DIY Knee High Socks

With fall quickly approaching, it was time to sift through my wardrobe. I thought back to an old pair of cable knit tights sitting at the back of my drawer. They were super warm but I dreaded wearing them because it took wayyy too much effort to get them on. Once I did, they came up “short” and as a result, I had to endure that saggy diaper feeling all day long, if you know what I mean. Figured, why not DIY em!

Without hesitation, I grabbed a pair of scissors and cut as close to the crotch as possible. Voila! They were knee-highs! Easy enough, right? Not so fast!

As I quickly realized, I needed to reinforce the openings so that they stay up during wear. I didn’t have elastic on hand, so I improvised using a 1/2 inch stretch ribbon. I actually found it to be a lot softer and gentler on the skin BUT I would recommend sticking to braided elastic for better holding power.

FYI, I turned my knee-highs inside out, cause as you can see, they were all linty and looking hella shabby (eek!). A little flip and they were good as new!

Here’s what I did

1. I measured the elastic around my thigh where the socks would sit, making it nice and taut, but comfortable. I then cut 2 pieces of elastic and overlapped the ends, securing them with a zigzag stitch.
2. With the socks inside out (in my case, vice versa), I placed the elastic away from the opening leaving enough allowance to conceal it.
3. I then folded the allowance onto the elastic, pinning it in place. There was no need for me to turn under or finish the raw edges since knits don’t fray.
4. I finished by using a zigzag stitch along the edges, gently stretching as I went along. Lastly, I turned the socks back on the “right side” and done!
5. This last step is obviously optional. I treated the lace the same way I did the elastic, measuring around my thigh etc. (btw, the lace I used is from the waist of an old pair of undies. Call me what you will, I ♥ recycling 🙂

At this point, I played around with other ideas. I couldn’t settle for just one, so I made it a versatile accessory, leaving the lace detached. I have the option to keep it simple and leave it as is…or dress it up with the lace and/or garter. The possibilities are endless!

Having trouble keeping those knee-highs up?

Here’s a tip! Ever heard of sock glue or body glue? Well apparently it’s been around for ages! It was more commonly used among Irish dancers to keep their socks in place during performances, but the masses have caught on.

You didn’t hear this from me but some have gone great lengths using alternatives, such as craft glues/sticks, double sided tape, spirit gum…you name it! Why? My guess is the alternatives are much cheaper and one is likely found in almost every household.

Would I try an alternative? Sure! Most craft glues are non-toxic anyways and have even been used for peel-off face masks (shocking, I know)! Personally, knee-high socks aren’t something I wear too often so I wouldn’t bother getting a “specialty” glue. However, if it’s the opposite for you then it may be worth the investment.

Enough rambling! Easy enough, no? Let me know below if you’ve ever used sock glue or an alternative.