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How To Turn Old Ballet Tights Into A DIY Dance Top

How To Turn Old Ballet Tights Into A DIY Dance Top

By Gwendolen Nelson on 7th Jul 2025

Hello fellow ballet dancer! Are you also familiar with that disappointing feeling when your favourite dance tights get a hole, start to ladder (why is it always at the heel?!), or just start looking a bit tired? Don’t worry, they still have life yet so don’t throw them away! I’ve got a fun, budget-friendly hack that’ll save your tights and give your dancewear a little glow-up.

Whether you're 12, 32, or somewhere in between, this DIY ballet top tutorial is super easy and repurposes your old or laddered tights into a cute, custom layer you can wear over or under your leotard - perfect for class, warm-ups, or just adding a bit of fun to your outfit. So, are you ready to upcycle your tights? Stick around to the end because the part you’d usually think to throw away, I have a bonus tip for you! You can use an old pair you’ve grown out of or grab some affordable practice tights here, especially if you want to test it out before cutting into your favourites!

What You’ll Need:

  • A pair of old or laddered ballet tights
  • Sharp scissors
  • A clean space to work
  • Your favourite leotard to style with

Step 1: Cut the Gusset

Carefully cut out the gusset (that little diamond-shaped bit between the legs). This will become your neckline, so don’t cut too much! The fabric stretches quite a bit, so a smaller hole works better. This little trick is at the heart of this whole ballet tights hack, and it’s the first step in creating your own custom dance top (you’re going to become addicted to this!)

Step 2: Choose Your Sleeve Length

Decide how long you want your sleeves. If you want long sleeves, cut closer to the feet of the tights. If you’d prefer a short or cap sleeve look, cut nearer the gusset. The waistband becomes the bottom of your new top, and the neckline is the hole you just made. It’s such a simple way to upcycle ballet tights into something you’ll love wearing in the studio. If you want to play with different colours or textures try using a mix of colour, black, or even mesh ballet tights to create completely different looks. I love these soft studio mesh ones by Capezio.

Step 3: Cut Off the Feet

Fold the tights in half so your cuts stay even for both sides (the arms) and then snip off the feet but don’t bin them! Those little foot pieces make the perfect ballet socks for class, especially when you don’t feel like wearing full tights with your pointe shoes or ballet flats.

Voila!

Why You’ll Love This DIY Dancewear Idea

Not only is this a fun and easy DIY dancewear tutorial, it’s also practical and eco-friendly:

  • No more waste!
  • Budget-friendly dancewear layers (save your money for leotards and shoes)
  • Customisable - crop it, layer it, make it you
  • Perfect for ballet class outfits or auditions

It’s one of those creative style ideas that you’ll actually use, and it couldn’t be simpler. Plus, it's a cute way to show off your personality in the studio while staying comfy and warm.

After you’ve done this once, you’ll never look at old tights the same way again. It’s such an easy, fun way to refresh your dancewear without extra spending plus it’s a great excuse to give your wardrobe a refresh.

If you're in need of a fresh pair (either to wear or to experiment with), Move Dancewear have a brilliant range of tights that work perfectly for this DIY. Here are a few of my favs:

All of them are comfy, dancer-approved, and great value so whether you're cutting, cropping, or just treating yourself to a new pair of dance tights, you're sorted. Enjoy having a browse, pick your pair, and let your creativity do the rest! Do tag me on Instagram @gwendolennelson or share a photo - I’d love to see how your tights-to-top transformation turns out.

Gwen x
MovementByGwendolen.com

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