Nicole’s nine month old is quite possibly the chunkiest baby we know. Nothing compliments those curves like a pair of form fitting leggings! Nicole has perfected making these leggings for Sunny in about 5 minutes for just the cost of one body-con skirt from Forever 21!
All you need is an old stretchy pencil skirt, a pair of scissors and a sewing machine and you’re good to go! Keep reading for the project step-by-step.
1. Using a pair of tight pajama pants , or your favorite baby leggings as a guide, lay them on top with both sets of waistbands lined up to one another (as pictured.) Nicole uses those cheap Forever 21 body-con skirts. On this page alone, we found 40+ options of this skirt for less than $7 each, in tribal, stripes, and every color solid you can think of!
2. If you have a fabric pencil trace around the existing leggings onto the F21 skirt. If you don’t have pencil, just eyeball it like Nicole does! Trace with about a 1/4 inch seam allowance around the leggings. (Meaning a little extra space for when you sew the leggings together.)
3. Now that you have cut out your leggings you will have two pieces, both with a hemmed top (from the existing skirt’s waistband. Take the two pieces and flip them around so the side of the fabric you want to show at the end of the project is now facing inward.
4. Using straight pins, pin up the sides of the legs to keep it in place while you sew.
5. Sew up both the inner and outer thighs and you’re done! Since you used the existing waistband and the bottom hem of the skirt, you are off the hook for any hem-job. If you do need to shorten the leggings, most cotton or jersey fabric is fine to leave a raw edge, or you can cuff them under and hem them as well!
I do something similar in a lose fit with old t-shirts, I have even used an old flanalette shirt to make pants for Jarvis. Here is a link to how I do them.
http://iliska-dreams.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/baby-sarouels-sewing-1.html
This is such a good idea! I love it.
What?! Where has this tutorial been! I have been hand painting mine. This is so quick and less messy! I covet Nichole’s style! And creativity! Thanks for sharing
omg I LOVE LOVE LOVEEEEEE this!!!! wow. amazing.
Question: If you were to buy a large skirt, is it enough material to make two?
My son is actually a skinny little thing – 10.5 months, 18 lbs and 28″ but I LOVE the look of leggings.
I bet so! There’s definitely quite a bit left over!
great idea! thank you for sharing. i don’t sew at all…pretty sure my machine hates me…but i think i can manage these!
amazing! I knew I could make easy baby leggings.. but from old skirts is genius. I’ve been wondering where shes gettin all these sweet leggings. Cant wait to whip some up! A serious thank you for sharing!!
Love this! Now if only I had a sewing machine…….
Oh and here are a few more options:
this lace body con skirt would be cute for a little girl: http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/Clothes/Skirts/entity/pc/2114/c/0/sc/2633/226605.uts?sortByColumnName=SortByArrival
http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/Clothes/Skirts/entity/pc/2114/c/0/sc/2633/206553.uts?sortByColumnName=SortByArrival
There are more at charlotte russe – they range from $14-$20 though. They often have really great in store sales though. Oh and I know H&M has tons of body con skirts!
Thanks for these!!
Now the question is… can I buy a maxi skirt and make these for myself!?
Love this idea!
Great idea!!
How cute and easy!
Do you follow the length of the leggings when cutting or cut straight through to the bottom of the hemmed skirt?
Follow the length of you baby’s legs, but if you use a mini skirt it’s usually pretty close!
Awesome! Thanks. Did she make the beanies from the remnants? Love a tutorial for those too.
so cute!! can’t wait to do this!!
cant wait to try these babies!! darling!
hooooraaaay! i’ve been waiting for this post! boy clothes stink sometimes… and i just adore these leggings! our first boy is headed his way in less than 2 months- time to whip out the sewing machine!
genius. pure genius. //
Oh my. I love this! Do you know what size skirt she used? I was wondering for the length.
genius!! doing this asap….
today’s “to-do”….. baby leggies!!
Omgosh I am so not good at sewing but I will try this out!thanks so much I love your page;)
these are too cute. perfect for my baby girl, amelia. can’t wait to try them!
We’d love to see them when you do!
How do you do the hem on the bottom? I understand the waistband, legs, thighs, but I am not understanding the bottom holes? Thanks
You don’t need to hem it if it’s jersey or cotton, but if you use a mini skirt you can use the existing bottom hem, otherwise fold an inch or less under and hem it that way! Good luck!
Love this tutorial: I just made two from one medium sized skirt. However the stretchy knit is REALLY hard to sew with!!! My end product looks a little bunched up in many places.. I haven’t been able to try it on my son so hopefully it evens out. Did you have this problem too?
You can also stitch the sillouette of the leggings onto the skirt, using the stretch stitch on your machine, and then cut it out if for the fabrics that don’t want to hold their shape next to a cut edge.
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This is so awesome, I will send this tutorial to my daughter for her baby. And I will make one legging myself for my grandson. ♥
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Absolutely adorable and doable! Thank you!
Curious. I am terrible at sewing, so not having to make a hem is awesome! But do you think I would be able to use the no sew hem fusible tape instead of sewing the sides? Wondering if anyone has tried that and if it has been ok?
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