Monday, September 10, 2012

Shirt to Leggings Refashion

I have been meaning to try this refashion for months.  I'm not quite sure why it took me so long to do it.  Perhaps all the other creative juices floating around.  Anyone else find it hard to focus on one thing at a time sometimes?  Ha!
Anyways.
So I whipped up a new pair of leggings for my daughter from an old shirt of mine.  What do you think?


Kinda fun.
My daughter actually loved them and said they were 'so comfy', so I may have to make more!
Anyways, you probably want the tutorial, right?  

Get an old long sleeve shirt you no longer wear and a pair of your girl's leggings. 


Fold your leggings in half and lay it over top of the sleeve of your top.


Trace the top portion onto the sleeve with a marker.  Don't worry about adding any extra for your waistband or seam allowance, we'll be adding that later.


Cut out the arm piece, then trace it onto the other arm and do the same.  You should now have two sleeve/leg pieces.


Flip your pieces inside out.  Line up the inner seams and pin to create a front and back of your leggings.


Sew together.  You may also want to serge or sew a zigzag stitch along the raw edges.


Now using your leggings, measure the width of your waistband.  Not the circumference of the waist, just the width, like this.


Using the bottom hem of your old shirt as the waistband, use your waist width measurement and add 1/2 inch for seam allowance.


Cut the piece off your shirt.  You'll be adding thin elastic through the existing hem, so remember you'll need extra for seam allowance above that hem.


Measure the waistband of your leggings or your child's waist to figure out how much elastic you need.


Now slide your elastic through the existing hem of the piece you just cut.


Pin the ends together and sew together like so.


Pin your new waistband onto your leggings, right sides facing in.


Sew along the existing hem or just below.  Then you can serge or zigzag stitch the edges.



And that's it!  SO simple!


Try them on and enjoy!






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35 comments:

Christine@ Projects Around the House said... Best Blogger Tips

Very clever! I love how these turned out. What a great idea!

Onellyantie Chuah said... Best Blogger Tips

So cute!! Love the result, fit your daughter perfectly!

The Thrifty Challenge said... Best Blogger Tips

what a brilliant idea. they look so cute and are such a great way to use old tops.
love it!

Suzanne Winter said... Best Blogger Tips

such cute leggings!!! I love all things refashioned/upcycled, stop by and say hi sometime ~Suzanne
http://winterwonderingswanderingswhatnot.blogspot.com

Sarah said... Best Blogger Tips

These are so cute and look fairly easy to make. One of the reasons I love fall so much is all of the layering possibilities for kids or adults. Leggins are perfect for layering.

If you get a chance come link your tutorial at my Fall Edition Pin Party.

http://sarahdawndesigns.blogspot.com/2012/09/pintastic-monday-fall-edition.html

Jessi @ Practically Functional said... Best Blogger Tips

These are too cute! Stopping by from Organize & Decorate Everything!

Printabelle said... Best Blogger Tips

Those turned out great and seemed like something I could even do as a novice. Thanks for linking!

Rose Jess said... Best Blogger Tips

Great idea! You did such a good job.

Jenni said... Best Blogger Tips

Super cute. I like how you used the existing hem of the shirt for the elastic casing.

Mama of 2 Badgers said... Best Blogger Tips

That waistband is so smart!

I only have little boys in my life (two of my own, one nephew, and another nephew on the way), so I won't be making those adorable leggings :( BUT! I'll borrow that wasitband idea for when I repurpose jeans/pants for the boys. Thanks for posting this!! :D

Jelli said... Best Blogger Tips

Creative! I'd have NEVER thought to do this with an old shirt. Thesse leggings look fabulous. Found your blog from Rae Gun.

Seamingly Smitten said... Best Blogger Tips

I love that these are made with the sleeves of a shirt so it saves you time sewing the legs! Great refashion! What a cute and happy little model!
Jenny
Seamingly Smitten

CC said... Best Blogger Tips

What a cool idea! They turned out so cute. ;)

Mandy said... Best Blogger Tips

what a great idea! i'm pinning this to try later! thanks for sharing!!!

Becca Acker said... Best Blogger Tips

I've made my niece a pair out of shirt sleeves before. It worked very well! I like how you made the top. Very cool. :)

Katie Drane said... Best Blogger Tips

What a genius idea!! Thanks so much for sharing!

Katie
www.funhomethings.com

Shannon said... Best Blogger Tips

Adorable! What a fantastic way to give your old shirt a new purpose!!

Lindsay @ 402CenterStreet.blogspot.com said... Best Blogger Tips

So smart to use the existing hem as your elastic casing!! I am now going to go home and raid my closet for old knit long sleeved tees to refashion! Legging season is coming after all!
Thanks for the tutorial!

Bobi Jensen said... Best Blogger Tips

That is AMAZING! My kids are getting bigger but this would work great with one of my hubby's old shirts.

I started my very first "Weekend Warmth" Linky party...and there are no rules. Please join in!

http://westernwarmth.blogspot.com/2012/09/weekend-warmth.html

Our Delightful Home said... Best Blogger Tips

This is such a clever idea. Thanks for stopping by " Show Me What You Got Tuesdy's at ODH"

Mrs. Delightful
www.ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com

Kaysi @ Keeping it Simple said... Best Blogger Tips

I LOVE this! It's such a great idea!

Jill said... Best Blogger Tips

Brilliant refashion - I LOVE it! Shame my girls legs have now grown bigger and longer than my arms!!


Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous weekend!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

Etcetorize said... Best Blogger Tips

Thank you so much for linking up at Etcetorize last week. I love your project so much that I'll be featuring it at tonight's party! I hope you'll stop by to grab a featured button from the sidebar and link up again

Becolorful said... Best Blogger Tips

Adorable. Makes me wish I had a wee one to do this up for. :D Thanks for sharing on BeColorful.
pr

Kathie said... Best Blogger Tips

Such a great idea! They look so comfy too. Thanks for sharing this brilliant tutorial with us at Gettin' Krafty!

Mandy said... Best Blogger Tips

Super cute! I love it :)

Lauren @ mercy(INK) said... Best Blogger Tips

You are so stinkin' talented. Who would of thought to do such a thing!? So glad you shared at our link up!

xo -lauren

Amanda @ The Little Giggler said... Best Blogger Tips

Those turned out so cute! I've made those for my daughter before and I always end up with one leg longer than the other! :) Thanks for linking up at The Little Giggler! xo

Liz @ Here's to Handy Andy said... Best Blogger Tips

Wow, this is super impressive! Thanks for linking up to our Pinteresting Link Party!

Doublej2 said... Best Blogger Tips

what a great idea!! can't wait to do this w/ some shirts i've got laying around for my daughter!

Carrie said... Best Blogger Tips

What a great idea!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!

Ladybird Ln said... Best Blogger Tips

This is such a great idea, my daughter only will wear leggings, so I am pinning this for later! I also showed you off today!

Carlee
www.ladybirdln.com

The Mandatory Mooch said... Best Blogger Tips

I love this project. How clever!! I have already pinned it and would love for you to share on my linky party Tasty Thursdays at The Mandatory Mooch. Still live until tomorrow night. Thanks ,Nichi http://www.mandatorymooch.blogspot.com/2012/09/tasty-thursdays-9.html

Trish Dunlap said... Best Blogger Tips
This comment has been removed by the author.
Trish Dunlap said... Best Blogger Tips

These leggings are great! I have a 3 year old that loves leggings and I know she would love a pair of these. It really is the only thing she wears other than her pajamas. I would try to make my own as well, but I don't have half as much talent as you do.