Ucreate: Two-Sided Leggings Tutorial by Eat.Sleep.Make

Hi I'm Jen, and I blog with my sister-in-law, Shannon, on Eat. Sleep. MAKE. Shannon and I have a problem. We can't stop making things, so we decided to start Eat.Sleep. MAKE. to channel all of our creative energy (and get our husbands off our backs when they bug us about buying too many crafting supplies.) Um, is that even possible?

When Kari invited us to come here and share a project with all of you wonderful Ucreate readers, I knew I wanted to share a project success that was almost a project fail - a pair of two-sided leggings for my daughter.

Have you ever had a project that you started with great intentions in mind, only to find out near the end of the project that the outcome wasn't at ALL what you planned? That's what happened with these two-sided leggings. I was originally trying to make colorblocked leggings with each leg a different color. Everything began well enough, but while putting everything together, I found that I made the front one color and the back another color. And you know what? I love it. So, do you want to make your own two-sided leggings and look as cool as Haley? Don't be intimidated, they're easier to make than you think!

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Supplies

a pair of leggings that fit your child well to use as a pattern

some paper and a pencil to make your pattern

2 kinds of knit fabric

1/2 inch elastic

chalk or a disappearing ink marker

sewing machine and basic sewing supplies.

Making Your Pattern

ONE: First, take your pattern pants and fold them in half. Make sure the little curve of the bum is sticking out in the back. Use a pencil and paper to trace along your pants making sure to add an extra 1/4 inch for seam allowance on the sides. Make sure to stretch the elastic waistband out while you trace the waist and and add an extra 2 inches at the top for the casing of the waistband. For the bottom, add an inch or more for the hem.

TWO: Cut out your paper pattern.

THREE: Fold your knit fabric with the wrong sides together. Lay your pattern on the top of your fabric and trace with your chalk or disappearing ink marker. Cut out. Repeat with your other knit fabric.

FOUR: You should now have a total of 4 pieces of fabric, two of each color.

Making Your Leggings

ONE: Next, you'll want to match up one of each color of knit fabric (in my case one blue and one black) with the right sides together. Pin the long side together and sew the long side only. Repeat with the other 2 pieces.

TWO: You should now have 2 fabric pieces that look like this when they are open.

THREE: Next place your two pieces on top of each other, right sides facing each other. Pin the curved portion together and sew the curves only.

FOUR: Now open your pants and match up your sides so they actually look like pants. Pin along the inner crotch area and sew from the bottom of the leg to the other. Hem the bottom of your pants.

Making the Waistband

ONE: With your pants still inside out, fold the top of your pants down 1/4 inch and iron. Fold another 3/4 inch and sew to create a casing for your elastic. Make sure to leave a hole to insert the elastic.

TWO: Measure your child's waist and add 1/2 inch. Cut this length of elastic and use a safety pin to thread your elastic through your casing. Sew the edges of elastic together with a zig-zag stitch and sew the casing closed. Flip your pants right side out.

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Now you have some fun new leggings that are a different fabric on each side! You can reverse them for whatever mood you're in. Business in the front, party in the back.

Either way you wear them, you look cool.