Polka Dot Tights

DIY Polka Dot Tights | this heart of mine

The weather has turned for good now, I think. Call me weak but I donned my winter coat yesterday, fur-lined hood and all. I’m not complaining because the sun was shining but it’s not yet November! Brrrrrrrr!! This turn prompted me to make the seasonal switch in my wardrobe over the weekend. I’m resigned to what is coming.

I’ve said it before but I am probably the worst shopper out there. I find the whole process overwhelming and laborious. Why can’t everything I need be at one store giant store? A store with a free personal shopping attendant. In a perfect world, right? I do love perusing online but I’m slow to buy because I worry the fit won’t be right. And if the fit isn’t right the items will have to be returned which makes more work for me so why even buy it in the first place. Drama, drama, I know. If I can make it work, I beg help from my sister. She is decisive and magically knows what to get. If we can’t swing it, I have to make it up as I go and, in this instance, literally make it.

DIY Polka Dot Tights | this heart of mine

I saw the cutest pair of polka dot tights somewhere and had to have them for myself. My brown boots needed them. Solid colored tights are easy enough to find and I thought, with a little paint, polka dot gams were in my near future.

DIY Polka Dot Tights | this heart of mine

Supplies:

-tights
-paint
-paint brush (I used the end)
-cardboard

DIY Polka Dot Tights | this heart of mine

I did check out a couple brands of tights. One was very spandex-y, thus shiny which I didn’t appreciate and one pair was more sweater-y which I don’t personally like on my legs. But do check for yourself and chose what works for you.

The first thing I did was cut out long strips of cardboard, almost as long as my legs. The cardboard is to put inside the legs of the tights to keep the paint from bleeding through from the front to the back. I’m not sure such long pieces are necessary but I wanted to make the process go as quick as possible. Having the long pieces made it so I didn’t have to move the cardboard while I worked. I could do one whole side, allow it to dry and then flip it over.

Then, it was just a matter of adding dots. I felt comfortable enough to free hand these because the dots were tiny. I find it very calming to create a dot pattern, it’s so organized! I used the end of a paintbrush to make the dot. It held just enough paint, not too much or too little, and the size was just perfect. If you need more guidance with polka dots, there are so many polka dot images you can copy from and adjust for your needs.

DIY Polka Dot Tights | this heart of mine

Once the paint dried, I removed the cardboard and got my boots.

I had a moment of doubt when the paint was drying. I was worried it wouldn’t work, maybe my plans would be a disaster. Much to my delight, they turned out perfectly. And I like them more than I expected.

DIY Polka Dot Tights | this heart of mine

And don’t you love knit boot socks? I sure do. I had to DIY these too and I did it by snipping the sleeves off a sweater I had put in the donation pile. They work like a charm. Very snugly and warm. They made my boots feel all the better. I’m going to be on the look out for more thrifted sweaters for just this purpose.

DIY Polka Dot Tights | this heart of mine

Finally. Having your photo taken is very glamorous. Very glamorous until a mini van rolls by and the people inside stare quizzically in your direction.

DIY Polka Dot Tights | this heart of mine

Yeah. So glamorous.

About Amy Christie

Amy is a wife, mother of two and a maker. Making is her thing whether it is food, DIYs or photos of her children. Follow Amy on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter, and through her once-a-month newsletter to keep up with the latest from this heart of mine.

45 thoughts on “Polka Dot Tights

  1. Haha I love the pictures at the end, I would have felt silly too. I LOVE these tights! I am never stylish enough to pull things off like this. Your outfit is gorgeous, pretty lady :) xx

  2. Another tip: use nail polish instead of regular paint.

    I always dab clear nail polish on runs and holes in my tights when they appear so they don’t get worse. The nail polish holds up to many, many washes.

    So if you don’t have acrylic paint handy, bust out a fun bottle of nail polish and get started!

  3. Such a great idea, Amy! What brand tights did you use? I always have that issue of buying spandex-y tights that shine even though I have bought many different brands. And the ones you use look great.

  4. I love your tights. And the pictures in the end. I always feel funny too when I get many picture taken in public. One is ok but so many? People always wonder…

    What kind of paint did you use? Fabric paint?

      1. Did you ever end up washing these tights? Haha I’m just wondering because it’d seem like a complete waste to make all those pretty little dots and have the paint bleed (or ever come off) the tights xD :(

        1. I haven’t yet but I would recommend hand washing them, for the sake of the tights. Acrylic paint (the stuff I used) is permanent and will stay put. It won’t bleed or come off.

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