About the Project: As you probably know now, I love myself some studs and spikes. I recently purchased my first pack of spikes from amazon, so I was excited to get started on this DIY project, spiked shoes. This style has been around since the 80’s, but instead of going overboard with the metal, I decided to do a modern and more subtle twist. This project takes significantly more effort and time than my other projects, but it allows you a lot more freedom!
Materials Needed:
-A pair of shoes (sneakers, boots, etc.)
-Screwback spikes (search “screwback spikes” on amazon; I bought 9.5mm 100ct)
-Nail
-Small screwdriver(s)
Step-By-Step:
1) For this project, I decided to use some canvas sneakers (found for $20 at Costco!) because the fabric is easier to manage. However, feel free to spike any kind of shoe you like. Take a look at your shoes and decide where you want your spikes to go, and how many. The more spikes there are, the more time consuming this project will be, but don’t let that stop you!
2) After you figure out your layout, pick a spot to start your first spike. You can mark it with a pencil or just wing it. Use your nail (or sharp instrument) to poke a hole through the fabric. This will make a very small hole.
3) Next, take one of your screwdrivers (doesn’t matter which one) and start pushing it through the same hole. This will make the hole bigger. Wiggle the screwdriver around to loosen up the hole as much as possible.
4) Take the backing of your spike and fit it through the hole. Depending on how big your hole is, it may take some work to push the backing through the fabric. Be patient! Make sure the fabric fits snugly over the entire backing.
5) Once your backing is through, screw on the spike. Use a shorter screwdriver to get inside the shoe and screw the backing in tightly. This will be tough, especially once you get towards the top of the shoe.
6) And now you have finished one spike! Screwback spikes require a lot of patience, so don’t be discouraged. It took me an hour to install 3 spikes, but once I got into the flow of things (and watched movies), it went faster. This project is not meant for the faint-hearted and is meant to take a few days to finish. The end result is worth all your troubles—now you can make a fashion statement and also defend yourself from danger!