Work in Progress...: Tutorial: How to Upcycle an Adult Shirt into Infant/Toddler Leggings

If you know me, you know I'm always looking for ways to make something old into something new. These days, with the economy being in the state it has been, it's important to save money on everything. In in my case, with 3 little ones, that ESPECIALLY goes for kids' clothes.

So, in this tutorial, I'm going to show you how to take an adult's shirt and turn it into a pair of leggings for your little one.

Now, this tutorial only requires the sleeves of the shirt, so later on I will be including a second one. For that tutorial, I will show you how to use the remaining part of the shirt that you just cut up (Waste not, want not, hehe! ) to make a remaining tunic/dress to match the leggings.

Bear with me, as this is my first tutorial. And feel free to leave questions, comments, criticism--I'm always open to suggestion.

So, without further ado, here you go. Enjoy it! :-)

How to Upcycle an Adult Shirt into Infant/Toddler Leggings

You Will Need:

Adult size long sleeve shirt, made of stretchy knit material
Pair of leggings or that already fit the child
Sewing Machine
Thread
Measuring tape or ruler
1 yard of elastic at least 3/8 inch wide, but no wider than 1"
Scissors
Pen or Pencil
Straight Pins
2 Safety Pins

Step 1:

Cut the sleeves off of the shirt at the armohole seam. Set remaining shirt aside.

Save the rounded pieces that you cut off the top of the sleeve--set them aside with the rest of the shirt. They will be used later.

Step 2:

Take the child's leggings or pants and fold them in half longwise. Press the crotch fold out away from center to make it visible, as seen in the picture below.

Step 3:

Turn the sleeves inside out.

Line up the sleeves in the same direction and lay them on top of eachother.

Lay the child's leggings (or pants) on top of the sleeves, with the outside fold of the pants lined up with the outside fold of the sleeves.

Step 4:

Trace the shape of the inside seam of the child's leggings onto the sleeves, *leaving about an inch or so for seam allowance.* At the top, leave about 3 inches or so for seam allowance and casing.

Step 5:

Place a few pins around the INSIDE edge of the pants shape to hold it together. Cut the pants shape from the sleeves and remove pins.

Step 6:

Pick up the first pant 'leg' and line up the edges and bottoms. Pin lightly to hold shape. Sew the inseam--from the bottom of the pant leg to the beginning point of the crotch.

Use a 3/8 inch seam allowance and remember to stretch the fabric lightly as you sew. Repeat with other pant leg.

Step 7:

This part is kind of tricky. Take one pant leg and turn it right side out. Insert it, right sides together, into the other pant leg, lining up inseams.

Step 8:

Pin along the crotch seam (the u shape at the top) and sew it together, leaving a 3/8 seam alowance of 3/8 inch. I like to sew a second time back through the crotch seam for extra reinforcement.

Step 9:

Turn the pants inside out. Take the elastic and measure around your child's waist. Tighten the elastic to how snug you want the waist to fit . Use a pen to mark a line on the elastic where the other end overlaps. That will be your elastic guide. Cut the elastic about 1 inch past that line.

A little tip: For those of you whose child is squirmy like mine and hard to hold still for measurements, you can use the pair of pants or leggings as a guide.

Just fold the old pants in half, and fold the elastic in half. Line up the fold of the elastic with the inside fold of the pants. Draw a line on the elastic about one inch past the waistline of the pants--that will be your guide. Cut the elastic about 1 inch past that. Continuing on:

Step 10:

Now for the casing: Lay the pants out flat, still inside out. Take the top edge and fold down (toward you) about 1 inch to form the casing. Pin in place every inch or two to secure the casing and sew, leaving an opening of about 3/4 inch.

Step 11:

Last step--adding the elastic. You're on the home stretch! (Haha, get it? "Home stretch?" Oh, I kill myself sometimes...)

Secure a safety pin to each end of your elastic length. Attach one end of the elastic to something to use as an anchor--I normally use my pants leg.

Here's an important tip: Anchoring one end of the elastic makes sure that end doesn't go sliding into the casing--because then it's a complete pain in the butt to pull back out. You'll wind up having to pull it all the way through and start over. I I learned this the hard way. LOL!

Take the other end of the elastic and feed it into the opening and through the casing, all the way around and back out the same opening. Use the safety pin to help guide the elastic through.

Lightly feel with your fingers along the casing, making sure the elastic isn't twisted inside. Smooth it out as best as you can without drawing the ends back into the casing. Remove the safety pins from the ends. Lay one end of the elastic on top of the other, lining up the end with the guide mark you made earlier. Pin and sew it in place at either end of the overlap.

Step 12:

You're almost done! Now, GENTLY stretch the waistline/casing all the way out so the sewn end of the elastic slips back into the casing.

Pin the opening and sew it closed, lining up with the stitching on the rest of the casing. Tie off threads and cut. Turn the leggings rightside-out. That's it, you're done!