I hope you enjoy this “how to” post today. It didn’t come from me, but I’m itching to make some of these myself… The pictures were sent to me by Kathie. She made these for her 13″ Dianna Effner Little Darlings. Kathie said they were the perfect size doll for the socks she found…
Are you anxious to see what Kathie made? Me too…
She found these Christmas Knee highs at the dollar store and said they were pretty long and very soft and stretchy. She laid one sock on top of her Little Darling and measured her for a pair of “TIGHTS!” Yep, tights is what we’re making today! She said the elastic at the top of the sock was just right for her waist. She cut up the middle to her crotch and zig zagged a seam. She mentioned that it did need to be gradually narrowed from the knee down. I think they are adorable…
Aren’t they sweet? Now who’s going to be looking for socks the next time they go to town? Maybe you have a pair in your sock drawer already! Get busy and make a pair (or 2) from your socks!
Thanks for sharing Kathie!
Have a wonderful Saturday!
See you Monday,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, what a cute idea, Kathie! Thanks for sharing. Hope I can find some cute Christmas socks, too! I can see using this for “plain” tights, also, or maybe striped ones, depending on the socks available.
I just finished shortening the sleeves on two Christmas-print mock turtlenecks for myself, bought who-knows-how-long-ago. I have an assortment of Christmas-print Ts and love to wear them, starting the day after Christmas. (Today it was snowmen on blue.) I wear them thru Jan. 6th, Epiphany.
HI Charlotte,
I knew everyone would love making these stockings for their dolls. I haven’t made my pair yet, but I’m going to!
Thanks,
Blessings, Jeanne
Darling, Kathie, and I can see myself making tights for Betsy! So easy that even I can do it, which is a plus! Thank you Jeanne for showing us, and Kathie for sending it in to Jeanne!
HI Linda,
Yes, YOU can do it! This won’t be nearly as hard as that brown Christmas dress you made for Felicity! I guarantee it!
Blessings, Jeanne
Ooo. I’m going to be in town on Monday. I was already planning a thrift store browse. Now I’m adding the dollar store. Thanks, Kathie! 🎄💚🎄
Hi Julia,
I have to get some stuff to make a carrot cake for the Staff Christmas party. I’m going to keep my eyes open for some socks too! :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
What a fun idea from Kathie. Although I’ve made them before, this was a great reminder as now I have several new different sized dolls that would benefit. Looks like a run on the dollar store has begun. 🙂
Thanks, Charlotte, Joy and Julia,
Why haven’t I thought of the plain colors like Charlotte suggested…Duh! I may try some worn out support hose for the look of regular panty hose. Would have to make the stitching smaller and closer together though. Hummmm
Ooh, I like that idea–pantihose. You could use knee-high nylons for that, too, I would imagine!! Wonderful!
Maybe a small zigzag stitch (very narrow, say 2.0) would work….
Hi Joy,
Yes, I bet the Dollar stores are busy selling socks today. I hope you get a pair made for ALL your dolls!
I think FAO Schwarz is out of the Ruby Red Fashion Friends… :o( They don’t show any on their website now…
Blessings, Jeanne
We definitely are a clever bunch. Thanks so much to Kathie for her idea. I love Christmas socks but I have so many I don’t need more. Now I can buy as many as I want and make wonderful Christmas tights for all my girls. I use trouser socks when the top elastic wears out for thigh highs because they have textures, but I never thought of doing this.
I was dressing my girls this morning for the holidays. I quickly realized they have a lot of lovely spring and summer frocks but not much for the winter holiday season. I dressed the ones who didn’t have Christmas clothes as best I could, but they are all jockeying to see who gets to the top of next years list. I know there will be some sock-tights made. That really opens up a lot of possibilities for cute tunic tops or dresses to go with them.
I keep wanting to mention a site I found for small-print fabrics and wonderful trims. It’s on eBay and called French Fashions. I didn’t want to say anything until I tried it out. I was very pleased. When I first saw the site I thought you had to bid on everything. There are some pieces where you have to do that but mostly you just order what you want. The trims are in small measurements but you can order more than one usually. So if there is a trim you want and it’s only a yard but you need more, you can order more than one of them. I’m assuming they will be longer pieces rather than a few short ones but I only ordered the basic package since I was really trying the site out.
I had a nice surprise the other day. I often mention the Heartstring dolls. They are an Effner sculpt and sold by Jo’s Doll Shoppe. I actually discovered Jo’s site when I was looking for clothes for my Tiny Betsy (she has those too). Sewing for Tiny Betsy is actually where she got her start. The Heartstrings are 8″ or 8 1/4″ and absolutely adorable. Jo did not reorder when she sold out the last time because she has health issues. She was trying to sell the business. I check in often because sometimes she puts new outfits on the site. The other day I was checking in and she had several dolls for sale again. Most of them were the limited editions she did for doll shows, etc. They are pretty expensive but they come with wonderful outfits. But she did have a Simply Eva for sale. It was more than they were when she was selling them regularly but I had to have her. They come only with panties. I have Sugar and Spice Jackie and Simply Grace so when I saw Simply Eva (named after Jo’s granddaughter) I had to get her. I told hubby it was my birthday gift. But then I found out Jo may have found a buyer for the business which is why these dolls turned up. She was probably cleaning out in preparation for selling the business. I loved dealing with Jo over the years, but she can no longer do what she used to – and it was plenty. But I did not want to see the Heartstring dolls go away. There was a wonderful community that developed around them, like the LD and Meadow communities and I would love to see that again. If she does sell, I will post more pictures of my Heartstrings in the hope that others might check them out. Anyone who likes the smaller dolls or wants to downsize to something smaller will love these dolls. I wasn’t even collecting dolls when I started buying them, but they were too sweet to pass up. From there it was on to the LDS, H4Hs, Meadow, etc., and the sky’s the limit. Hubby hopes not.
HI Barbara,
Yes, we are a clever bunch and it’s fun to share ideas from one to another isn’t it?
I always seem to get more Spring/Summer dresses made because it seems like it’s warmer a lot longer than it is colder here. I definitely have more Summery fabrics than I do wintery ones, but I still have my fair share! :o)
I’ll have to look up that French Fashions seller on Ebay… NOT that I need ANY fabric, but just to LOOK! *wink* *wink*
I hope Jo does find a buyer for her shop. It’s nice to see that it can carry on, even if it’s with another owner. Congrats on your new doll, Simply Eva. So many new dolls lately.
Blessings, Jeanne
Great job, Kathie. Those tights are so cute. I’ll bet your sweet Little Darling has a gorgeous Christmas dress to wear them with.
HI Laura,
I’m glad you enjoyed seeing the tights on the dolls. It was a fun and easy project, wasn’t it?
Thanks,
Blessings, Jeanne
Actually I put the pair I made for me on my new Bella and she is wearing a Christmas tree costume that originally was made to be a Wine bottle cover. :0)
Thanks for the tutorial on the tights, Kathie,
I think everyone loved it! So Bella got the tights? :o)
Blessings, Jeanne