My daughter Christine has been asking for more leg warmers. She wears them with boots, of course, but she also wears them when she goes ice skating and other outdoor winter activities. Wondering where to find leg warmers? I’ve seen so many adorable ones on Esty! Not only are there lots of cute leg warmers, there are really great boot cuffs but many of them are knitted or crocheted cost around $30 for one pair! So, I decided to try making her some. Christine wanted traditional leg warmers that were fairly basic meaning without lace or bows or frills.
While I realize there are probably a lot of tutorials out there for how to make them but I thought I would share how I made mine anyway. I started with a sweater that Vanessa no longer wears. My first idea was to use the sweater sleeves for the leg warmers because they are already the basic leg warmer shape. But it didn’t work because the cuff on the sleeve wasn’t stretchy enough.
So, I moved on to using the main part of the sweater instead. I cut out the front and back of the sweater. Then, I folded the sweater rectangle in half and sewed the side seam. The bottom of the sweater became the top of the leg warmer. When I got to the bottom of the leg warmer, I sewed it in a little more so that the leg warmers would be tighter around the ankle. I did not finish off the bottom because it doesn’t look like it will unravel. Other types of sweater material will need to be finished by serging the bottom edge or making a hem.
I added two large buttons to the top cuff of each leg warmer and Christine wore them last night when she went out with her friends! I would call that a success!
Where do you find cute, inexpensive leg warmers?
Hi, I'm Tonia from The Gunny Sack! As a wife and mother of three, I enjoy cooking, creating and capturing it all with my camera! Coffee, with a little chocolate now and then, keeps me happy.
That’s making me feel hotter than I already am! LOL Even though its after midnight, its still really warm. xx
You know what’s funny? As I was pressing the “post” button, I thought about you, Anne, and was thinking that you are one of my followers who is going to get a kick out of seeing a leg warmer post when it is the middle of the summer for you!
Wow, that is easy! I really want to make some, now where are my old sweaters.
Thanks Lindsay! You are so organized that you probably don’t have any old sweaters laying around your house!
They are adorable!
Thanks! She is pleased with them!
I have actually cut off sleeves and my daughter wore those with her boots. Stretchy sleeves do work the best though! I love that you added buttons to the top of yours!!!
I will have to try that method again with a different sweater that has stretchy sleeves because my daughter still needs more leg warmers!
Love them!! What a great idea, Tonia!
Thanks Randi!
Cute! I love this – for my kids and myself! (Never too old for leg warmers…)
Thanks Cathy! I need some for myself too, but not to be fashionable. I need them to keep my legs warm because it has been so cold here!
I have seen these all over and they are such a cute idea
love that you put the buttons on!
Thanks Jodi! They sure are popular right now!
This is such an awesome idea! I love how they look sticking out of the boots – very chic
Thanks Stephanie!
Such a great idea! Now I wish it was cold here
(although, I always with it was cold here)
I don’t know Lyuba…?? We are supposed to have a high temp of ZERO next week!
Awesome! I need a few pairs of these…love this look!
Ahother great idea and wonderful way to recycle. Off to Goodwill tomorrow. Maureen
My teenaged daughter would LOVE these!! What a wonderful idea and tutorial Tonia!
These are so cute! Of course, I would then need to go out and buy a new pair of boots! {and if I get a new pair of boots I would need a new pair of jeans! lol!} Looking forward to getting to know you better!
Jenn
Ha! Isn’t that the truth? And it all started from a pair of inexpensive leg warmers! LOL!
My daughter does ballet/jazz and she’s cottoned onto the idea of leg warmers. I’ll be checking out op shops for sweaters to whip some up now! Given its summer here, I should have no competition
So true Di! That is the best time to buy them!
Love these!!! New follower. Follow me too http://www.sewsweetvintage.com/2013/01/love-me-love-my-dog.html
Thanks for the follow!
I feel like I never have a sweater that I am willing to cut up! These turned out super cute.
kilee
http://www.onelittlemomma.com
I know what you mean! This one was a sweater that my younger daughter didn’t wear but we are going to look at thrift shops for more sweaters.
So cute, Tonia! I’ve been saving a couple of old sweaters to make some but I feel like boot season is almost over here that I should wait until the fall. I love the the buttons on them.
Thanks Crystal! Boot season almost over?? That is hard to imagine right now! Monday’s high is supposed to be -5! Ugh!