Leggings

It’s MADE Everyday time friends!
And today we’re making one of my favorite projects.
And….I invited one of my favorite sewing friends to join me!
It’s Miranda from One Little Minute…..

a1Together we’ll show you TWO ways to sew a pair of leggings.

I’ll sew on a standard Baby Lock sewing machine….and Miranda will sew on a Baby Lock serger (and make a really cool faux cuff and yoga waistband).  Cause did you that April is National Serger Month?  Now you can see my new serger in action!


And you might see this in action too.Okay, just hit the play button below and enjoy!
If it’s not showing, you can WATCH IT HERE.

MADE EVERYDAY with Dana is a fresh new sewing show, where we create everyday items you will love and use.

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  1. You guys are seriously the cutest! Love that serger hemming trick from Miranda!

    • 2) Debbie

      You two are awesome I love the YouTube tutorials you have and love how you show just how easy sewing kids clothes can be thanks a bunch!

  2. This was a blast and I love you. Yay leggings!

    • 4) Jenni

      Miranda, how do you secure the serger tails? I loved your waistband and hem techniques! Thank you!

      • 5) Dana

        I’ll let Miranda chime in with her thoughts…
        But what I do is, either leave the tail long and tie it in a knot (if it’s something like inside of a bag or a place where the tail won’t be noticed.
        Or you can use a small hook to pull the tail back through the seam (always sounds like a pain in the butt to me)
        Or you can cut it shorter and use a little Fray-Check on the end to sort of seal the thread in place, although I don’t feel like it holds very well and will make the thread crunchy.
        So, I guess I often use the tying method 🙂
        – Dana

        • 6) Miranda & Dana

          I just wanted to let you know that our family have a Miranda and a Dana in our clan. I am planning a cousins tutorial in which the lace panties will be the project of the evening. I’m so very excited about putting on this family event,because my cousins will appreciate this gift that I hope will keep on giving

          Thanks,

          Miranda Cam

  3. 7) Chelsea

    That is adorable! I like that you used a shirt. I need to find someone to teach me. I can’t even sew a straight line.

  4. You two are so cute! Great, fun way to sew leggings. Must try asap!!

  5. Um, that screenshot of you guys showing off your grown up leggings is priceless!! Dana’s hair even makes it look like you’ve got a wind machine in the studio – Lol. 😉 Great video, as usual!

    • 12) Dana

      hahaha. Totally.
      It’s getting all Beyonce up in here 🙂

  6. Love this video! I have followed your site for over 4 years and have never commented! ((I don’t think I have anyways!)) so to put it lightly — love this blog and everything in it! Great job, you are inspiring to watch. It’s beautiful to see someone chasing and catching their dreams!
    And love the leggings tute! I need to make myself a pair now…

    • 14) Dana

      Stephanie, I’m so happy you chimed in! Your comment was 4 years in the making 🙂
      Thanks for following along all these years and I hope you make some awesome leggings!

  7. Awesome project girls. I am an addicted list maker and giving gifts on the holidays is on the top of my list every year. I know its way too early but for a girl who is always on pinterest, I need to plan ahead of time heehhehe. Can’t wait to do a bunch of this for my cute nieces. Really enjoyed watching the vid. Congrats on the new video show! TFS;)

  8. 16) Alison

    Great video. I like the faux cuff option. Never seen that before. Definitely want to try that. Such an easy hem.

  9. 17) Bailee

    You two are so cute and talented! Love it!

    • 18) Dana

      Thank you Bailee! 🙂

  10. 19) valerie nelson

    wow! I’ve enjoyed this episode the most of all you’ve made! Way to step it up! LOVE it! Thanks 🙂

    • 20) Dana

      Awww thanks Valerie!

  11. 21) KD

    I want to make myself some leggings RIGHT NOW! Thanks for the awesome instructions!

    • 22) Dana

      Haha. YES. Stop everything you’re doing and make some NOW.
      It only makes perfect sense 🙂
      Have fun!

  12. 23) Vicki

    I think you should change your name to the “Queen of Knits.” You’re the total knit advocate! Would this technique also work for yoga pants that have a flare at the bottom of the leg if I have a pair to trace?

    • 24) Dana

      Haha. Thanks Vicki!
      I’m not sure if this cuff method would give you the look you’re going for on a flare leg, but you can always try it out and see!

  13. 25) Ajda

    Hey Dana! I’ve watched most of your videos and I can only say congratulations! YOu have encouraged me to sew knits for my 2,5 year old son. I only still am not confident making patterns myself.
    What I am wondering about and couldn’t see clearly in the video is, how much seam allowance do you take for this leggings?
    Thanks!

  14. 26) Melani X.

    Y’all need to stop being so darn cute. It’s not fair to the rest of us. 😉 xoxo

  15. 27) Bonnie

    Thank you! That serged cuff was absolutely BRILLANT and so easy!

  16. I have followed your blog for years and love it, but this is the first time I have watch one of your videos! I love how simple you made it look and now I am excited to go find some knits in my stash and make my daughter leggings. I have been afraid of knits for far to long!!! Thank You!

  17. I discovered years ago that the best paper to use for pattern making, is a roll of exam table paper from my doctor’s office. They usually sell it to me for cheap and one roll lasts a LONG time. Happy sewing!

  18. I am over-the-top excited about that faux cuff!

  19. 31) Kerrie

    Hi Dana, I absolutely love your site. I’m very new to sewing (started in April) but your tutorials are fantastic and have given me the confidence to try.
    Having watched your videos, I made some bags and skirts for my little girls out of their old duvet covers, gotta start somewhere right? I then felt confident enough to purchase some material and also some knit fabric to try the leggings.
    It was a battle with a lot of unpicking but we now have 2 cute pairs of leggings and matching headbands. However there were a lot of skipped stitches and the machine kept trying to eat my fabric, do you have any advice?

  20. 33) Laura

    Dana, do you have a favorite website for ordering bright knit fabrics? I love the wide bold and colorful stripes you use.

  21. I came first time on your blog.. I seen your leggings tutor and watched your youtube episode I like it.. Thanks for adding the tips regarding the leggings..
    Both of you girls looks very gorgeous.. 🙂

  22. 35) Mica N

    Love your videos! Could you please tell me what Model of Baby Lock Serger she uses in this video? I would love to purchase one. Is it self threading?

  23. 36) Sheila Lazarus

    Great video, well done.

  24. 37) Courtney

    How much fabric would you recommend to buy for adult leggings? Thanks!

  25. 38) Molly

    Love this site! I just found it. And I’m dying over that tunic or dress you’re wearing in this video Dana…can I ask where you got it? OR did you make it!?

  26. 39) Amanda

    Like all the other comments let me start by saying…. You guys are awesome and I can’t wait to make these leggings. Miranda- in just a few words, could you tell us how to make a traditional band to the leggings (similar to how Dana did it) but with using the serger? I’d like to make a few pairs for my little boys and the foldover method is a little too feminine.

    Many Thanks!!
    Amanda

  27. 40) Miranda

    Do you have a ready made pattern for leggings?

  28. 41) Caitlin

    LOVE this tutorial! I have my own pattern I’m using for the yoga style. I’m new to using a serger and I can’t get the waistband right with the tugging of the band and I’m so frustrated ????

  29. 42) Sarah

    If you are using a sewing machine and a piece of fabric, do you do the hem the same way as with the serger just using the same stitch you used on the rest of the legging? I made a pair and they turned out great except for the hem…it stretched out a lot. I’m hoping it will maybe shrink back a little in the dryer, but I’m not sure it will.

    • 43) Dana

      Hi Sarah – Yes, you definitely want to use a stretch stitch on the hem when you stitch it on a sewing machine. Hemming knits is simple but the key is to not stretch the fabric as it goes under your presser foot. Also, if your machine allows you to decrease the presser foot pressure, do that as much as you can. Then steam press it really well. Hope that helps!

      • 44) Meghan

        I love the tshirt idea! What kind of tshirt do you use?

  30. 45) Linda

    I just love how easy you make projects look. Great skill made easy. Thank-you!
    My question is how do I add pieces to leggings such as the ones Miranda was wearing? Thanks again.
    Linda

  31. 46) Rachel barker

    Hey 🙂 im a young mum and have a passion for making my own clothes for my daughter i have only been sewing for about 3 weeks now and i love it and your videos help me so much i have my iPad next to me watching your video whilst i sew i made these cute leggings and my daughter loves them 🙂 i know you don’t know your helping but thank you for all the help x

  32. 47) Cathi

    There is no play button on my screen..Tried going back and starting over many times..Don’t see it..

  33. 49) Deb

    If you cut off the seam on the first pair or didn’t make an allowance for the seam in the pattern for the second pair wouldn’t a pair made from those patterns be smaller than the original leggings? What am I missing?

    • 50) Dana

      Hi Deb, I find that by the time I trace around the leggings, it adds a little bit, and then I use minimal seam allowances when I sew the together (most overlocking stitches are about 1/4″ wide). When you couple that with the stretch and forgiving nature of knits, I’ve never had a pair come out too small. But if you’re concerned about it or want to be on the safe side, you could definitely add room for seam allowances after tracing! Happy sewing 🙂

  34. 51) Judith

    Thank you so much for the tutorial. I have been up cycling old work shirts into toddler dress and thanks to your tutorials I up cycled 4 polo shirts (they had an old business logo on them) into pants . I used a regular sewing machine zigzag setting. Instead of elastic I used the collars as the waist band. I Also used the bottom of the shirt as the bottom of the pants this way there’s no need to hem.

  35. 52) Bec

    Best video yet! Thank you! I sew with knits all the time and learnt so much, especially the overclocking (serger) aspect. Need to watch again! Can’t buy Baby Lock sewing machines in Australia 🙁

  36. 53) Rachel

    Hi I’m just wondering what fabric you use and there’s loads to choose from x

  37. 55) Alice

    Glad I found this post,the leggings is very cute,I am gonna make one for my little baby.

    P.S. you guys are funny,I am your new fan

    Alice

  38. 56) wilking

    what a lovely leggings!

  39. 57) Georgina

    Where is the video turorial for the leggings?

  40. 59) DOnna

    Yes! This video was absolutely fun and engaging, and I learned such a cool trick! Thank you for sharing the details. I was blown away by the step of putting one pant leg into the other (right sides facing) to sew the crotch seam! Wow! I had been making it much harder than it needed to be. Now if I can just find a way to make knit-fabric hems easier as well…

  41. 60) STella

    Hello everyone, i try it with my machine and its awesome,thanks for your help Dana,its releif to find a help,because in my language i cant find more videos..Thanks again and i hope you will continue the good job!

  42. 61) Vanessa

    Hi Dana,

    I love your videos! I’ve just started sewing and I’ve made two drawstring bags!
    I want to try sew some leggings for my baby, can you recommend the best fabric to use. I do prefer the stretch type of fabric, but not familiar with what is best.

    Thanks

  43. 62) DEANNA JORDAN

    how do i find the pattern for the legges to try please?

  44. 63) Kelly

    Any thoughts on adding knee patches? I’ve got an active little tike on my hands with lots of skinned knees.

  45. 64) Miri

    Hi. Great video! Where can I find a pattern if I don’t have the right size of leggings at home? I want one that will fit in few months. Miranda’s site is down..

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