How do you darn tights??

**HomeschoolMom** · 03-12-2009, 01:45 PM

My DD dances and seems to go through the dance tights very quickly. As do the other dancers.

At $17/pair this is really annoying. I was wondering if anyone knew how to darn runs/holes in tights.

Thanks!!

**imagine** · 03-12-2009, 01:57 PM

I've had some luck darning some types of tights.

Can you describe your dance tights? are they the standard pick ballet tights? or the shinny more jazz type tights? more opaque or more see through?

How picky is the dance instructor?

Are the places needing darning on the foot, on the leg, or else where? If in ballet is she in slippers or point?

**HomeschoolMom** · 03-12-2009, 03:00 PM

Hi. Yes, they are the standard pink ballet tights. They are pretty close to being opaque.

It seems the holes just pop up wherever! lol. Sometimes they are in the crotch, sometimes she'll pull too hard and get a run in the leg, sometimes in the foot. She is wearing split sole ballet shoes but she is not on pointe.

Her dance teacher isn't too picky as long as they aren't a mess. You should see the holes and runs in the tights some of these girls wear! lol. Sometimes there are more holes than there are tights.

I took one pair that had a huge run/hole in the foot and cut the foot off and hemmed them with a zigzag stitch and turned them into acro tights.

That's ok but she only needs so many pairs of acro tights, you know? I'd like to salvage some of the footed tights so she can continue to use them for ballet.

I'm hoping that if I can catch a small hole or run before it gets out of control that I can get them to last longer.

Thanks!!

**imagine** · 03-13-2009, 09:46 AM

Okay standard pink ballet tights are what I'm use to fixing. I have several ways.

To stop a run or small whole to keep it from getting bigger clear finger nail polish works wonderfully. Just put the nail polish over the whole/run and let it dry.

a run or hole on the leg of the tights that needs mending I generally do a stitch to close them up much like when the kids get stitches in the ER. very close matching thread makes it less noticeable.

A tear in the crotch normally happens for me when I need new new size in tights ( or they have shrunk) They can be sewn though. just stitch them back together.

For one on the foot They are more tricky as you want them still super flat to not cause any extra sores on the feet. The best is to cut off the torn part ( generally at the toe for me) and sew with a flat seem a new fresh toe on. I still don't prefer this.

There is also an official darning method for any hole/run. I haven't had much luck with it but it suppose to work. You put stiches loosely across the hole ( you are basically making the wrap thread of a loom) then after you have completed this you weave the thread in the next direction to make a fabric. This works best if you have something under the hole like a darning ball or a light bulb or something similar.( let me know if you want to try this and you need clarification darning method and want clarification)

as a side note I have found that some brand of ballet tights last better than others. also careful washing helps. Like washing them with nothing that has zippers, or buttons etc. and lingerie bag in hand too. But no matter what you do holes and rips do happen.

Good luck and let me know if you need me to clarify something.

**HomeschoolMom** · 03-13-2009, 10:21 AM

Thank you for the help! I've got a couple of pairs with tiny holes/runs in them so they are definitely fixable.

I may take a really bad old pair that I was going to toss and try the 'official' darning method on them - that way if I screw it up there's no loss!

What kind of ballet tights do you buy that are better? I can't remember the name of these ones. They sell them at the dance studio that DD goes to and since my sil owns the store and studio and gives DD free lessons I try to buy all her dance stuff at the store.

**imagine** · 03-13-2009, 11:33 AM

Practicing the darning on a old pair sounds like a great idea.

Since you get the tights at your SIL studio I'm sure they are a good pair.

My favorite was Capezio. I think the ones I liked didn't have spandex. (cotton and nylon). But I haven't danced ballet since College. The brands might have changed since then. I also had a strict teacher and our tights and shoes had to be the same color especially when we were older.

I looked on the net and Capezio still makes a cotton and nylon tight they call it their no run tights.

Off topic - just me going down memory lane. I remember Capezio gave me a gold point shoe charm when I bought my first pair of toe shoes. The girl in me thought that was so cool. I still have in up in my jewelry box.

**HomeschoolMom** · 03-13-2009, 10:59 PM

They do have a 'dress code' at the studio as well but they are not overly strict about it - except in ballet. A lot of the girls that dance there, especially the competitive kids, are there 3 or 4 nights a week and will often wear dance shorts and t's overtop of their stuff.

There is more strictness with the hair - bun for ballet, bun or ponytail for everything else.

Capezio is still a great name. That is a great memory about the charm. My DD would think that was pretty cool too.

What type of dancing did you do?

**imagine** · 03-14-2009, 09:21 AM

Mainly Ballet. I tried Jazz for a while in High school but Ballet was always my love. I stopped dancing after college.

Now I only dance in the living room LOL There is just something about doing bar exercises ( I use a chair) or a simple floor routine that feels so right, so good. Good for my body and mind. I guess when you have done something since you were three it becomes a part of you.

My Ballet teacher was strict - Tights that matched the shoes and a black long sleeve or short leotard. No extras so we could see our lines better . Hair up in a bun no cover. She also would not let us wear our dance clothes out in public (she also preferred we not wear a bun out after class) so we had to put street clothes over our other clothes at min. before leaving.

**HomeschoolMom** · 03-14-2009, 10:43 AM

DD loves the ballet best as well. She has tried jazz, tap and acro and really enjoys the acro as well.

Ballet is the only area of dance where they are really strict about their clothing - same dress code as you had except they are allowed to have a bun cover.

Tradition, I guess!

Have a great day!