How to Turn Old Tights Into a Shrug
Old tights are one of those things I never know what to do with. They're too good to throw out, but I'm not going to wear them again either.
It turns out dancers solved this problem a long time ago. If you flip the tights upside down, the gusset becomes a neckline and the legs become sleeves.
Three cuts turn a pair of opaque tights into a fitted shrug for your arms and shoulders, and it only takes about 10 minutes.
Tools and Materials:
- Clean opaque tights
- Sharp fabric scissors
- Tailor’s chalk or a washable fabric marker
- Matching thread, optional
- A sewing machine with a stretch stitch, optional
Upstyle may receive a small affiliate commission from purchases made via Amazon links in this article but at no cost to you.
Best tights to use: Choose stretchy, opaque tights with a separate piece of fabric sewn into the crotch. This piece is called a gusset. The seam around it can help support the new opening.
Avoid sheer pantyhose, compression tights and tights that already have runs.
1. Check the tights
Wash and dry the tights first. Look for runs, thin spots or small holes.
Gently stretch the crotch and legs with your hands. The fabric needs to stretch easily around your shoulders and arms, so if a pair feels very tight, choose a different one. The finished shrug shouldn't press on your neck or limit how you move.
2. Mark the neck opening
Lay the tights flat with the waistband at the top and the legs running down. The gusset is right where the legs split apart. It wraps under the crotch, so you'll only see the front half of it.
Use tailor's chalk to draw a line just inside the gusset seam. Leave the seam attached to the tights.
No gusset? Draw a small oval right where the legs meet instead. Start smaller than you think you need. Tights stretch a lot, so a small opening will open up much wider once it's on. You can always make it bigger after checking the fit, but an opening that's too big will slide off your shoulders.
3. Cut out the gusset
Pinch the gusset where it folds between the legs, lift it into a little tent and make one small snip at the top.
Slip the scissors into the snip and cut along your chalk line, through the gusset only. Because it's folded, you'll be cutting its front and back halves together. When you open up the piece you've cut out, it should be one small oval. The opening you've made becomes your neckline.
Tip: Keep the scissors almost flat against the table. You'll have more control and you're less likely to nick the tights around the opening.
4. Cut off the toes
Lay the two legs side by side and mark a straight line just above each toe seam. Cut off one toe at a time. These openings become the cuffs.
Take off only the toes for now. If the sleeves bunch up too much at your wrists, you can shorten them later.
5. Put on the shrug
Take off any rings or bracelets that could snag the tights.
Hold the tights upside down so the waistband hangs at the bottom. Slip your head up through the waistband and out through the neck opening you cut.
Reach one arm up inside the tights and into a leg, then push your hand out through the opening where the toe used to be. Repeat on the other side.
Adjust the fabric slowly. The neck opening stretches into a wide, scooped neckline, and the legs become fitted sleeves. The body of the tights covers your chest, with the center seam running down the middle, and the waistband sits around your lower ribs.
If the neckline feels tight or you can't move your arms comfortably, take the shrug off and enlarge the opening a little at a time.
6. Check the cut edges
Some thick dance tights can go without finished edges for a while. Other tights may curl, fray or run.
Gently stretch each opening and look at the edge. If it starts to separate, reinforce it with a narrow zigzag or stretch stitch. Practice on one of the cut-off toes first, using a ballpoint or stretch needle and guiding the fabric through without pulling it.
Skip a regular straight stitch. It doesn't stretch, so it can snap when the tights do.
7. Wear your finished tights shrug
Wear it over a tank top, camisole or leotard. If the sleeves are too long, push them up a little at the wrists.
Keep in mind that this is a light layer. It won't be as warm or hold its shape the way a cardigan does, and how it fits depends on the size, thickness and stretch of your tights.
How to Give Old Tights a New Use
Three careful cuts are all it takes. Start with a small neck opening, cut only the toes and handle the fabric gently. If you reinforce the edges, it'll last longer.
If you try it, I'd love to hear how yours turned out!
The author may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.
Comments
Join the conversation
Thank you for bringing back and sharing this oldie but goodie dancers hack.