If you’re interested in a runDisney race, or another running event that you’re making a costume for, you might want to paint your (affiliate link) running calf sleeves. (For those that don’t know, these little babies are sleeves that slide onto your calves, like foot-less socks. They compress your muscles and lessen soreness the next day. They really work!!) The painting can be done easily, and for very cheap! (I had all my materials from previous projects, so this was free for me!) I’ve met several people that don’t want to alter their sleeves that they already paid $30 for, but since I’m a costume designer, I want to have all elements of the character’s dress present in the costume, but made of running-friendly materials. Since Vanellope VonSchweetz’s tights are a prominent part of her get-up, I simply had to paint my calf sleeves. You can buy the perfect Vanellope Mint Compression sleeves here.
First of all, make sure you know which part of your sleeve is the “front”. Zensah’s logo is centered over a little design in their sleeves, showing you which way to wear them for correct compression. If your design is an all-over one, you can disregard this step.
Slip your running sleeves over a long, tubular shape. It needs to be rather large, or the size of the fattest part of your calf. I have pretty slim legs, so I used a Lysol spray can. It was the perfect height, although I considered stopping by my hardware store and picking up some PVC piping. Make sure the object that you choose is ok to get paint all over and is safe to use. I folded the bottom hem of the Zensah sleeve under the can since I didn’t care to paint that portion.
After the sleeve was positioned, I used white gaff tape to tape off the portion of my sleeve I didn’t want painted. If you are doing a freehand design, such as flames, you may want to try some sticky vinyl from a Cricut or Silhouette. Please be aware that regular masking tape or painter’s tape may not stick to your sleeve. Gaff worked perfectly! (I’m also a theatre person, so gaff is readily available at all times). One leg has a spiral white stripe, and the other a horizontal, thick white stripe with a purple accent.
Blobbing the paint onto the compression sleeve is the best way to go about it. The valleys in the sleeve make it difficult to paint completely unless you really slather on the paint. Also, since the sleeve is designed to wick, be prepared to dab on lots more paint than you anticipated. It gets sucked up over the drying process and more than one coat may be needed. I used white acrylic craft paint suitable for fabric. Post run, the sleeves were hand-washed and line dried. The design was perfectly retained.
Allow the paint to dry COMPLETELY. It took about 1 hour to complete each running calf sleeve. I removed the tape once the sleeves were dry. You will notice that the painted portion of the sleeves keeps the “large” width of the tube, while the rest of the sleeve compresses back into shape. Slip on your sleeve to make sure it fits correctly, breaking a portion of the paint seal if needed. Touch up as you see fit. In my case, the paint didn’t crack at all and was just as comfortable as if the sleeves shipped pre-printed.
As far as the finished design goes, the complete costume was a hit! I had several people give me high fives from the “chEAR” section of the race, and that absolutely made my day. If you create a Vanellope costume, I’d love to see it! Follow my Pinterest board for more runDisney ideas!
You make it look so easy, but I am certain I would find a way to totally mess it up 🙂
you did a great job recreating her costume!! one day i will do a run disney race too
How cute are those! I’ve always ordered my Running socks, never thought to paint them myself!
Oh cool. Love that you were able to give your running socks some personality. They came out great.
How fun!! I will remember this for sure!! Pinning!
What a cute outfit! I am determined one day to do a Disney race, though we are in Ohio. Sounds like you had fun – and the socks look great!
SO clever! You had such a cute outfit!
I would love to run a Disney race one day. You made such a cute costume too!
That looks so fun! I’d walk the race…if that’s allowed.
Thanks for the pin!! If you have questions when you’re working on it, just ask!
You can totally walk it. You need to be faster than 15 min/mile in order to finish before the Balloon Lady!
Definitely cool! You did a great job! Running in a Disney race would be too much fun!
That couldn’t be more perfect for a Disney run. You are so creative!
Awww! Those turned out really cool! That’s a great way to customize your socks! You look adorable!
Amazing the before and after are so different. I could not tell they are the same.
I had no idea painting running calf sleeves would be so easy! I don’t own a pair (yet) but this would be a cool way to make them unique for sure.
These are super cute. I may have to try these just for my runs around here. I like to have fun with fashion.
How fun!! I am so not crafty but fun stuff like this does inspire me.
Your costume was just adorable!! Now you can be all set for Halloween too!
Thank you! Vanellope was actually my costume last Halloween – it’s where I took my inspiration for the running costume!
Those came out really cute! That’s a great running costume!
Such a cute and adorable costume. You are very creative and talented. I just discovered a new use for socks 🙂
Very cute running outfit. I love to see all the costumes people are running in at the Disney events, though sometimes I do not see how they can seriously run in some of them
Well aren’t those just the cutest thing ever?! Thanks for sharing this awesome idea!
How creative! I Didn’t even know you could do that.
How creative – I thought they came that way. You did a GREAT job!
Great tips and I love the costume! Going to follow your Disney board now!
Wow you made that look really easy. I love the designs you did 🙂
ummmm, what are running sleeves ? i love your costume too.
Who knew it took such creativity to make those fun looking sleeves. Love them on you. BTW, Disqus keeps spinning and spinning and I keep having to come back to try to comment.
These are so cute and creative! I am not a runner but I would have to do something crafty to make my outfit really fit my personality.
What a cute idea. I don’t think I have ever heard of running sleeves though.
I have no idea what running sleeves are, but they’re cute.
Great idea, love this.
Painting Destinations in India
What a fun post! Might do this to my sleeves
This is such a great idea! Compression socks can be soooo boring! Love it. Definitely on the to-do list for next weekend 🙂
Thanks so much! This is by far the easiest method I’ve tried. Make sure you’ve got a big enough “can” inside the sleeve when you paint so it’s not too crunchy on your calf. Cheers to a great run!
Oh, that’s really cute. Thanks for the idea! I’ll definitely try it as I also want not just feel good, but look good, too.
Thanks, Melissa! You won’t regret the decorations… they add so much to a running costume!