Saturday, February 26, 2011

DIY Seamed Stockings

I love stockings. They are about a hundred times better than pantyhose in terms of look, feel, and cost (when one legs gets a run, you don't have to throw out both legs!).
When it comes to seamed vs seamless I would always choose seamed. The only problem is that around here real seamed stocking are nearly impossible to find! When I do find some (either in store or online) they are at least $20! Being a university student means that at the moment I have very very little money (stupid tuition...) so spending that kind of money on something I can only wear a few times is not an option.
For daily wear I have some seamless stockings I buy at the Bay for $4 or less. I suppose I could always draw seams on with eyeliner like some ladies did in WW2, but I would worry about getting eyeliner on my dress! Instead I have come up with a simple method to create the look of seamed stockings.


Instructions
1) Do a trial pair! Buy a cheap pair of pantyhose at the dollar store (or use an old pair of stockings) to practise on. It is very likely there will be some areas on your machine that will snag the fabric. Make note of these areas.
2) Thread your machine with a thread that is the same colour as your stockings. Now tape over the areas of your machine that snag the material with scotch tape.
3) Turn your stockings inside out and iron a crease where you would like your line to be. Use the coolest setting on your iron so you don't melt the material.
4) Set your machine to the zig-zag stitch. I used a width of about 2.5 and a length of 2.
5) Start sewing along your crease, starting from the top of the stocking. You should be so close to the edge of the material that on part of the zig-zag the needle is no longer touching the material. Do this very carefully and very slowly. If you don't sew your seams straight they will never be straight when you wear them!
6) End the seam about an inch before the toes. Cut off any excess thread and turn right side out. Tada! You now have your very own pair of seamed stockings!
This is how my pair turned out:

That's All.

26 comments:

  1. This is such a smart idea I'm definitely going to try it!!

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  2. I've thought about doing this too but never actually tried it! It looks fantastic!! I'm going to have to do it now. I love nude stockings with nude seams but I rarely find them and when they do they're too expensive or the wrong size. I'll leave a link to this on my blog! thanks for the easy, genius tutorial! :) xoxo

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  3. That is an AWESOME idea! I'm in the same predicament as you and this just solved my stocking woes. :D :D THANK YOU!

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  4. I've converted nylons into stockings but I haven't tried DIY seams. Looking forward to it!

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    1. Beti, will you please explain how to convert nylons into stockings or send the link. Thank you

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  5. WoW! How did you get that idea? Thats ingenious and I might have to try it! :)

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  6. brilliant! You come up with the neatest projects!!

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  7. What a brilliant idea! I would never have thought of that.... X

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  8. i've been doing this for almost a year cause plus size backseam stockings cost so much and i wanted different colors seams. this is a good way to save money. glad you are sharing with others.

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  9. Unbelievable. That is some serious ingenuity, I love it!

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  10. ~ * ♥ * ~

    What an amazing idea Kate! I love this DIY so much I would like to feature your post on my blog on Friday the 11th of March for my Quick Share. I hope you don't mind, because seriously, I can not wait to try this out myself. : D

    xox,
    bonita of Depict This!
    ~ * ♥ * ~

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  11. That is super cool, thank you so much for this :)

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  12. Fabulous idea! I still have a stash of seamed stockings but that's a great money saving idea!

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  13. I can't believe I haven't clicked on to this! I personally cant wear stockings daily, being 5'1 and harassed mother of two, but i'm going to seam some tights, I'm excited about all the gorgeous colour seams i ca add to my nude ones! Outfit perfection!

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  14. I am in LOVE with this idea. So much, in fact, that I shall be sharing this link with my other readers.

    Cheers!
    ~Paige

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  15. brilliant!!

    Corinne xo
    http://corinnemonique.blogspot.com

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  16. Oh my God, that's absolutely fantastic and so smart! I don't have a sewing machine, but I'll ask my mom, perhaps. Lovely blog!

    -Desiree, Pop-o-matic Deluxe!

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  17. This is such a great idea, I love it and I would love to have my readers read it too. Can I get your permission to post your idea on my website http://vintageseamedstockings.com and provide a link back to your site ?

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  18. That is amazing! I have been wanting seamed stockings for the longest time! But I to have not wanted to pay a lot of money for them. Wonderful tutorial :)

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  19. Being I have lived in both worlds...one where only single leg stockings were available and then when panty hose came on the scene (my college years). As poor coeds we discovered when one leg of a panty hose gets a run you don't have to throw both legs away. Cut off the leg and save it for when you have another panty hose with a one leg run, and cut off that leg. Then pull on each one legged hose panty and put the other leg on the other foot and pull it up. Yes you wear two "panties" but you can't feel it! I still have a couple of what would be considered "vintage hose" boxes with hose. I used to buy hose in an odd number so if one leg ran, I would still have another to make a pair. There was something wonderful about going to the hosiery bar in the department store. Ladies would help you select just the perfect color for you skin tone and what you would be wearing with that pair of hose. I hate to admit this, but seamed hose remind me of ladies who wore them over unshaved hair, back in the day. I remember the "ladies" always gossiping about ladies who wore seams that were not perfectly straight! Everything old always seems to be new again!

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  20. I wear vintage stockings every day of the year, all original 1930s-1940s.
    But before I actually managed to find them, I used this trick as well and it works fine.
    Although for 1930s/1940s events I'd suggest using thicker cottonlike brown stockings (or as they called it back then; Rust coloured) or tights.
    And to make the seam, use the same colour as the fabric, back then they didn't want them to stand out in most cases.

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  21. Oh my goodness this is totally genius!!! I will totally be trying this. Thank you!

    Knitting in Pearls

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  22. Thank you so much for sharing! I cannot wait to try this on my stockings and tights!

    Naomi
    teenyboppinalong.blogspot.com

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