Unwind and straighten out the pointe shoe ribbon that the shoe manufacturer or fitter provided when you purchased your shoes. Cut the ribbon into four pieces of equal length.
Place one shoe on a flat surface and fold the heel of the shoe downward and inward so it lies flat along the insole. The entire seam of the heel should be flush with the insole.
Draw a line with pencil along each inside fold of the flattened heel fabric. Use these lines as a guide to ensure your ribbons slant slightly forward and lie flat over your instep when attached.
Unfold the heel fabric. Fold one end of one ribbon over and then over again to reinforce the ribbon when sewing. Take hold of the folded end of the ribbon and align the ribbon along the toe side of one pencil marking. Sew the ribbon to the inside of the shoe, stitching down one side of the ribbon, across the bottom and up the other side. Continue sewing across the top, being careful to stitch under the shoe fabric seam and drawstring. Attach the second ribbon alongside the second pencil line and repeat the process on the second shoe.
Attach an elastic to each shoe -- if you desire -- to prevent the back of the shoe from slipping off your heel. Choose a point between one ribbon and the heel seam. Stitch around the final two inches at the end of the elastic, attaching it to the shoe at the designated point. Insert your foot into the shoe, stretch the elastic across your foot and cut to size, leaving two inches for sewing on the second end. Remove your foot and stitch the second end of the elastic to the second side of the shoe.