Two-Color Leggings Tutorial!

I've been meaning to make these for so long!

A long time ago I was drooling on a Mini Boden catalog and they were displaying their tights one leg at a time and I thought: "wouldn't it be fun if each leg were different??". That kind of whimsy appeals to me because it just reminds me of how kids are. Paige doesn't care if her clothes match, as long as they are the ones that make her happy. She doesn't sit in front of her closet thinking: "What would Sarah and Lexi think if I wore stripes with polka dots??". Kids=humans before peer pressure. I adore them, guys. Kids make me so happy.

Anyway. Leggings. I finally sewed some last night after the bean went to bed and they turned out just as cute as I'd hoped! And it was love at first sight when Paige saw them in the morning. "Oh, Mom! Those are crazy legs!!" She wanted to wear them all day, so that's a good sign.

(little bum!!)

My only regret? Using the wrong size of leggings as a pattern. Arg. It turns out, when you leave leggings in the "to-do" pile for months, they get too small. Lesson learned. So they turned out a little small, but oh well. She can still wear them for a while.

Are you ready to make some? Let's do this.

Fold a pair of leggings (that fit!) in half and lay them on the fold of a stretchy knit fabric. Cut around them as pictured and then trace that piece onto another fabric for your second leg.

Fold each leg piece over itself with the right sides facing each other. Pin just up to the pointy part and sew.

Pin the tops together with the crotch seams matching up. Sew, leaving the top open. 

Fold over the top edge...

Then fold over your elastic and pin casing in place.

Sew close to the edge, stretching the fabric as you go, leaving a 1'' hole to insert your elastic. 

Overlap the ends of elastic 1/2'' and zigzag together. Tuck into the casing and sew the hole closed. 

Then you just need to hem up your little leggies. Again, be sure to stretch the fabric as you sew if you use a straight stitch. Or you can use a zigzag. If you have a double needle, now would be a great time to use it, too! I need to get me one of those babies.

And yes, sometimes I let her watch Shirley Temple music videos on the phone while I get the camera set up. Win-win. :o) Paige is a huge Shirley fan, she was heartbroken when she found out that she wasn't alive anymore. (UPDATE: Apparently, Shirley Temple is still alive. What on earth?! I know I read in the newspaper that she died when I was younger. Maybe it was someone else??)

Wouldn't these be cute in solid colors?? I didn't have any solid knits, but they're easy enough to find if you have a fabric store in your town. And if your pumpkin is small enough, you could even use t-shirts for your fabric! I bet you could find all sorts of unique prints and patterns.

Have fun!!

Love,

Disney