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