Sew-Along #21 - Dress No.17 & Leggings No.8 - Lesson #4

All right my knit sewing addicts.... after what you have sewn over the last 3 days, these leggings are going to be a breeze.   If you are struggling with anything, just ask me and I will be happy to help.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or tips to share; please make sure to post them on our Facebook group.  Also, if you would like to see any of the images larger that are posted in this blog, just click on them to enlarge. 

NOTE: Please make sure you read over the E+M Patterns Leggings Tutorial prior to starting this lesson.  You should keep this tutorial open and where you can read it as you go through this lesson.  

 Leggings:

1. Lay your leggings pieces out in front of you.

2. You will notice that there are two different curves  - one is the front curve and one is the back curve.  Each piece is an entire leg with just an inseam and no outseam.

Tip: Want to never get your front and back curves mixed up???  The Back curve will always be higher and deeper - but to help your brain, mark the back with a pin.

3. The Pattern has you hem now, so we will hem now, but I think you will get a more professional look if you wait and hem at the end.

a.) Go ahead and serge or finish the raw edge of your pants.

b.) Turn the bottom up 1/2 inch and press.

c.) Stitch along the raw edge of the turned up bottom to complete your hem.

4. Lay the pieces right sides together with the curves matched up.

5. Pin and sew both curves.

6. Press your seam allowance to the side and top stitch the seam to give the leggings more strength (no popped stitched here!)

7. Match up the front and back seams so that the inseams of the pants lines up.

8. Pin the inseam together making sure to match the top of the inseam where the seams meet.

9. Sew together.

If you serged, make sure that you leave an inch of the tail.

Fold the tail back onto the seam allowance and stitch it in place with a zig zag stitch - this will prevent the seam from unraveling.

Look at that - leggings!  Now we just need a waist band.

10. Once again, start by serging or finishing the raw edge of the top of the pants. I just feel this gives a more professional finish.

11. Turn the top edge down to the inside/wrong side of the pants 1 and 1/4inch.

I like to go ahead and stitch the sizing tag in now so that I don't forget!!!!

Tip: To get an even turn, use a slide ruler to evenly mark how much you need to turn down .

12. Press in place and pin.

13. Stitch along the serged edge leaving a one inch opening in the back - you need this opening to thread your elastic through.

14. Take your elastic and cut it to the length for your size.

Tip: If your child is extra slim, make sure to cut the elastic for the size that their waist measurement uses.

15. Take a safety pin and attach it to the elastic.

16. Thread the safety pin through the opening and through the entire casing.

Tip: To keep your end from popping into the casing, pin the end to the opening.

17. Pull both ends of the elastic through the opening and stitch the ends together.

18. Close the opening by sewing from one edge to the other, make sure to back stitch at both ends. 

19. Secure your elastic in place by stitching in the ditch of the front and back seams (this means doing a straight stitch right along the seam line so that your stitching won't show.

Voila!!!!!!!

Now go put them on your cutie!!!!

Suzanne 

* If you would like to enter the prize drawing, please make sure you submit a picture of your completed lesson one to the Facebook Album by 12:00 noon CT, Monday, February 2nd.  Also, if you have any questions the Facebook Group is a great place to ask.