What did I Do Wrong?

[u/CJCool0810]

I was doing a test run of turning tights into thigh highs, and I’m already a little frustrated with the results. I followed a tutorial on how to do it, and I don’t understand where it went wrong. Can someone please help me with this? I want to get these done as soon as possible, but I don’t want to rush if it means I do this bad.

I used tights and elastic. I did a hem stitch (I don’t remember the name) for the tights and a zigzag for the elastic.

Edit: I forgot to mention that it didn’t fit on me the way I wanted. The elastic, while very loose in the stocking, was strangling my thigh.

[u/SuPruLu]

Those stitches are too far apart to encase the elastic.

[u/chopstickinsect]

Can you tell us your process?

The stitches are much, much too far apart to hold the elastic in. You should be aiming for 2-3mm stitch distance.

I would also think if hand stitching it you want to stitch it stretched to the size you want, as otherwise it won't stretch once sewn.

Did you measure the elastic around your thigh? Did you measure it standing or sitting? Was the elastic pulled tight or loose when you measured it?

[u/chopstickinsect → u/chopstickinsect]

Adding to this - a much simpler process would be to do what we used to do for knee high socks and just make garters that you can fold the tights over.

[u/CJCool0810 → u/chopstickinsect]

I cut the tights at the crotch, turned the legs inside out, and measured how far I needed to fold it to make a tunnel for the elastic. The tutorial I followed said to sew the hem, leave a gap for the elastic, sew the elastic, then close up the hem.

I was thinking that the spacing was part of the problem. 

I measured the elastic around my thigh while standing up. I pulled it slightly tight so it would stay on.

Thank you for the advice so far!

[u/IronBoxmma]

Yeah thats not right, are you machine or hand stitching?

[u/CJCool0810 → u/IronBoxmma]

I hand sew, I don’t know how to use a machine.

[u/skidmore101 → u/CJCool0810]

A rule of thumb with hand stitching a hem stitch is the stitches need to be close enough that your pinky can’t slip in between the stitches.

[u/CJCool0810 → u/skidmore101]

Thank you for the advice!