Are tights mendable?

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

Dumb question, but I thought I would ask it anyway, even though I'm pretty sure I know the answer.

Are ordinary (nylon & spandex or whatever) tights mendable if they get holes that are not yet runs? And if so, how would one do it?

This is the problem with textured hose. When I wear it, at least.

14 years ago

Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from anne

mamaKate

Veteran

Do you know how to darn? Try superglue?

14 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I've tried to mend my hosiery. And this was the result:

14 years ago

Anonymous

If they are hose, a big dob of clear nail polish will keep the hole from becoming a run, but this only works if the hole is in an inconspicuous place.

If they are heavier tights, you could try darning them. See if there is a youtube video on "how to darn socks". It invovles weaving the thread back and forth across the hole in a basketweave sort of pattern to reinforce it and cover the bare spot.

Oh and I forgot another trick. If you buy a lot of duplicates, you can cut off the bad leg and wait till a matching pair gets ruined and cut of *it's* bad leg. Then you wear both one-legged panty-hoses at the same time!

14 years ago

Kristine

Veteran

I was curious about darning socks a while back and found this primer. It might be worth a try. I think sweater tights would be easier to mend than nylon/spandex.

http://www.theartofdoingstuff......rn-a-sock/

14 years ago

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Ooh boy, I wouldn't want to darn something as fine-gauge as sweater tights! Yuck. I have sewn together edges of a hole in tights, but it wasn't pretty. I fix a lot of things, but gave up on tights/hose.

14 years ago

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I've used nail polish to stop a run. I sometimes make a hole in the upper leg and if they are tights I love, I will patch them with clear polish and wear them with slightly longer skirts/dresses.

14 years ago

Parsley

Veteran

Well, I'd at least *try* darning them. It's not that hard to do. I think your success will depend on how conspicuous a location the hole is on the tights.

14 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Nail polish! I forgot that trick!!

Sadly, it won't work on the holes I've made in these BRAND NEW textured tights...holes are right on my calves. HOW did they get there? Was it kitty? I don't think so. But I have no idea what I bumped up against.

Sigh.

I do know how to darn. But I think maybe this is a lost cause. I may try nail polish just in case, and if that doesn't work...well, I did get a day's wear for my $18.

Thanks for the practical suggestions and the laughs. Claire, yours somehow managed to fall into BOTH categories, lol!

14 years ago

Diana

Veteran

The nail polish thing works, as the other ladies have said, especially if the hole is somewhere inconspicuous. I don't think you can darn or sew together larger holes in such fine gauge fabric without it being obvious. Again if it's in a hidden place, it's fine, but otherwise I don't think it'll work.

I always seem to make holes in the toes of my tights (and socks for that matter, I think I must have pointy toes) so after a while I'll chop the holey feet off my tights and wear them as footless tights. You can't tell they are footless if you wear them in boots and honestly I think they are more comfy that way.

14 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Diana, that's a great idea. It's a problem I often have as well, and actually, in another pair that I love I may take that route. I'm so glad you suggested it. How far down do you cut the foot off? Right at the ankle area?

14 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Suz, I pretty much just cut off the toe part unless the holes extend further. Tights are basically just a tube anyway so I prefer to keep them as long as possible - they do tend to pop up a little shorter with no foot to stretch them, plus the cut end tends to roll a little bit. I guess if they have stretched out enough to have heel shapes you might want to cut that part off too.

14 years ago

Anonymous

Now *that's* a good idea!

Suz, did you think I was joking about wearing two one legged pairs? I have totally done that (and I read the idea in a real book, lol)!

14 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Suz, I hate when this happens on the first time of wearing - what a rotten luck!
I do darn mine if holes are going to be hidden (like the toes when I wear boots or closed shoes) but not if the hole or run is visible. In this case I grit my teeth and throw them into garbage.
I think hosiery is the most expensive item of female wardrobe if you count a cost per wear - cruel!

14 years ago

anne

Veteran

I have done both the nail polish trick and the cutting one leg off trick in the past. And also keeping to wear under trousers.

If they were cheap hose I wouldn't bother though.

14 years ago

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