Ruffle Bottom Legging Tutorial

So a friend of mine showed me a picture of some leggings, they were adorable, however they were $44.99!! Way too much in my book. I thought about it and decided I could make some WAY cheaper. I had seen several that were done like this...

 

 

...with the material just gathered and stitched on top. Although it's still super adorable, it wasn't the look I was going for. I wanted mine to be more flared, than gathered, and I didn't want a seam!! So after a bit more thought, this is what I came up with....

 

The Ruffle Bottom Legging Tutorial

 

 

First I took a pair of Lucy's leggings I had purchased back in Nov. for $3, and 1/2 yd. of scrap fabric.

 

They had a huge hole in the knee and therefore were in the "do something with them, or throw them away" pile!! (Tell me I'm not the only one with that kind of a pile.)

 

 

Since mine had a hole in them, I already knew where to cut them off. Choose how long you want yours and then cut away.

 

Then measure where you just cut. Mine is 6 1/4" across.

Then comes a bit of math...don't worry though, I'll break it down.... (if you have ever made a circle skirt, it's the same thing, just on a smaller scale.)

Take your measurement (above) and times it by 2, (since it's folded), then divide your answer by 6.28. That equals your radius which is what you need to do the next part.

For example my number was

6.25"X 2 = 12.5/ 6.28= 1.99" (I rounded it to 2")

Then with a scratch paper measure from one corner and go out 2" make a mark, then move up and continue until you reach the other side of the paper. Draw a line connecting the marks making a quarter of a circle. Cut out and set aside. This can also be done with a string like in grade school. :)

 

Then decide how long you want your ruffle. I did a double layer one 3" and one 4". So using that same technique, do one for how long you want your ruffle + the radius.

For example I did one 5" (3" + the radius 2") and one 6" (4" + the radius 2")

Cut those out as well, and set aside. Make sure you mark what size they are. :)

 

 

This is what they should look like. I have a 2", 5" and 6" quarter circle.

 

 

Then fold your material over just enough to fit your largest quarter circle on, then fold it again, just enough to fit your largest circle. (By doing it just enough, it saves on material, but you can do it any way you feel most comfortable!)

 

Place your largest quarter circle on the corner. (There should be no edges on either straight side of the quarter circle, just folds. 

 

Cut the curved edge and then you get this. Which if you have done it right it makes a full circle.

 

Fold back up and place your radius quarter circle (mine was 2") on the corner of the piece you just cut out.

 

 

Cut along the curved edge. Repeat this process for any other ruffle layers you are doing.

You can discard the center circle, or use it to make a matching bow!

 

 

So now you have your donut/ ruffle circles.

 

Make a narrow hem around the outer edge of your donuts/ ruffles. Then fold and pin the inner edges, fold again matching your pins, and mark the other sides. Does that make sense?? You should have 4 pins equal distance apart. (Since I am doing 2 ruffles on each leg, I placed my smaller on on top of the larger one before pinning)

Do the same for each leg of the leggings as well. (Note: the side seams of the leggings aren't always equal front and back, but since there is no seam on the ruffle, just mark equal distances like you did with the ruffle.

 

 

Then with right sides together, match pins on leggings and ruffle. Pin together all layers.

 

Then stitch. I stitched with the inside of the legging up and went around that way.

 

 

If you have knit leggings with a knit ruffle I recommend using a double needle which can be purchased at most fabric stores. You just choose the distance apart you want the needles. This will help the seam stretch a bit. I did not use a knit material for the ruffle so I didn't feel I needed it.

 

 

I really like that finished look, so to finish it off, I folded the seam up and top stitched around one last time. Repeat steps for other leg and you are done!!

 

 

TA-DAH!

 

Can you see the difference in the way the ruffle hangs? It's not a big difference, but it's just what I wanted and I really like it!!

 

 

And because there is no seam on the ruffle, they look the same front and back!! (And you thought I was just showing you her round little butt!!)

 

After my tester tried them on and danced around a bit, the verdict was in......

 

(not sure what she is doing here....)

 

(Or here...mid sentence talking maybe??) Anywho...she loved them!

 

As for extending the life of a $3 pair of leggings...SUCCESS!

If you have any questions, let me know!!

Until next time....



A Forgotten Post, and a New Fabric Find

So since I totally forgot last weeks post, this week I should have a totally awesome tutorial or a really great post for you today right?? WRONG!!

 

But I should have tutorial on those super cute leggings with the ruffle at the bottom for next week!!

 

Anywho....today I wanted to share with you this awesome place to get knit fabric....Let me explain...

 

So have you seen all these super cute maxi skirts that have been just about everywhere you look lately?? Well I have, and I have been collecting pictures!!

 

 

I love the huge chevron print!

 

Fun color and good flow!

 

Different take on a maxi skirt! So fun!

 

We all know I love ruffles!

 

Love the change in stripe direction!

 

Can we just say cute all over!! (probably not make out of knit, but still, it's cute right!!)

 

 I wanted to make myself one, but after much searching I just couldn't find cute knit fabric that I really liked. So I did what any reasonable person does...I called my expert friend (Thanks Elizabeth!!) and she referred me to Here.

They have some super cute knits, and the prices were even better than I thought they would be. Oh and the quality is excellent too!! So head on over and check them out!! You won't be disappointed!

 

 

Until next time...

I can fix anything!!

Well, actually I can't fix anything, but my kids sure think I can.

If a toy breaks, they usually bring it to me to hot glue back together. There are several action figures at our house that are glued back together. :)

And if its clothes, they get set on my sewing machine to be fixed. The stuffed animals, or "friends" as my kids call them, they get fixed to. But it's more of an operating room scene there, with my kids holding them still so they can be fixed. 

Which brings me to my next item...the trampoline.

 

 

My sweet mother and father-in-law gave us their old trampoline last fall. We excitedly put it u and soon had to take it down because too many of the rings popped off. So to the garage it went in hopes that it didn't cost too much to repair. Earlier this spring, (I guess it's not technically spring until tomorrow) so earlier this month...the kids started inquiring about when I was going to fix them trampoline. I made a few phone calls and I couldn't believe it, $85-$105 just to fix the mat. Crazy!! 

So I set forth figuring out if I wanted to try it, and given the other option, I decided to try. I bought some leather needles, and some upholstery thread, and felt ready to try.

But because it's an older trampoline it gets everything pretty dirty, so I would have to try to get it all done at once so I could clean my machine really good, before I had anything else I needed to sew.  :)

Well, 4 hours, alot of frustration, and a really dirty machine later, it's done. And my kids couldn't be happier. Maybe I can fix anything....;)

 

Any crazy things your kids have asked you to fix??

Until next time...

The Magic is in the Details

Disneyland....Magical for every age.

I have not been to Disneyland since I was in high school, but as soon as I entered, I was surprised that the magic feeling was still there for me.

As I rode the many rides and met the many characters, I began to notice all the small details, for instant, the feel of all the rides are distinctively their own. Each ride makes you feel like you are there in that little story. 

And the costumes...WOW! 

Tinkerbell

Fawn

Alice and the Mad Hatter

Jedi Training show -Really Good if you haven't seen it!

Jedi Training show

Jedi Training show

Snow White

Tiana

I kind of wanted to wear the princess dresses! ;)

We rode the 'it's a small world' ride and I marvelled at the attention to detail on all those dolls clothing. Seriously there are hundreds of dolls on that ride alone, just over 300 to be exact, but each one is so unique and made with so much detail. More so than most people even notice, and why? It's part of the Magic. 

I actually made my family go on the ride several times, (which they didn't fuss about) just so I could try to capture some pictures of them. However, you will have to excuse my poor photography skills. Its hard to get detailed photographs while moving on a boat. :)

Those stripes are gold ribbon sewn on!!

So many cute ruffles!

It's really hard to see, but the dolls at the top have some major bead work.

Latin American Part

They are all beautiful, some have bead work or ribbon, others are ruffled, but my favorite was the ones in the Latin American part. It's also the ones I had the hardest time getting pictures of!!

I have so many ideas and inspirations floating around in my head just from that part! I loved it! So next time you are at Disneyland, hit up it's a small world and check out all the details!!  

Until next time....

Holiday Clothes

So maybe its just me, which it probably is, but I love making Lucy a little holiday outfit each month. Whether its revamping an old shirt or making her a new skirt, I love it!! And I try to make them so that she can wear them more than just at that holiday too!

 

 

At Christmas I made her this skirt with some left over holiday fabric from a different project. (I do admit this is kind of more of a seasonal one, but I already had the fabric. :)) 

 

For Valentines, I took one of her T-shirts that had a huge purple stain on it, and I just couldn't get it out. I simply added a giant heart. The cupcake skirt fabric we found on clearance. Together they are more Valentines-y, but if you separate the skirt and shirt I think she can where them year round. :)

 



 

Which brings me to St. Patrick's day. She already had the skirt I made a while back, I just took one of her plain white shirts and added a 4-leaf clover. And (BONUS) the clover is still low enough that she can wear it under a jumper and not have it show.  Oh and once again, if you separate them I think they can be worn year round, like add the skirt to her apple shirt a made a while back....

 

 

See, it doesn't scream St. Patrick's day!!

 

 

Oh I just wanted to give you a quick tip.... when you are making something and can't find thread to match well, the rule of thumb (I was always taught) is if it's a darker color, go with a darker thread, if it's a lighter color, go with a lighter thread. Or you can always accent with another color from the outfit, like I did. I used the darker green from the skirt to outline the clover. Well, that's about it!!

 

 

Until next time.....