Just a couple weeks back much of the Midwest was engulfed in what was dubbed the “polar vortex”. With temperatures dipping down as far as negative 19 in Chicago-land, it was more important than ever to layer up to keep warm. And that’s exactly what I had to do along with millions of other folks. Slipping into layer upon layer of tights, leggings and socks, it suddenly hit me – I need some old-fashioned legwarmers! So I grabbed an old sweater and got to crafting. Within twenty minutes I was cozied up and ready to hit the great and frigid outdoors.

If you’ve been battling to keep your legs warm this season – give this easy tutorial a try! All you need is a pair of scissors, needle, thread and a chunky knit sweater. If you have any mismatched buttons lying around  grab those too for added embellishment. In just a half hour or less you’ll be on your way to a toastier, and more eco-chic you!

1. Pick out a vintage or gently used sweater that you’d like to transform.
2. Cut off both sleeves – leaving the original seams on the torso. Save the extra fabric to make a pillow or skirt.
3. Roll the raw edge until you have a double fold.
4. Grab your needle and thread to hem the fold. Start with two regular loop stitches.
5. After making the second, pull your needle through the stitch’s loop.
6. Pull taught and move on to the next stitch, repeating the process. This is called the “lock stitch” method.
7. Grab a handful of mismatched buttons. 
8. Sew the first button onto the original sleeve hem – not the lock-stitched one you just created.
9. Add more buttons and repeat on other legwarmer.

And there you have it! In just a handful of minutes you’ll find yourself donning an adorable and toasty pair of hand-crafted legwarmers! Layer them over a pair of leggings and tall boots or transform your favorite flats into winter-ready apparel. Should your one-of-a-kind accessories get dirty, simply hand wash them in the sink with your favorite eco-safe detergent and set them out to dry.