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How to… make an Octopus out of Kids’ Tights

22 April 2011 39 Comments

Oh hello hello hello! I am sooo pleased about today’s How To… it again, has been brewing for quite a few months now, whilst I figured out “how to” actually do it: 4 pairs of tights converted into a cuddly Octopus toy!! And the best thing about it, is that it is practically no sew.. you will have to sew a little, but really, not very much at all!

And now it is all ready for the Water Get Crafty – a carnival of water related craft ideas for children and adults!

***and from the comments: this would make a perfect baby shower gift too.. simply “don’t” do any cutting (and add the head on inside out – like when you fold socks together) or the sewing and use white label stickers to stick on some eyes! Then it can easily be taken apart again for baby! Love that idea!! ***

So… let’s get to it!!

All you need is:

  • 4 pairs of old, but still nice tights. The younger the child, the better, you don’t want an enormous Octopus!
  • Toy stuffing
  • Some thread
  • Some felt for the eyes

We had a set of 4 stripe tights. They were so lovely I didn’t want to part with them!

Stuff all the “legs” half way – to about the knee, not too much more.

The one “clever” bit of this octopus, is getting all the parts of the tights facing the same way. The head is made the same when you roll up a pair of socks, the top part of the tights folding over the the tights legs. However if you do this, the head would be “inside out”. So what you have to do, is stick the legs through the top by cutting a smallish hole.

If I haven’t explained this very well, please let me know!

Then you simply take the remaining 3 pairs and “stuff them” into the pair that becomes the head and add extra stuffing. The green you can see on the top is the hole you created to push the legs through.

I am a lazy so and so and only sewed the bottom of the Octopus’s neck to the legs. This is an opportunity to position the legs – alternate the colours and make the toes point outwards. You can sew up the “hole” at the top of the head too – which was created when you pushed the two blue legs through. But I find it’s ok as it is. Same goes for the “underneath”. You can “tidy it up” and sew it all together. I didn’t, but I may tomorrow if Red Ted hands it over to me for long enough!  I then sewed some eyes on.

I toyed with a mouth, but decided against it in the end.

Already much loved!

Looking for blog reading inspiration? I love:

Thinly Spread – crafts, recipes & gardening.  Me  and My Shadow – for crafts, “stuff” and Magpie Monday. Best Toddler Toys – for inexpensive and fun kids crafts. White Lily Green - for adult craftiness. The Heads Office – for Teacher Resources. Playing By The Book – the best kitdlit blog and craft resources. Sunhats & Wellieboots- for fabulously original kids crafts. The Imagination Tree - for lovely and wonderful kids crafts & ideas. Quirky Momma – for her fun learning activities for kids. Babybudgeting – for tips on keep family living costs down.

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39 Comments »

  • Nicki Cawood said:

    How brilliant!! When you said you were stuffing your tights I was somewhat concerned as you know! This is lovely though, I might even have a stab at it myself, Kieran is a big Octonauts fans!

    # 22 April 2011 at 6:09 am
  • Red Ted Art (author) said:

    Aaah thank you for lovely comment Nicki!! Red Ted has had it in bed since I made it. No getting it back for final sewing!! And you will love Water Get Crafty coming on 1 May – there WILL be more Octopuses!!!

    # 22 April 2011 at 6:42 am
  • Michelle Willow said:

    This is totally awesome Maggy! Love it! Now, have to find some old tights and something to stuff them with! :)

    # 22 April 2011 at 7:50 am
  • Sharon W said:

    Very cute and Really clever! But what about Pip Squeak? She donated her tights and then didn’t get the octopus!! Sx

    # 22 April 2011 at 8:01 am
  • Red Ted Art (author) said:

    Hahaha Sharon – these tights were originally Red Ted’s!!! Pip wore them only briefly, before I saved them from hols to make the Octopus!! But a VERY good point made… and Michelle, thank you :-)

    # 22 April 2011 at 8:29 am
  • Becky said:

    Super and I am definately going to have a go!

    # 22 April 2011 at 8:37 am
  • Su-sieee! Mac said:

    Brilliantly brilliant! I can do this. Now, to keep my eyes open for some tights.

    # 22 April 2011 at 10:12 am
  • Sharon W said:

    I stand corrected! You reclaim your tights Red Ted! Sx

    # 22 April 2011 at 11:11 am
  • Kerri said:

    Oh my goodness! This is magnificent!! I am clearing out E’s drawers and we have a ton of tights! I love all the colors too! What a super idea!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Kerri

    # 22 April 2011 at 11:41 am
  • Laura@art4littlehands said:

    Love it! Especially that you don’t have to sew it much.

    # 22 April 2011 at 1:47 pm
  • Natalie rOBERTS said:

    What a brilliant idea. I have lots of tights that are to small for my daughter. I’m going to give this a go next week. Thanks

    # 22 April 2011 at 2:42 pm
  • maryanne said:

    Brilliant! What a fun use of old tights!

    # 22 April 2011 at 5:37 pm
  • Liz Burton said:

    I adore him!

    Not sure I understood it fully, but will read it again when I’m less tired/sun-strokey/afternoon wined :0)

    Thanks for the mention in your recommendations – very touched xx

    # 22 April 2011 at 7:37 pm
  • Red Ted Art (author) said:

    Give me a shout if you have problems.. it’s very easy, just weird to explain… :-(

    # 22 April 2011 at 8:05 pm
  • Ali said:

    This look so cute and with our name I need to find tights :) !!!

    # 22 April 2011 at 8:08 pm
  • Elizabeth 'Mommatwotweets' said:

    This is GORGEOUS – great idea, wish I had a girl and tights so I could copy!

    # 22 April 2011 at 8:20 pm
  • Kanesha said:

    How fun is this!
    My mom is visiting and I think this would be fun for us to do.

    # 23 April 2011 at 4:04 am
  • 4little1s said:

    What a great idea, finally a goo use for all our old bubble wrap !

    # 23 April 2011 at 6:47 am
  • Red Ted Art (author) said:

    Definitely a great way to recycle bubble wrap!!! Uses quite a lot too!

    # 23 April 2011 at 10:22 am
  • Rachel said:

    aaaah! I love it! what a clever way to reuse old tights!

    # 23 April 2011 at 8:57 pm
  • wendy @kikicomp said:

    I love it! am off to clear my little girls tights on – am terrible at getting rid of their clothes so have loads of her cure little baby tights – mind you I dont think it will be as good as your stripey one

    # 24 April 2011 at 7:54 pm
  • Red Ted Art (author) said:

    Maybe you have some spotty ones? That would look FAB too!

    # 24 April 2011 at 8:02 pm
  • Erin @ Making Memories said:

    Oh my gosh! This is so stinkin’ cute! LOVE it!!!

    # 25 April 2011 at 5:00 pm
  • angie said:

    How adorable love this idea a way to reuse

    # 26 April 2011 at 6:26 pm
  • Sarah said:

    That is fabulous!!! I have to make one!!! It would be fun for a gift too!!! Thanks for sharing.

    # 26 April 2011 at 11:08 pm
  • Sylvie Créative said:

    Great idea and octopus! Thanks!

    # 27 April 2011 at 12:01 pm
  • Lindy@ItsyBitsyPaper said:

    Ok, seriously that is Brilliant! I love it–what a great baby gift too.

    http://www.itsybitsypaperblog.com

    # 27 April 2011 at 2:41 pm
  • Red Ted Art (author) said:

    Oooh good idea!! great for a baby shower – because you only have to do the sewing bit to secure it from busy little hands.. but if you want to underdo it, you just don’t sew in place. Perfect baby shower idea! LOVE!

    # 27 April 2011 at 3:33 pm
  • Holiday Snob said:

    Love it! What a fun idea! Stopping by from Marvelously Messy link party!

    # 27 April 2011 at 5:17 pm
  • Debbie said:

    Very Cute! come and join our party: http://fabricbowsandmore.blogspot.com/

    # 28 April 2011 at 1:31 am
  • Missdaisy said:

    Oh how fab hes wonderful :)

    # 28 April 2011 at 2:45 pm
  • @mummiafelice said:

    Absolutely LOVE this! And I can probably make it in a few months as DD has Loads of tights yay!!

    # 28 April 2011 at 8:23 pm
  • Jennifer said:

    Wow! So cute and creative! I love undersea creatures.

    # 28 April 2011 at 10:26 pm
  • Danielle said:

    I just wanted to let you know I was featuring this over at Blissful & Domestic today. Stop by and Grab a button:>

    # 29 April 2011 at 4:30 am
  • Red Ted Art (author) said:

    Ahhh thank you Danielle, I will pop by for the button!

    # 29 April 2011 at 6:38 am
  • Becky said:

    So adorable–Thanks for sharing at Beyond the Picket Fence.

    # 29 April 2011 at 3:06 pm
  • nicolette @ momnivores dilemma said:

    That would even be great with old socks {since I am in a frat house with no daughters}

    Thanks for linking up at Creative Juice. Hope to see you back tonight! Red Ted Art always has such great ideas…

    # 5 May 2011 at 12:20 am
  • Rashmie @MommyLabs said:

    This is such a brilliant idea. My daughter will love it…
    We have to make! :)

    # 7 May 2011 at 11:43 am
  • Red Ted Art's Blog » Blog Archive » How to.. make a Sock Monkey said:

    [...] them for the sock monkey! So. I hugely encourage you to recycle, but use nice stuff! Check out our Tights Octopus for other tight [...]

    # 30 September 2011 at 4:28 am

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