DIY Knee Pads
Knee pads for gardening, sports, cycling, skating or skateboarding can be expensive investments that are often outgrown in a matter of months. Make your own knee pads from a compression stocking and foam. You can often find secondhand compression stockings at resale stores, further decreasing the cost of the knee pads. Creative kids can decorate the exterior of the knee pads with permanent color markers for added flair. One pair of knee-length compression stockings will yield two knee pads.
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Things You'll Need
- 2 opaque or solid color compression stocking (at least knee-length)
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Straight pins
- 2 foam or sponge rectangles, 9-by-6-inch width by 2-inch depth
- 2 spandex fabric rectangles, 13-by-10-inch width
- Glue gun
- High-performance fabric glue sticks
Instructions
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1
Lay the two compression stockings flat on a table. From the top cuff, measure down 15-inches and cut horizontally across the stocking. Discard the foot and stocking remnants.
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2
Turn the 15-inch sections of stocking inside-out. Turn the top and bottom edge over 1 inch against the wrong side of the stocking. Pin the folds.
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3
Sew the pinned folds on the top and bottom edge of each 15-inch stocking section, using a 1-inch seam allowance and a straight stitch to hem. Remove pins. Leave the hemmed stocking sections inside-out.
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4
Lay two spandex fabric rectangles on a table with the right side of the fabric touching the table and the wrong side of the fabric facing you. Center a sponge/foam rectangle on top of each spandex rectangle.
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5
Use a glue gun loaded with high-performance fabric glue sticks to glue the spandex fabric rectangle onto the foam/sponge rectangles by folding the fabric edges over and onto the back of the foam/sponge. The spandex should be snug and smooth on the unglued side (touching the tabletop) as this part of the fabric-covered pad will touch your knee. Don't pull the spandex so tight that the pad curls. According to Glu-Stix, high-performance glue sticks adhere to fabrics, creating strong, permanent bonds. Because they melt at a very high temperature, they are safe to use in the washing machine and most clothes dryers.
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6
Cut away any access fabric from the glued side of the spandex/foam pad, if necessary.
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7
Lay the hemmed stocking sections from Steps 1 through 3 on the table in front of you. Center the glued side of a spandex-covered pad over the center of a hemmed stocking section.
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8
Glue the previously glued/folded side of the spandex-covered pad onto the fabric of the hemmed stocking section. Allow glue to dry. Turn knee pad right-side out. The smooth side of the spandex-covered pad will touch your knee. Slip the knee pad over your foot and tug into position over your knee.
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Tips & Warnings
The method of washing and drying your knee pads depends primarily on the care instructions of the brand/type of compression stocking you used to make the knee pad. According to Bright Life Direct, you can wash and dry premium compression stockings in your washing machine and clothes dryer. Inexpensive stockings must be hand-washed and hung to dry.
References
- Photo Credit footballeur 14 image by Nathalie P from Fotolia.com
