CTVT tights: How do they compare to vintage?

[JediJaida]

I was looking at the Waltons galleries, and I noticed that at one time, CTVT made replicas of the tights that the female dolls came with.

Did anyone here ever buy them, and if so, how do they compare to the vintage tights?

Were they too tight, too loose, crummy stitching, cheap material, weak elastic in the waist?

I went to CTVT and they no longer have the tights available, except for the tights that come with the Merry Men outfits.

Would I be better off taking apart a pair of originals and making my own, or buying them from people like Brian and Laurie?

[garagesale]

Every pair of CTVT tights I had (bodysuits, too) were too short in the crotch and too tight around the thighs. I generally have cut the toes out and pulled them up, hoping for the best around the thighs.

Best of luck...

JamesD

[JediJaida]

Well, DM did warn me that they sold garbage, so that settles that.

I think that I will try making tights on my own. Spandex is fairly inexpensive, and basting for fit can't be too hard.

[AAAAA]

Paul Clark & Iwere talking about that at mego meet, How so tight they are that you can't move the figure and the snaps on the back either pop apart of do not close at all.

[JediJaida]

Tights are not supposed to have snaps!

Honestly, those people. It's a wonder that they stay in business.

I was considering buying a few witches hats from them, after all, they are only about a dollar. But if they are made of crapola, then I will either make my own, or ask DM for some.

As to the tights, they should be well fitted, but not so fitted that they can't be put on the figure!

I'll just have to be careful about the crotch measurement. I figure that I'll pin or tape the fabric in place first, to see how it looks, then sew it.

Then, I apply the 1/8" elastic, which is what they used for the vintage tights, sew up the back seam. (cuz you can't sew a tubular seam on something that small.) Then align the seams, and sew up one leg and down the other.

Mind you, I will be doing this by hand, with a fine needle, and the smallest stitch I can make.

I'll even seal the toe seams with seam sealant, just in case the stitches pop on me (always possible).

Does that sound feasible?

[mikeoz]

The witch hats are pretty good. Other than having white elastic straps instead of black, they are made pretty well.

[Action Martin]

Over the summer I purchased three sets of figures from CTVT: Merry Men, Mad Monsters, and Super Knights. I have had no issues with putting the Merry Men and Super Knights outfits on DM bodies, although the Merry Men tights were a little "form fitting" and the chainmail outfits were a bit loose. The CTVT bodies are crap but these outfits are very good.

The Mad Monsters on the other hand...Dracula and Mummy outfits are way too tight and small for DM and Mego bodies. Heck, the Mummy outfit is too tight for the CTVT body. The Frankenstein outfit was a better fit to a DM but a tiny bit tight. The Wolfman outfit was a perfect fit.

And when you say "tights" do you mean the leggings like on Soldier Ape, Cornelius, and the Generals? If so, then, no, CTVT does not have buttons on the tights for the Merry Men.

[JediJaida]

I mean tights as in stockings like the Waltons wore.

[Action Martin]

I never owned any of the Waltons so I can't give you a proper answer.

[Tothiro]

Tights are not supposed to have snaps!

I'll just have to be careful about the crotch measurement. I figure that I'll pin or tape the fabric in place first, to see how it looks, then sew it.

Then, I apply the 1/8" elastic, which is what they used for the vintage tights, sew up the back seam. (cuz you can't sew a tubular seam on something that small.) Then align the seams, and sew up one leg and down the other.

Does that sound feasible?

I've always had the best luck starting from a disassembled mego garment (like uhura tights for something like this) and making suitable adjustments on the patterns I copy from the actual fabric.
Get a piece of printer label sticker paper and flatten the vintage fabric against it - that makes it easy to trim down the paper until you've got an adhesive pattern template. Then you can transfer that to a heavy card stock or something if you'll be using the pattern often.

Mego always stitched their leg seams first, then the crotch - I usually stitch the front two-thirds and then add the elastic, closing the elastic ends in the seam when I finish the back side. With a close base pattern to work from you shouldn't have to guess too much (thus avoiding taping in place for fit, etc).