Sunday, March 6, 2011

Tutorial: Making American Girl Doll Tights

I was looking at a mess on my dresser last evening when a lone knee sock struck me with an amazingly-easy-to-execute idea. I told one of my daughters to "quick! go get your American Girl doll!" I realized the width of my adult sized knee sock was the American Girl Doll waist width. I made 3 pair of tights from knee socks in about 30 minutes. I thought I'd post how easy it was here. My apologies, the pictures are awful, but you'll forgive me when you see how easy this is!


you'll need:
  • An adult sized knee sock,
  • thread
  • sewing machine
  • scissors
  • ruler
First:  Turn your sock inside out (if you forget it's ok, if they are solid color socks they'll look fine, and to be honest I forgot on this pair!)

Step two: Cut straight across removing the "foot" part of the sock

Step Three: measure 3 inches from top of sock and mark with a pin
Step four: Sew down the almost center from the pin twice, leaving about 1/2" in between your sewing lines so you can easily cut in between the lines you've sewn. At the bottom, curve your sewing line outward.

Step Five: sew the 1/2" space connecting the TOP of your lines.

Step Six: Cut up the center and around the feet.

Turn right side out and you have yourself some dolly tights!
Front
back


variations: tights with runners could work almost just as easily (even kids tights!) but you'll have to adjust the tutorial a bit to sew yourself a waist.

27 comments:

  1. Found this on pinterest and just tried it - so easy and so cute! Thanks!

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  3. I feel all famous for being pinned!! it really is super easy, and what a great use for those socks that have one little toe hole:)

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  4. Just tried this out today (also found you on pinterest) and love, love, LOVE how it turned out! Thanks for sharing your awesome ideas.

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  5. Liz, thanks for commenting! I was rather blissful that this had been 'pinned' SO happy it is helping so many make dolly tights galore. I was also thinking of trying it for elastic waist pajama pants...

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  6. Please do it for elastic waist pajamas and post! :) I also found you through Pinterest!

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  7. I do this too--kids tights are easy to do too---cut the same, leaving the three inches at the top. use the waistband of the tights ti finish off the waist ---2-3 pair of doll tights per kid pair

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  8. Brilliant! Seriously!!!!!! Thanks for sharing. :-)

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  9. I can't wait to try this! I make doll tutu's and have been searching for a tight pattern..this will be so much easier!

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  10. this is a great way to make the tites. I have made them and it works really good,I have found thatthe adult ladies thin boot socks work better , they have more stretch. and a ood way to get riede of old socks.

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  11. Genius!! Great tutorial!! Thanks so much for sharing.

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  12. this was such a great idea ,it turned out great and so easy Thanks!

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  13. LOVE! (Pinterest score!)

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  14. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I found this and jumped up immediately to try it! I didn't have any socks, but my daughter had a pair of leggings that no longer fit her. With some adjustments (cut legs and sewed a hem to make a waist), I made two pairs of for "Sarah". Thanks again!

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  15. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I found this and jumped up immediately to try it! I didn't have any socks, but my daughter had a pair of leggings that no longer fit her. With some adjustments (cut legs and sewed a hem to make a waist), I made two pairs of for "Sarah". Thanks again!

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  16. Great idea! Thanks so much for the tutorial.

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  17. Awesome idea that I will have to try soon. I've been looking for 6.5" American Girl Doll patterns. I've designed a few myself. Maybe I can try this with a smaller sock for the mini doll. I found you through: http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-secret-sewing-american-girl-dress.html

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  18. I realized the width of my adult sized knee sock was the American Girl Doll waist width. I made 3 pair of tights from knee socks in about 30 minutes. ... bootsocks.blogspot.com

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  19. I realized the width of my adult sized knee sock was the American Girl Doll waist width. I made 3 pair of tights from knee socks in about 30 minutes. ... akneehighbootsocks.blogspot.com

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  20. Unable to wrap my head around step 4 and step 5 with out pictures. Would LOVE to try this with xmas coming up and my santa's workshop of doll clothes making. Is there maybe a you tube video?

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  21. Hahaha!! Okay, think I just got it! I'm super visual so it's hard for me to turn words into a visualization. Sew a vertical inseam. I read it as sewing horizontally across the waistband area. Thanks much!!

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  22. I just made a pair of tights for my doll from a knee sock. They came out great. Now I am going to make some for my granddaughter's dolls. Thank you so much for sharing this idea.

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  23. amazing,, great idea... looking for items to make for my granddaughters 2 A.G dolls

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  24. This is great! I am so appalled at the price AG DOLL CLOTHES!Thank you

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  25. I just saw this and remembered that I had cleaned out my sock drawer but hadn't taken the box to donate yet. I retrieved 20 pair to make tights and sweAters, socks, underclothes, swimsuits and leotards. And I haven't even bought the doll yet. It's a Christmas present for my granddaughter. Thanks.

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