I just wanted to start a thread for us to list out the crafty, creative, (and cheaper!) ways that we have found to get around some of our skating challenges.

For example:

I've been having a lot of trouble adapting to using standard elbow pads (I tried the volleyball ones, but they just didn't work for me-- to get ones that were small enough to stay on my arms, I would lose a lot of the bend in my elbow, and larger ones would just rotate and not protect my arm during falls), and was wishing that I could have some pads similar to the gel knee pads that I've been using.

So, I have a pair of gel hip pads that I bought but rarely use now because I'm good enough to avoid falling on my hips hard for little things and not good enough to do anything that would make me fall on my hips hard (does that make sense?)... and I went to Target and bought a pair of little girls' spandex/lycra tights in the smallest size. I cut the tights to create two tubes that fit over my arms and hold the hip pads in place (and just add fuel to the "skating goth/punk" look * ). The hip pads are a bit too big, so I'm going to be looking at other (cheap) options, like falsies or gel insoles or dance pads, but for now, they definitely do the job, look streamlined under a jacket, and let my arms bend.

Another thing that I've done is turn all of my footed tights into toeless or convertible tights (like my good ol' trusty dance tights) by chopping off the front two inches of the foot on the tight- because I like to be able to just roll the tights above my ankle when I'm not skating to give my toes some wiggle room.

So, do any of you have any crafty solutions to share?

I knit boot covers and will happily pass on my pattern to anybody who asks - send me an e-mail or pm if you want a copy. And one can make one's own soakers and/or skate bags (I don't mean carrying bags, but the individual bags to keep your skates separate and away from the damp wiper!).

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Buy a hand-towel and stitch up the sides. It makes a great single-boot bag. Make two and you don't need soakers any more. I double-up the bottom, so it's thicker.

I make a pair of these, toss in a matching washcloth to use as a skate rag with an iron-on initial (from the craft store) for a nice gift. (The iron-on is better on the bag than the rag - the bag gets washed less.)

You can add fasteners to close them or keep them together. A friend used to sew them together and add a kid's belt to make a saddle bag.

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I cut the cuffs off old socks to put around my ankles. I also use then to put around water bottles to spot them on the boards. I also use small tote type mesh kids purses to put all my stuff in to take to the boards. It keeps my crash pads cd's, lip balm and is see through for easy spotting.

I paint tissue silver cover packs so I also know which tissues are mine.

I've painted tracings of edges and moves patterns on skating shirts.

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

when you want cheap tights- at about mid-spring, go to your local department store- Dillards or whatever. Pay attention in the hoisery department because sometimer sthey will have sales of 75% off plus additional 50% and stuff like that. They usually put the thick winter tights on sale and the feel just like real good skating tights, but usually come out to costing $2 or less. Good solution if you use skating tights alot and go through too many $15 pairs.

How about trying youth football elbow pads?

I feel very uncrafty. I never thought about making my own soakers, I just take them from my dad's friends son who plays hockey and has tons of them lying around. to all of you crafty sorts.

I make my own soakers and am currently experimenting in making my own costumes and skating skirts to keep the cost down.

Can I ask what the cut up scks do for your ankels, or are supposed to do?

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Also, put a narrow hem or casing at the top and put in some elastic, to keep the bag over the top of your boots.

I do use a soaker inside my bag - one friend makes matching sets of bags, soakers, and wipers - the soakers match the boots, and are lined with the same coloured towelling as the wipers are made from.

I'm experimenting with lined knitted soakers - but I'm not yet prepared to share the pattern for that, it's not got to that stage.

And, as many of you know, I make my own soap and body scrubs which I throw on the ice for people.

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Mercedes - they provide a little protection from the top of the boot of new skates. I used these before the gel tubes were out.

Mrs. R - I'd love to see your knitted boot covers - what a great idea!

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

I also make my own dresses, pants and stuff (when I have the time). Also, when my rink closes for the season, they usually toss the stuff in the lost and found....so I ask to "browse" around and can find gloves, soakers, blade guards, etc. that get a really good washing and they are ready for my skate bag for the next year. That way I can give them to someone that needs them (I'm the rink mom).

I'm also the one that grabs up the gloves that are 4/25 cents at the end of the season.....but my stores never have good sales on tights or leggings

Love these ideas, esp. the one for keeping the pads in place for your elbow!

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

I forgot to mention...lots of people at my rink use the little carry-alls from the dollar store for their stuff at the boards...the plastic ones? They come in all sizes and colors and they are really handy for your water bottle, tissues, cd's gloves, etc. Most decorate theirs with stickers and stuff. Really cute idea!!

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

My daughter likes to wear 2 pairs of tights (cold rink).
She wears a regular footed pair, and then another footless pair on top.
I got tired of buying sooooo many pairs of tights all the time, so now when the footed pair gets holes I cut them off at the ankle and stitch some elastic around the bottom, and she has another footless pair to wear on top. (I tried darning the holes, but she complained about the feel of them)

A lot of the skaters at my rink do the same. During club skating you see them aaaall lined up on the boards. Inside them they even have a little cup thingy for dirty tissues to empty out when the session is done. That way they aren't leaving them lying around. ewww. (some rinks provide trash cans in the hockey boxes, but for whatever reason, ours doesn't... )

I make my own practice dresses and some of my costumes.. but I'm not sure I save money doing it. I LOVE fabric stores and trying different kinds of fabric for skirts so I end up with more skirts/dresses, which I don't REALLY NEED, so the cost probably works out to about the same.

I cut up a mouse pad to use as a knee pad under tights for a program that required me to finish by plopping down on one knee. Maybe that would work for elbows?

I also used a cut up mouse pad to cushion the ball of my foot after surgery a few years ago. Unfortunately my foot's too long or I'd use the mouse pads instead of Dr. Scholl's inside my skates.

One of the kids at the rink uses a mouse pad in her tights as a tailbone cushion.

Handy things, mouse pads - and cheap - or free if you don't mind the ones with ads on them.

When I sewed for my own skating, I did the same thing. Now that I make outfits for my kids, I've learned to watch for sales and stock up on stuff. One year, I found that Joann's had lycra on sale, so I bought 8 yards of the flesh-colored lycra. I made a bodysuit for a particularly revealing costume, and I also used it as lining in the bodice and crotch of a few dresses. Still have a few yards left!

For the first "competition" dress I made, I bought sew-on rhinestones and appliques in midtown Manhattan. (I worked nearby) I remember they were very expensive at the time. I wore it many times, my oldest daughter considered it her "backup" dress and the twins used it for dressup games. When it finally bit the dust last year, I cut off all of the rhinestones and saved them. They're still beautiful - I just have to find the right use for them.

Here's a question for our seamstresses - I have a length of non-stretchy fabric. It's like a satin, with some glitter on it. I'd like to use it as the skirt of a skating dress. The body of the dress would be lycra or stretch velvet. All my patterns are designed for two-way stretch fabric, which I assume includes the set-in skirt.

Are there any adjustments I'd need to make to the pattern so the seams don't rip?

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Hi,
I'm getting a sewing machine and looking at the brother 6000i. Does anyone have experience with this machine?

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

ISK8NYC - I use non-stretchy fabric for the skirt part on a lot of the skating dresses I have made for myself and my granddaughter, and the dance dresses I have made for my other granddaughter. If you curve the crosswise seam, the non-stretchiness of the satin/tulle/chiffon/georgette.... is not usually a problem. You don't really need a lot of curve. It works well as long as the centre front and back are at least one inch further below your waist than at the side seams. Creates a nice 'line' too.

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I like that 'line' and it is built-into the pattern, so that's a good solution. Thanks.

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Skirt and sleeves don't need to be stretchy - well, sleeves do if they are tight, but if they are loose sleeves they don't need to be. My old green dress had a chiffon skirt and sleeves, and a stretch velvet body:

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Pretty!
I cut up garden kneeling pads for my crash pads. I've broken the gel ones!

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

That's the real trick...i know from using chiffon and fabrics like that there will be some separation of the seam especially when stressed and over time. You can make sure that there is sufficient fabric for ease and then some (not enough to make it noticeably baggy but you don't want it really tight). I would stitch the seams again in the seamline with a regular machine stitch even if you overlock.
so it would look like this:

_________________seam-edge of fabric
--------------------stitched by machine with regular stitches
--------------------
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ overlock edge with 3 or 4 threads

For the vertical seams, you could use regular lapped, or french seams, or small serged seams depending on how thick the fabric is; I would experiment with it and see what looks the best.

Someone else might have other suggestions...if you have extra fabric it's worth a little experimentation & playing with it (i.e. tugging) to see what works.

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

When I have old pairs of tights that have lost their elasticity at the top (or are full of holes), then I cut off from about the knee down. I save the feet/leg parts to wear on my feet if I'm wearing footless tights over my skates.

If I have a very holey pair of tights that still has a good waistband, I cut off the waistband (sometimes I have skirts that I wear at work that need a little extra to keep them up but are hard to alter because of how they're constructed).

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