece of yarn and set it aside. Wrap the remaining yarn around four fingers several times to create loops.
  6. Slip the 6″ piece between your middle and ring fingers and tie it around the wrapped loops to hold them temporarily.
  7. Remove the loops from your hand and tie a tight double knot around the center of the loops using the reserved 6″ piece. Keep the excess yarn — it will be used to attach the pom pom to the sneaker.
  8. Cut through the loops on both sides to release the strands, then fluff and trim the pom pom to an even shape.
  9. Tie the finished pom pom to the bottom lace of your sneaker with a tight double knot and trim any remaining yarn.

Sneakers with colorful strings and red pom poms

White sneakers with rainbow string and red pom poms

Someone holding white sneakers

Photos by Jeff Mindell

These sneakers are a fun, simple way to personalize plain canvas shoes. Whether you love bright colors or subtle accents, adding embroidered sprinkles and a pom pom makes them uniquely yours. Try different thread colors and yarn textures to create a variety of looks.

This post was created in partnership with Commonthread by DMC. All content and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that help keep Studio DIY going.