Perk up your plimsolls

Jazz up a plain pair of plimsolls fast with some embroidery thread and bright fabric paint.

Easy-peasy

A bit More Tricky

Hard–ish

Quite A Challenge

YOU WILL NEED

Pair of white canvas trainers

Fabric paint in red, deep pink and yellow

Red embroidery thread

Embroidery needle Circular sponge brushes in three sizes

White canvas trainers, £7, Primark (0118 960 6300; primark.com). Dylon fabric paints, £3 each; DMC stranded cotton thread, 95p, Royal & Langnickel sponge brushes, £6 for 25, all Hobbycraft (0330 026 1400, hobbycraft.co.uk)

1 If you’re using an old pair of trainers, make sure they’re as clean as possible – remove the laces and hand-wash them in a mild laundry detergent. Use a toothbrush to work at any scuffs with the laundry detergent solution. Allow to dry completely and leave unlaced.

2 Set down some old newspaper to protect your work surfaces. Dip the largest circular sponge brush in the deep-pink paint and then press on to the surface of the canvas shoe. Repeat until you’ve covered both plimsolls, including the tongues.

3 Continue to paint the pair of shoes, next with the medium brush and red paint, filling in the gaps between the pink spots. Then dot the yellow paint in between the pink and red spots with the smallest sponge brush. Don’t worry if they overlap slightly as it will make for an even more colourful pattern! Allow the paint o dry and following the manufacturer’s instructions.

4 Once dry, embroider star stitches on almost every yellow dot using six strands of thread and an embroidery needle. Start on the inside of the shoe to conceal the / knotted end and work four long stitches to the centre of the yellow spot to form a cross. Then make four shorter stitches between each of these to the centre point. Add some extra straight stitches to make the embroidery look like a firework. Repeat until you’re happy with the design.

5 Relace the pumps and then they’re ready to wear.