Fashion is lovely
Gradient tights I done myself…
I’ve had it. That’s it. Forget about it. I love gradients… I’ve tried not to, but I do. Since Prada brought them into the forefront AW07, gradients have been peeking into fashion conversations. Style Alchemy posted this lovely pic that’s been haunting me for ages. H&M even did a gradient sweater. But when I saw Christian Lacroix’s Spring Couture show… I just knew I had to have gradient tights.
Now finding gradient tighs were one thing. There’s a pair on Ooga Booga for *ahem* $93. After my Spanx busted I vowed never to buy expensive tights…. so that was out. And why are they so hard to find?
On my regular trip to the supermarket, I picked up a box of purple dye (its usually by the laundry powder) salt, and some l’eggs pantyhose… and this is what I ended up doing it dip dyeing the pantyhose to make my own gradient tights. They are actually more versatile than I thought… they’re easy to make, cheap and fun… maybe I should open my own gradient tights shoppe?
Anyway, here’s how to do it:
Materials: Box of Rit Dye, salt, detergent, pantyhose (light colored, or flesh color is fine).
1. Mix your dye bath… I usually use my mop bucket in the shower.
2. Rinse & wring your panyhose, the gradient will be easier to create if the material is damp.
3. Dip the dampened pantyhose into the dye bath, don’t submerge them in the dye, but dip half way or or however you would like to have colored.
4. Hang the pantyhose in the shower for an hour or so, maybe two… this will allow gravity to pull the dye to the bottom creating the gradient.
5. Rinse the excess dye, and hang dry.
Then you’re done!
Discussion
84 comments for “Gradient tights I done myself…”
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Those are fantastic! I had the exact same reaction on seeing the Lacroix show. I guess I’d better pick up some RIT and pantyhose!
How creative! They look great! I may just have to try this.
I am gonna get dip dye ker-razy!
Genius! Can’t wait to replicate. My closet is getting so excited.
Oh my goodness! I adore your outfit. You look like a sprinkle covered cupcake! The grey and white are perfect compliments…
Those are amazing! Thanks so much for the how-to!
You are brilliant! FABULOUS! I will link your tutorial tomorrow
I can only, once again, echo the sentiments of all of those above! Imagine the color combinations, too, especially as places like target are putting their opaque tights on sale (like pink, turquoise, or purple with a black, navy, or gray gradient). They look marvelous, and I especially love them paired with the gray shoes!
jennine…these are fabulous!! you know i love them and the outfit is perfection. nicely done!
They look so beautiful, I have to try this at the weekend!
These are great! I’ll have to give this a whirl when I get the chance to. Did you use flesh tone pantyhose for the ones on the right in your pictures?
Oh my goodness! thanks so much for your lovely comments! yeah, these were unbelievably easy to make.. and as far as the kind of pantyhose, I used both flesh and white… white shows the color better, and flesh is more subtle.
Gala Darling… thank you so much for linking this story! It’s quite an honor!
You’re a genius, i love how they came out!
I *love* the gradient tights! I can’t believe they’re that easy to make. Your’s look just as good as the ones from the fashion pic. Bravo! I’m gonna definitely try that – they’re so wonderful!
Ohh, SusieBubble just made some too. ASnd flying saucer has been working with dye. You all have me thinking this is easy – I must diy!!!
Also the outfit is amazing, you look like dessert.
WOW! Those are amazing.
Jennine!
These are fabulous. I absolutely love them.
Does the color naturally seep up? I have seen this done with vintage slips but they were never gradated like this. Bravo!
I’ll link too. Maybe I’ll even make some.
I love the resourcefullness and creativity exhibited in this! You GO!
Would you please make it possible to click through from post to post (a next/previous button maybe)? Thanks! Love looking at your styles- I’m more likely to look at more posts if I don’t have to click through the home page every time. Then I just skim over the openers.
I LOVE THIS….but i know i would make a super big mess.
mj..thanks for the input… i’ll try to work something like that into my site.
Did this stain your feet or shoes at all? Have you washed them? Just curious, since Rit is a dye for cotton fibers, and I didn’t think it’d really have any affect on nylon hose. I’d love to try this out myself!
hi diana.. my feet and shoes are not stained, and i wore white shoes all day. you can use synthetic fibers with rit, they ave a list of materials you can dye.
sweeeeeet! I am so making a mess in my bathtub this weekend. thank you!
I love this project and the results are amazing too!
Thanks for posting this tutorial! I am looking forward to trying this out for myself.
Brilliant. I am inspired to wear tights and I hate wearing tights but I just might have to try this out.
I would have thought hanging a dry pair with the toes dipping in the RIT dye for a few hours would create a gradient by the hose absorbing the dye. Does it not work that way too?
oh my god!You’re amazing. I discovered your blog today and can’t go without a comment. This ritdye thing, is it liquid or powder?And I want to write a post about your work,if you give permission.
LaCheen
Maybe a silly question – after dipping the tights up to the knee for example, do you hang the tights by the feet or by the waist? Do you want the dye to move up toward the knee or down to collect in the feet?
lacheen~i used powder, but i think liquid would work just as well…
megan… i hung mine from the waist and let the dye collect in the feet.
hope that helps!
absolutly fabulous, i did a dress but i think a pair of these would definitely replace my forever worn pvc look leggings for this season! they look so fantastic, i must try it this weekend!
will this stain the shower floor? i.e. should I put down a pan or something to catch the drips?
maybe.. if your shower is properly glazed, it shouldn’t stain.
I’m glad that your hose are better than your grammar!
I just saw this today and ran to the store… they’re now hanging in my shower! I can’t wait until they’re all done! I purchased three pairs of nude hose (I’m a chronic hose-runner) and clipped them by the waist bands onto a skirt hanger, then dipped them all at once. Oh, and I also bought a super cheap plastic drop cloth to cover my tub and collect the drips and mixed the solution in an (also cheap) aluminum roasting pan!
I wonder how tyedyed hose would look. these are too cute.
Jennine..
you did this to your skirt as well. What fabric? Did you buy or make the skirt?
I would think a longer t-shirt dress would work equally as well in the same sort of coloration.
Have you tried multi-color dying?
thanks
Stevie
hi stevie!
i think that was susie bubble who dip dyed her skirt… i’ve never done that myself!
oops! sorry about that. I jumped between you two. I love the idea
where did you get the white tights to do this?
and regular pantyhose work with this? or just opaques?
Stevie
I’m not sure how to trackback on your site… so here: http://flyingsaucer.typepad.com/flyingsaucer/2008/02/try-dye-again.html
these are AMAZING! i am dying to go buy some dye now..
What are you kidding me? This is the ugliest look I’ve seen since girls thought it would be a good idea to start dressing like they’re pregnant. NOT HOT. It looks like your legs are dying a slow death and you’re too afraid to take your doctors advice and get them amputated. Kill this trend now before you lose what’s left of your dignity. You look like a retarded munchkin from oz. I would much rather see a girl not wear tights even if she is afraid of showing her “pale” legs, whatever that means – fake tans are gross too.) Stop jumping on the fashion bandwagon and learn to think for yourself with regard to what is tasteful and attractive. Yes I understand it’s fun to dress “funky” or “crazy” but shouldn’t we restrict that to halloween parties and Cindi Lauper videos? seriously.
thanks for sharing your opinion…
but my straight boyfriend loves these tights.
perhaps you’re missing the point?
some people use dress as a form of creative expression, rather than a form of advertising one’s ‘goods’
Very cool idea! I have so much trouble finding the right tights – your article is a goddess-send.
May I ask…what is the salt for?
Cotton Tights work much better than synthetic (they hold the dye better)…also, check your grammar, you “did” them yourself, not “done” them…unless you’re Eliza Doolittle…
Nice! I’m soooo copying
These tights are exactly the thing I need to finish off my outfit for the Prom for growed up kids that I’m going to this weekend. Thanks for the inspiration!
Aster is a jerk. Who cares about her grammar? Seriously. Love the tights by the way, gonna try to do it myself this weekend! thanks
seriously.. I’m sure she said “done” instead of “did” on purpose.
hannah… you are a lot smarter than some others who left some ‘helpful’ comments…
i just thought the price of gradient tights was ridiculous being that they are so simple that, anyone, even poor grammarians, can make.
usually i don’t make comments, but I HAD TO this time, these hose are sooo friggin cute!!! My daughter and I are gonna have a blast dying together;)) i think this may be fun for her 14th b-day slumber party too, maybe a lil messy, but i bet all the girls would love it. this is a great idea, that has sparked tons of creativity within. thanks, you actually made my day;)
Currently dripping as we speak…about how long does it take before the fact it is gradient-ing shows? Mine look like thing high socks!
I’m using the Dylon Multipurpose (only one in the shop) and I used half a tin. I’ve a sneaking suspicion these will be intense vs gentle gradients a la CL show!
oh dear..
i think it’s important to rinse the tights before dip dyeing, and i tried experimenting in dipping until i got what i wanted.
The Dylon Multipurpose has to be heated, so it was a dash from stove to bathtub affair…I did rinse them first – it may be the nature of the weave didn’t encourage dye travel…who knows! The first ones I ended up double dipping – 2/3 one colour, 1/3 another (the gradient being non-existant). The next, I found hanging by the toes to let the dye run worked better, but still not quite there. If I had a spray bottle I would spritz, as I found just pouring water got the dye moving very quickly!
Conclusion – Not particularly effective with the Dylon, but still lots of mess and colourful fun.
That reminded me when I was in high school and dip-dyed my shoe laces
I forgot fashion with a touch of do-it-yourself could be so much fun! Especially when the results are indeed great!
Thanks for sharing!
I am necessary wish to find
So Maggie noted that RIT dye works better with cotton because it holds the dye better, but maybe you wouldn’t want it to hold as well so that the dye would drip down while drying to create the gradient effect? Has anyone tried this with cotton tights?
great idea! i must try this =) thanks!
do you think this could work just as well on a sweater or Tshirt as it did on the tights?
oh yes, it can work on anything as long as the fabric type works with the dye, you can find out from the box.
I just tried this and I found that with the dye I used (Dylon) I have to repeat the process for the color to be as intense as I want it. Otherwise it went well and I can’t wait to wear my new awesome pantyhose! Thanks for a great tip!
I’m a little late to the party, but I wanted you to know that a post about this is going up at diylife.com in about two and a half hours.
The only thing I figured out, is that you will have a headache after reading this unreal stuff. Nothing interesting!
i love the idea!:) thank you so much for posting this. i have a question though, what’s the salt for?:)
I didn’t think much of the idea, but your pictures are really cute. I’m going to try a long t-shirt too…would be cute.
Very well done! They came out great.
that’s awesome i’m gonna try it!
I’m really crazy about this tsumori chisato tights…
But where can I buy this tights? Maybe you know something that can help me? I’m obsessed
That purple color came out awesome! Very cute. Great job, and thanks for sharing.
The salt helps set the dye so it won’t wash out as easily.
Rit dye site with instructions for ombre dying a T-Shirt.
http://www.ritdye.com/Ombre+or+Shadow+Dyeing.37.lasso
Just FYI, looks like someone decided to present your work as their own: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/623081/diy_how_to_make_your_own_gradient_dyed.html
Hey,
If you love colour and love tights, check out http://www.lovecolour-lovetights.com
xx
Genius darling… absolutely genius! I’ve done this on all types of fabric, never thought of nylons! Definitely trying this for the holiday’s! How fun! Thanks for sharing your marvelous talents!
Brilliant!
you did them yourself….. you didnt done them
ugh. you genius you. I love you.
OH MY!! THOSE ARE EXTREMELY BEAUTIFUL. I WISH I CAN DO THIS
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Hi!
Thanks for sharing this. I’ll send my readers to your blog entry.
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Sincerely, and with thanks,
Eugene T.S. Wong
My MySpace Blog Entry Of Your Blog Entry
If people want to do this a lot, then I suggest that you buy hosiery in bulk.
Does anybody know if we can reuse the dye?
So, I know this is a relatively old post but I still LOVE these hose. I just tried my own, but the dye pretty much just dripped off, and what was left washed off when I tried to rinse. Any suggestions? What kind of hose did you use? Were they just the regular l’eggs?
[...] the past I’ve tinkered with dying tights, but these tights (in splash metallic) have a bit of impressionist/80’s abstract fabric paint [...]