Have you ever made an extra hole in a shoe strap? If so, what works best?

[nicole333]

I have some gorgeous little Jigsaw sandals that I can't wear at the moment because the strap is way too long and the holes are nowhere near where I need them to be.

I'm thinking of either seeing if a shoe repairs might do it for me, or just getting a hammer and a nail. I don't want to risk ruining them though. Anything else I can consider doing it with that will be better?

metal skewer over gas hob ring until it goes red

I've had it done a few times at a shoe repairers and they didn't even charge.

Nooo - don't do it yourself!

Take the sandals to a cobbler - should cost about £1

Perfect!

You can buy a hole punch for leather. I've got one I borrowed from my Mum and Dad. It's great for adding extra holes in straps on shoes or bags and comes with an adjuster so you can have different sizes of holes.

Hmm, I'm liking the hole punch idea. But I really wouldn't know where to look in my back of beyond type shopping outlets. I'm not even sure I have a proper shoe repairers!

I did this with two pairs of shoes last week. Plastic chopping board, metal kebab skewer, was quite easy.

Timpsons will do it for you (they are everwhere) but can second the meat skewer tactic if emergency ie need to wear them this evening.

If you can't find a shoe repair shop, a watch repairer should be able to do the job. I've had loads of extra holes put in various watch straps.

Link please?

I think you should try yellow pages and take it to cobblers/watch makers.

The leather hole punch idea is good, I might get one myself. Maybe try this? :

cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-WATCH-LEATHER-STRAP-Belt-HOLE-PUNCH-PLIERS-2mm-/330562069717?pt=UK_Crafts_Leathercraft_LE&hash=item4cf708e4d5

DH did this for me in 5 mins with a hand drill - matched size of the drill-piece to the other holes.

hand drill
metal skewer
And once used a pin/needle but wouldn't recommend that , it took ages

tigercametotea That looks brilliant, thanks!

How did the drill method come out? Was it nice and smooth or a bit rough?

I have done it myself many times on belts/shoes - just use the sharp end of a pair of nail scissors, with a lump of blu-tak behind it so you don't damage yourself.

I have a high instep so this happens to me all the time, I got a leather hole punch- i think it's meant for shoe straps and watch straps.
It was about £30 and I've used it about 20 times in 5 years. Handier than faffing around and having to go to the cobblers every time.

I used an awl on a belt... but it didn't look fantastic

i would just take the shoes to the shoemenders.

DH put me an extra hole in a leather belt with the nail and hammer method you mention - it was fine!

Well ladies, thankyou for all your suggestions. I'm planning on taking my sandals to a shop which I think might do it, today. If they don't or won't, I'll be hunting down a hole punch for sure.

I'm so glad I'll get to wear them now.

I took mine to a key shop/shoe repair place. He said he didn't charge for putting holes in things :)