DIY Baby Leggings Tutorial

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Leggings are a staple for my babies that I can never seem to have enough of. I love making leggings for my littles because they are SO quick and easy and it’s a good excuse to buy fabric online! I make and sell baby/toddler leggings that I create in my Etsy shop here, but if you’re a sewer or diyer, I wanted to create a simple (hopefully!) tutorial on how you can make your own! So let’s start some simple DIY baby leggings!

I bought this beautiful Cloud 9 knit fabric from fabric.com. One of my favorite places to find pretty knits! You can find the flamingos here. 🙂

 

Gather your supplies:

• plain printer paper
• tape
• a pair of leggings that fit your baby perfectly
• adorable knit fabric of your choice ( I love cotton/spandex or lycra blends)
• 3/4″ braided elastic (or something similar) – Click here to buy on Amazon
• scissors
• measuring tape
• pen
• double needle (optional)
• serger or sewing machine

Make your pattern:

First things first. We need to make a pattern so you can create 20 pairs of leggings immediately because I know you’re gonna be hooked!

• Grab 2-3 pieces of printer paper and tape them together. I made size 2t leggings and it took 3 pieces of standard printer paper to have enough length for the full pattern.
• Fold your sample leggings down the middle and place them right at the edge of the taped pieces of paper.
• Trace around your leggings leaving about a quarter inch as a seam allowance.
• Trace 4 inches beyond the bottom of your leggings to create a cuff.
• Measure 4 inches from the bottom of your legging and draw a line straight across. This will be where you cut your cuff.
• Trace 2 inches beyond the top/waist band of your leggings to leave room for the elastic waistband.
• Cut out your pattern! Be sure to label your pattern!

Cut out your pieces:

• Fold your fabric and place the edge of your pattern at the fold.
• Cut our your first piece
• Do it again and create your second piece. You should have two identical pieces when you’re done.
• Place your pattern pieces on top of one another, fold your pattern up at the marked cuff line and cut your cuffs

Sew them together!:

I have a Brother serger which makes nice, professional looking seams BUT I have made leggings for personal use using my regular old sewing machine. Just be sure to use a stretch stitch, like a zigzag, to be sure the seams allow for a good amount of stretch.

• Lay your two pieces with right sides together as shown in the picture. Stitch up both sides as shown by the red line.
• Open up the pieces you just stitched and lay those seams together. Stitch up the around the inner legs and crotch as shown in the picture.
• Turn the leggings right side out.
• Grab your two cuff pieces. With right sides together, stitch along the edge of each cuff. Turn the cuff around so right side is facing out.
• Fold one cuff in half with right sides facing out. Line up the raw edges of one cuff with the raw edges of one leg. Stitch around the cuff and leg being sure to catch all three layers. Keep in mind that you’ll want the pattern on the cuff to be right side up once sewn on.

 

• Once your cuffs are on, lay your leggings down flat, trouser style (like how they fold them at the store, lol). I don’t know if that’s a thing, so see the photo!
• Cut at an angle as shown in the photo. Start about 1 1/2″ down from the front waist of the leggings, and cut up to the back. You want the front waistband of the leggings to be just a bit lower than the back. You need to allow room for that diaper booty!
• Measure out your elastic. If your sample leggings fit perfectly, measure a piece exactly the same size, or just measure your babies waist. Vada is a size 2t and I cut my waist band 18″.
• Sew the ends of your elastic together.
• With your leggings inside out, place your elastic around the waist with about 1/8″ to 1/4″ seam allowance on all sides if you’re serging. See photo.
• Serge or sew all the way around the waist band. You may need to stretch out the fabric and elastic as you go, so nothing gets bunchy.
• Turn your leggings right side out and fold the waist band down once. Use a double needle or zig zag stitch if you don’t have a double needle, an top stitch all the way around the waist band. I love using a double needle! It gives a nice and professional look!

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You’re done!! Stand back and admire your work and see how adorable your baby looks in them! THEN go buy all the fabric and make 10 more pairs!