How to Knit Girls Tights
Finding warm and cozy tights for girls is a challenge. While knitting girls' tights will not be a quick project, an experienced knitter can make comfortable, well-fitting and very warm tights. Tights are knitted from the waistband toward the toes, but with simple changes can also be made footless. Adjust the size and gauge as desired for your yarn, climate and preferences.
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Things You'll Need
- Fingering-weight superwash wool
- Double-point knitting needles
- Tape measure
Instructions
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How to Knit Girls Tights
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1
Knit a 4-by-4-inch gauge swatch. Hand wash your swatch and dry flat. Measure the stitch and row gauge, aiming for 32 stitches and 40 rows over 4 inches. Adjust needle size if necessary to correct gauge.
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2
Measure the baby or child around the waist and hip. Determine the necessary length for both, as well as the rise measurement from the front center of the waist, through the legs, and up to the back center of the waist. Note down each of these measurements.
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3
Multiply the waist measurement by eight to figure the total number of stitches to cast on to your double point needles. Do the same to the hip measurement, especially if you are making knitted tights for a child in diapers.
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4
Cast on the correct number of stitches for your desired waist measurement. Work in knit two, purl two ribbing for approximately 1 to 2 inches. Increase evenly to the necessary stitch count for the hips. Continue knitting in the round, until the total length from one side of the waistband is equal to the desired rise measurement.
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5
Mark the center of the front and back of your knitted tights. Place the stitches to one side of these markers onto waste yarn. Knit in the round on the remaining stitches to form one leg of your tights.
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6
Divide the stitches so that half of the stitches are on one needle. Work back and forth to create a heel flap. Pick up stitches along the sides of the heel flap, then decrease to form a gusset. Knit the foot in the round until approximately 1 inch before the end of the toe. Decrease along each side to form the toe and Kitchener stitch the toe closed.
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7
Repeat these steps for the second leg and foot. Weave in all ends to finish your hand knit tights.
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Tips & Warnings
Adjust gauge to use a heavier or warmer yarn.
Use a regular, non-washable wool if you plan to use hand knit tights over a cloth diaper instead of a soaker.
