How to Make Hand Made Leg Warmers

Leg warmers have escaped from the dance floor, and upholstered themselves into everyday fashions.

Leg warmers were originally used to keep a dancer's calves warm, and to prevent cramping during practice. According to America's Authority on Fitness (ACE), in the early 1980's, leg warmers become a fashion accessory. In the 21st century, leg warmers were taken up a notch, and became fashion accessories for boots, and as an arm cover to layer under t-shirts. Leg warmers are typically made from wool, which is why they are so comfortable, and warm. They can be made from recycled wool sweaters by cutting the arms off, and re-sizing to fit your legs.

Things You'll Need

• 1 wool sweater
• Scissors
• straight pins
• Sewing machine

Instructions

1. Cut the sleeves off of the sweater as close to the seam as possible. Turn the sweater inside out, and use the inside arm seam near the shoulder to guide you.

2. Decide how long you want your leg warmers, and then cut them to your desirable length. Cut the length from the arm seam area, not the finished edge where it reaches your wrist.

3. Put the sleeves on your legs. If the sleeve has cuffs they should be up top, near the thigh area with the cut seam at the bottom near your ankle.

4. Find the seam along the length, this is the vertical line going up the leg. Grasp the vertical seam, and pull any excess fabric towards the seam until the leg warmer fits snugly around your leg. Pin the fabric as close to your leg as you are comfortable with, so that the leg warmer fits snugly against your leg. Repeat for the other leg, and then take the leg warmers off.

5. Set up your sewing machine for a straight stitch. Sew the vertical seam where you pinned it, while taking the pins out as you sew. Back-stitch as the beginning, and end of the vertical line. Do this for both leg warmers. Cut the excess fabric off as close to the new seam as you can without cutting into the new seam. Hem the bottom raw edge of both leg warmers using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Use the sewing machines hem gauge located just below the presser foot, it is the metal plate with different numbers on it.

References

• America's Authority on Fitness; Top 25 Fitness Fashion Fads: 1985-2009
• Dancewear: Dancewear Through the Ages;