Ruffled Leg Warmers Tutorial

Hello UCreate readers, this is Angelina from JoJo&Eloise. I am so very excited to be here sharing with you today. I don’t know about you but it’s, TIS The Season to be Warm and Cozy!! Fall actually use to be one of my least favorite Season and Winter I only put up with because it meant, CHRISTMAS time!!! As I have gotten older these Seasons have begun to mean so much more to me and I Love it. I also Love making things that keep friends and Loved one’s warm and cozy throughout those Blistering Cold days. I am a Layering girl myself and I especially love layering even more when what you are putting on is super CUTE like these DIY Ruffled Leg Warmers. But! Let me first warn you that these Ruffled Leg Warmers are so crazy simple to make you will find yourself with a drawer full of them. So with that being said you have one easy Gift Giving idea right here! I used Basic Knit Cotton found at Jo-Ann Fabrics. You could also you any old cottong T-shirts, skirts etc…

You can add any and all sorts of embellishments to your Ruffled Leg Warmers. We kept it Sweet and Simple with coordinating wood buttons also found at Jo-Ann’s.

 

Something to consider is Dying your Cotton Fabric. I wasn’t able to find the Orange color I wanted so I used Rit Liquid Dye to get my desired shade of Orange. Just be sure to follow the manufactures instructions found on each bottle. This will work GREAT if you have a bunch of Old White T-shirts.

Your going to need to measure around the WIDEST part of the Leg. ( I know this is an arm but it is the technique 🙂 And, measure the Length of Leg Warmer you are wanting. If you want a Tight Fit with no slack or gather cut your fabric accordingly. I prefer I slight Gather throughout the Ruffled Leg Warmer, so I add about 2″. Now because you will measuring along the Widest part of the leg you can cut your fabric according to that measurement or Angle your cut to allow for the Skinnier part of the leg/ankle. Or just taper your edge as you get to the bottom. ( you can see if the third picture how the bottom is slightly narrower)

The width of the Ruffle will depend on the size your are making. For reference the Finished the leg warmers my daughter is wearing measures, 4″Wide, 13″High and the ruffle 2″

If your machine has a ruffle foot you can use that or use the LONGEST stitch length on you machine and sew along the MIDDLE of your cotton strip, Gently pull the BOTTOM/BOBBIN thread and gather as you go.

There is 2 ways to sew your Ruffled Leg Warmer. Exposed Seem or Non Exposed Seem.

The first is the Exposed Seem. The seem itself wont show by looking at them it will only be seen when you have those people eyeballing your project and checking it over to see how you put it together. ( this happens to me ALL the time, Please tell me I am not alone 🙂

You will sew your Ruffle as close to the edge of your fabric as possible, being sure to leave enough room for your seem allowance. Then pin the RIGHT sides of your piece together, making sure your Ruffle is out of the way. Stitch along the edge and turn right sides out. Your ruffle will HIDE your seem.

If your wanting a no show seem. It will be a bit tricky but still very easy. Place the RIGHT sides of your fabric together and sew. Turn RIGHT sides out and line up your ruffle down the Center Seem. Pinning is not advised because you will be bunching the fabric as you go. You will have to guide by feeling the center seem with your finger. You will be sewing and Gathering/Pulling the UNDER part of the Leg Warmer away from the Needle. This way you are not catching it and sewing Both the TOP and BOTTOM of your leg warmer together.

SIDE NOTE* I kept the Top and Bottom of my Ruffled Leg Warmers un-hemmed. You can hem them by folding the edges over and stitching in place ( finishing your edges with a Serged or Zig Zag stitch for a more finished look)

 

We are all GUSHING and CRUSHING on these Ruffled Leg Warmers over here.

 

They are just so darn SWEET and most importantly, Cozy and Warm!

 

 

NOW!!

Don’t just stop at making them for you or your older girls. These are so ADORABLE on baby legs too!

Wouldn’t you agree?!?!

OH!!!

And, be sure not to forget those arms and hands of yours. Follow the same steps in making the Leg warmers.

 

Slide your Ruffled Fingerless Gloves over your arm and Pinch between the Thumb and Pointer finger. Pin and sew about an 1″ to an 1.5″.

So simple and so Cute, Right!?!?!

 

 

 

I hope you will have just as much making these as I do. You can also check out some more Sewing and Crafting fun with this Color Block Hemmed Skirt and some Gluten Free Playdough