
You will not believe how easy these are to make – let’s get started:

Adding Ribbon to Leggings
You’ll need:
-footless tights (that are slightly too short)
-ribbon in desired color/pattern
-sewing machine, etc
First, gather your supplies. I was aiming to have the leggings hit mid-calf. I happened to have some footless tights in my giveaway pile because they were too small for my daughter – perfect. Too small just meant too short – they’ll still fit around the waist. If you need to go buy footless tights, buy a size too small so they’ll be short. And then I had some leftover ribbon – that’s where you can be creative – try some wild colors!
As I was considering how to make these, I figured you’d gather the ribbon, then sew it on to the tights – pretty simple. But it’s even easier than that! I was thinking about my earlier use of my gathering foot and how it works, and thought of a new plan:
When you put the tights around the arm of the sewing machine, they are pulled taunt. So when you sew the ribbon on top, they’re feeding through at different rates – same concept behind the genius of the gathering foot, and you don’t need any special foot. So just sew on the ribbon, making sure that the tights are pulled tight. When you take them off the arm of the machine, you’ll see that it ruffles up all on it’s own.
Since I wasn’t sure how much ribbon it would take to go around the bottom of the tights, I waited to cut the length until it was sewed down, so it didn’t have a finished edge. I just overlapped a little, then folded the end over and sewed it down, as shown:
Leggings with Flare
Seriously, that was it!! Sew a ribbon on the bottom of footless tights, and voila, Leggings With Flare! Some more pics of my daughter – she would not stand still! And really these look so much cuter in person!
Are you digging through your discarded tights stash right now? 😉
Simple Sewing Projects
if you love this super simple sewing project, you might also like:
found you on new friend friday at the girl creative. those are super cute!
sometimes i wish i had kids so that i could dress them in things like this! someday, someday. 🙂
Wah! I need a little girl, these are just too precious!
I hopped over from New Friend Friday and I am so happy that I did! What cute little leggings!Please accept my invitation to drop in at my place one day this week when you get a moment. until later…
Off to buy some footless tights! Thanks Mandy! I knew I could rely on you to figure it out for me!
Stopping by from New Friend Friday. This is really cute and your model adorable.
I am SO making these…I don’t care that my girls are 20 and 14…I will give them to a friend! Thank you so much for bringing your hodgepodge to the party! I love seeing what you are up to…and hope you will join again!
~Gay~
itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.com
SOOO cute! Both the project + the ♥ little angel wearing them!
I just found your wonderful Blog via U create and am in love with how very easy you make your absolutely adorable “leggings with flare”….Thank you for sharing your tutorial!
Those are so CUTE!! I have a few little girls that would love em’ – Thanks for the tutorial!
That’s so CUTE!! And I love that stretching the leggings does the gathering for you!
I linked to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
https://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-add-a-gathered-ribbon-ruffle-to-a-pair-of-leggings/2010/03/27/
–Anne
I found you through new friend Friday! I love your blog! I am your newest follower!
I love this idea!!!! will look for some leggings to add these cuties on to.
These are SUPER cute! I think I’ll have to make some for my little girl.
Jenn
LOVE these… I don’t have any daughters, but my sister thinks that leggings are an absolute go-to essential for her girls. I’ll have to look for some for my nieces and add some goodness to them.
we have a friday fun finds party- if you’re interested, we’d love it if you’d link up. 🙂
Super cute!! She is adorable too!
Cute and easy…a wonderful combination….
So dang cute! You are a genius!
Super cute! I love your easy gathering technique! Your model is adorable too.
Thanks for linking up to Make it Yours Day at My Backyard Eden!
Wow, totally copied from http://www.bonboncupcakes.com. I know the owners. You should give credit to your inspiration. Otherwise you are just ripping them off.
Sooo cute. I love those polka dots. What a great idea!
Thanks for linking up to my party!
XOXO
Jen
Thank you sooooooo much. My sis sent me some leggings to do this for my niece’s birthday and I was just trying to figure it out. You made it so simple! 🙂
This is such a great idea, and I love how the gathering is so easy! I linked on last weekend’s weekly roundup and am just now (yikes!) getting around to commenting. Thanks so mcuh for sharing!
ALL THESE THINGS R NICE N GAVE ME INSPIRATION TO DO SOMETHING N EXPLORE MYSEFL .
Thank you!! I bought a pair of these for my daughter at a local boutique and spent over $20. on them and she tore a hole in them the 2nd time she wore them. I bought a pair of leggins at the department store for under $5. and have been wanting to add ribbon, I just wasn’t sure how. I am off to my sewing room to finally do this project. Thank you again for such a cute and easy project.
You are a GENIUS!!!!!!!
I have an old machine without a gathering foot and have been trying to figure out how to sew a ruffle on the cuff of too short leggings. Same problem, perfect in the waist but too short.
Thank you so much!!!!!
Can I cut off regular girls tights and do this???? You can email me at mhode79(at)gmail(dot)com if you like. Thanks!