Not only are they warm, but they are also an important basic in your wardrobe: tights can be combined perfectly with dresses, shorts and skirts. Plain, colourful, patterned or decorated with sophisticated details, they give your outfit that certain something. But as beautiful as they are, the material is just as sensitive. Whether it's a ladder or a hole - find out here how to repair your tights.
You're sitting on a wooden chair and your tights get caught on a sharp edge, you get your ring caught, or the mishap even happens when you're putting on your tights. A ladder can happen quickly. But why is that? Tights are made of just one thread and are connected by many stitches. As soon as just one stitch gets damaged, a kind of chain reaction occurs and you have a ladder. How annoying! But don't worry, the tights don't have to go straight in the trash. Because in order to do your part by living more sustainably in everyday life, you should always try to repair things and items of clothing, including tights, before replacing them with something new.
No matter how much you paid for your tights, hardly anyone can protect themselves from ladders. That's why it's important that you know a few tricks and tips to repair a ladder in your tights or at least stop it from spreading any further. There are different ways to do this:
- Transparent nail polish: Most people probably know this tip. Press the ladder together a little, use a brush to apply some nail polish to the beginning and end of the ladder and let it dry. This will fix the hole and prevent the ladder from unraveling any further. It's also perfect for when you're on the go, because a small bottle of clear varnish will fit in a small handbag.
- Craft glue: You can achieve a similar effect with liquid craft glue. Simply apply a drop to the affected area and the ladder will be sealed.
- Hairspray: The sticky particles of hairspray can also repair a small hole in your tights and prevent the ladder from spreading any further. Gently press the hole together and then spray some hairspray over it.
The quick repair methods for tights are particularly useful when you're out and about, to avoid a bigger mess. However, this is not ideal for the final repair - known in technical jargon as "repairing". In order to properly repair the hole in the tights, you have to sew or crochet the ladder. This is not that easy, so you should practice on older tights beforehand or get help.
You will need a very fine crochet hook and a darning mushroom. Put the tights over the mushroom and crochet the ladder back step by step to sew up the remaining hole at the end.
There are ways to prevent runs so that you don't have to resort to needle and thread to repair your tights.
- Hairspray not only helps to stop the run, but also to prevent it. Spray the tights with a thin layer of hairspray before wearing them and the stitches will be much more resilient.
- Another method of strengthening the fibers is to put the tights in the freezer overnight. The cold causes the nylon fibers to contract, making them more resilient.
- It's better to buy your nylon tights a size too big than too small. The tighter the tights fit, the more the stitches stretch and the more likely they are to tear.
- You should also be gentle with your tights when washing them, as they will last longer and be less susceptible to damage. Put them in a laundry bag - this way they won't get caught on buttons or zippers - and machine wash them at a maximum of 30 degrees with Perwoll Renew Wool Liquid or clean them by hand.
- Wear cotton gloves when putting them on so that you don't accidentally get a ring or fingernail caught in a stitch.
- Avoid rough floors or seats. Individual stitches can quickly get caught there, and you end up with a big ladder. So wear slippers or socks over your tights indoors and make sure that they don't come into contact with the seat when you sit down.