Lego Converse Slides
These awesome kicks just might be the fashion-forward gotta-have-ems you've been dreaming of!
A hybrid between three things this world loves -- converse, slides, and Legos -- they will make you the star of the show!
These were an absolute labor of love to create. We had many attempts and fails for days before we came up with something that worked! After scouring the internet for other instructions on how to DIY a wearable pair of Lego shoes (that actually look cool) and coming up with nothing, we discovered we might just be the first to put these type of instructions out there. And I say "we" because my Lego-loving son and I built these together as a mother-son project (gotta give him props!). So, thanks for being here with us for a possible history-in-the-making moment!
These slides, exactly as-is, will fit shoe sizes: 9-11 in Womens or 8.5 - 10.5 in Mens
Adjust the pieces used to make them bigger or smaller accordingly.
Supplies
I'll give you one guess as to the supplies needed for this project....
- LEGOS!! :D
Lots and lots of Legos.
Have some unused Legos? Bring them out and put them to good use! This is the perfect project to reuse materials on...we used the Legos we had on hand to create them.
- Additionally, you will need long laces (in the color that matches your shoes).
- OPTIONALLY: You can also use super glue to permanently adhere these together should you so choose to (E6000 is a good choice).
Let's Begin
We started with 2 - 16 x 16 flats PER SHOE (4 total). These can be any color, but for the best final look, I would suggest black if you have them.
NOTE: Originally, I spent hours and hours counting the little individual Lego pieces we used and sorting them out per what type of Lego they were. Then I realized that everyone reading this will be using Legos they have on hand and won't be necessarily able to exactly duplicate our Legos used. So I stopped that. I will provide Lego block sizes or types when really necessary, but you will easily be able to fill in the rest as you are able with the pieces you have using the pictures provided.
Secure the Pieces
Flip the two pieces over and secure them with flats, making sure to go across seams and to fortify the middle (but leave the edges open as seen in the photo).
Secure the Front
Flip it back over and secure the front with a flat piece down the middle on the seam between the two.
This piece should be white.
IMPORTANT NOTE: We used 3 colors we will call Color 1 (Red), Color 2 (Black), and Color 3 (White) throughout this 'ible. That way if you pick 3 different colors, you can still follow along with your chosen colors.
Add a Toe
Using a 6 x 10 flat (of any color, or use white to blend in with the toe), connect the piece to the underside of the toe area of the shoe.
Add toe pieces (in the toe color of your choice) -- we used Color 3 (white).
NOTE: It is easiest to do TWO shoes at once. This will reduce your work time by half, and ensure both shoes look identical. :) Each step will be for ONE shoe, so just double that as you go.
Starting the Back Half of the Shoe
Add two lines of Color 1 (Red) to either side of the back half of the shoe as shown.
Make It Flush
Add two 2 x 2 flats per side (4 per shoe, 8 total) of Color 3 (white) to either side of the shoe as shown. This will make the entire row 1 flush.
Start a Streak & Complete Row 2
Add 2 more 2 x 2 blocks (not flats) on each side to start the diagonal streak we are creating with Color 3 (white). Set these 1 block back from the Color 1 (white) blocks in Row 1. Use picture for clarity.
Then complete Row 2 with Color 2 (black).
Repeat Previous Step
Repeat adding a Color 3 (white) block in Row 3 one block back from the one in Row 2.
Then fill in Row 3 with Color 1 (red).
Add in Color 2
Add in Color 2 (black) in Row 2 on top of the Row 1 color 3 (white) blocks. See picture for clarity.
Finish With Color 1
Finish adding in Color 1 (red) on Row 3.
Continue With Color 3 Streak
Continue now with the Color 3 (white) streak by adding another 2 x 2 block in Row 4.
Finish Row 4 with Color 2 (black).
Complete Row 5
Continue with this same idea and the Color 3 (white) block one back in Row 5, then fill in with Color 1 (red).
Check your work. It should look like the second picture on each side.
Complete Row 6
One more row back. You should be getting the hang of this routine by now. :)
The only change in this one after you've set your Color 3 (white) in row 6, is we are going to add in a 1 x 2 double wall block in Color 2 (black) four back from the end of the heel in row 6.
Then build up row 6 around this addition by first adding in Color 2 (black) flats to make it all flush. Then adding in Color 2 (black) blocks (not flats) on top of the flats.
This addition will be used to add a Converse circle on the INSIDE of each shoe (as a lot of Converse have). You can put it on the outsides of your shoes if you prefer (Converse does that, too).
How to Attach the Converse Circle
Use this picture to show you how and where to attach the circles to the double walls on each shoe if you're having trouble getting it to go together.
Complete Row 7
Continuing on. Do the same process as before to complete row 7 with the Color 3 (white) blocks and the Color 1 (red) blocks.
Complete the Final Row
For the final row, it will be done as usual except the last piece will be a Color 3 (white) 2 x 3 piece (instead of a 2 x 2 piece). Then fill it in with Color 2 (black).
Take a look at what you've got so far. It should look like this 3rd picture here.
Intermission
We took a short break to spray paint these circles white for the Converse logo.
Yes, I know it's only Primer. But it's what we had on hand and it's all good. :)
Voila! White circles.
You could eventually add on a star or a "Converse" printed out logo if you want, but these circles were all we wanted for ours.
Adding Eyelets
You will need a total of 10- 1 x 2's with single holes in the centers of Color 2 (or whatever outside color you want to see for the eyelets), and then 10- 1 x 2's with single holes in the centers of any color for the second ones (these will be explained later). This makes 20 total of these pieces for EACH shoe.
Replace 2- 2 x 2 Color 1 (red) pieces from Row 7 with 1 each side - Color 2 (black) single hole pieces and 1 each side - any color single hole pieces on the inside parts of the shoes right next to those. When placed properly, the holes of the pairs of these pieces on each side will line up with each other to make a single "eyelet."
Bridging the Gap
Across the top of these newly created eyelet blocks, you will place a 2 x 16 flat Color 2 (black) piece.
Once that is placed, you will add 2- 2 x 2 drop edge pieces in Color 2 (black).
Lastly, you will fill in the middle of this "bridge" with Color 2 (black) blocks (not flats) until it is flush.
The last picture in this step is where you should be by this point.
Finishing the Toe
Flip the shoe over. Add a 2 x 6 flat in Color 3 (white) to the center of the toe piece.
Now flip it over and fill in the pieces above the newly added piece until it is flush. This will be two more layers of flat pieces in Color 3 (white).
Add the "Rubber" Sole
Flip the shoe back over again. We are going to add the "rubber" sole to these kicks.
Using Color 3 (white) blocks, line the perimeter of the underside of the shoe, making sure to follow the different lines and angles around the toe (so it keeps it shape).
Add a Racing Stripe
Now we are going to line the perimeter in the exact same way as the previous step, however the pieces are going to be FLATS (not blocks) and are going to be in Color 2 (black).
If you're confused as to how to go around the toe, see the second picture for clarity.
Finish the Last Row
Finally, go around the perimeter one more time, continuing to use FLATS, but this time in Color 3 (white).
Fill in the "Sole"
Using any color BLOCKS, fill in the "sole" to make all areas flush with each other.
After this is complete, use any color FLATS to cover the blocks and finish the soles.
*NOTE: You can use rubber to make these shoes non-slip. We didn't have any on-hand. But just a side note.
Connect the Back to the Bridge
My son thought of this to help secure the Back heel walls to the bridge using a simple 1 x 2 grate connected to a single 1 piece (round) on each side.
Starting the Front Half
Now, we are going to start building the front half of the shoe.
First, place a 2 x 2 Color 2 (black) block down in Row 1 (moving forward).
In front of that, place a 2 x 2 Color 1 (red) block in Row 1.
Build It Up
On top of the Color 2 (black) piece, put a Color 1 (red) 2 x 2 block.
Then, on top of that, alternate the next color to be a Color 2 (black) 2 x 2 block.
Work your way up alternating colors until you have made 5 rows in the first column.
Yours should look like the last picture in this step at this point.
Complete Row 1
Now on top of the Color 1 (red) pieces of Row 1, place a 2 x 2 block of Color 2 (black).
Then fill in row one on both sides with Color 1 (red).
Add More Eyelets
I think you get the alternating idea by now, so I won't bore you with redundant pictures.
Continue building up the rows with the place-a-block-and fill-in-the-row-method, however use the pictures (because a picture is worth a thousand words) to add in eyelet pairs (just like you did before) along the rows as seen in these pictures. When you're done, there should be an eyelet in each row working it's way up to the original eyelets you started with.
**Use the bridge in the pictures to determine what your side will look like on your actual project.**
NOTE: I ended up removing some pieces near the front (where the gray eyelets are) so the shoe continued to gradually work downwards and look more shoe-like. You will see this update in the next steps, so be sure to adjust your work to follow it.
Additionally, ignore the little extra on the toe of the pictures. We removed that for the final product.
Fill in the Inside Walls
At this point, my son and I were running out of proper colored blocks. We then had an "ah-ha!" moment -- we could use 1-by's blocks on the outside to appear as the color scheme that we wanted, while using whatever colors we wanted on the insides to fill in the rest (as you can't see the insides from the outside).
So, if you are doing this too, you will need to fill those inner walls in now.
Note here how the 2-for-1 eyelets work (2 eyelet pieces to make 1 eyelet).
More Bridges & Finishings
1. To secure the walls and create the lace-able slide bridges, we used 1 x 16's and 1 x 14's. We tried to keep the colors in a pleasant color scheme (Color 2 - black, Color 3 - white, and Gray).
IMPORTANT NOTE: We originally tried to add these pieces all the way down (as seen in the first picture). But due to piece-constraints and the fact we need to lace up the shoes, we removed some pieces at strategic locations. Use the second picture to help you figure out where to remove pieces from.
2. Also, take the time to fill in around these little "bridges" as needed to make the edges flush and look complete (as seen in picture 2 of this step).
3. Lastly, as seen in both pictures, finish off the look by adding flat, smooth 2 x 2's (Color 2 - black) over the dropped down areas of the front walls of the shoe. That gives it a finished look. (See pictures for clarity.)
Lace 'Em Up!
The moment you've been waiting for! All your hard work is coming to completion! --HOORAY!!!!
Using a set of laces (or borrowing some from a different pair of shoes), lace up the slides like you would a normal pair of shoes. The only difference is you need to work the laces through the gaps in the bridges.
If your toes go all the way to where the first lacing begins -- DON'T WORRY! They will comfortably slide underneath these laces no problem. :)
Show 'Em Off!
Now in all reality, you can't go running in these shoes -- but then again, who needs purely practical for everything? (and that being said from an overly practical woman!)
Live a little! Have these shoes as your go-to for Instagram-worthy trend-starting, to wear on special or fun holidays/occasions, or just to have to brag about when friends come to visit! Enjoy something challenging and goofy -- have you seen some of the latest fashion trends!? Hey, maybe even have your friends come over and everyone create their own kicks -- or have a contest for the best Lego shoe!?
Go crazy! Because, for once, it's totally acceptable ;)
We would love to see what you create from this basic idea! Will you make fully-enclosed kicks to brag about? Will you make some Air Jordan's, And1's, Nike's, or perhaps a high heel? The sky's the limit! Be sure to share you creations down in the comments below for everyone to see!
Blessings!