A new pattern is released into the shop today, part of the Sew What You Wear range. I'll bet you lounge around in leggings and the like much more than you wear a silk blouse or a posh dress.
If you've been following So Sew Easy for a while, you may remember that some time ago I featured a tutorial, measuring video and spread sheet for drafting your own custom fit leggings pattern. That is still available for you to use for free. But if you don't fancy drafting your own pattern, I've now made this multi-sized pattern available for download.
What's special about it?
If you ever get fed up with the sizing on commercial sewing patterns or on the ready to wear clothes available to you, you might already be aware that the measurements used often don't seem to reflect the real size and shape of the modern woman. You aren't alone in thinking that. If you follow a lot of sewing blogs, you'll often see the bloggers ranting about unrealistic proportions.
photo credit: Just Mary Designs via photopin cc
That is what makes this pattern special. It's not based on the imaginary, vanity or ‘ideal' sizing of the high street, this pattern is drafted using the REAL measurements of REAL women. A great BIG thank you to the Pattern Testing Team who all so generously agreed to share their most intimate of personal measurements for this pattern.
photo credit: TinyTall via photopin cc
With waist sizes from 26 to 46 inches, I'm hoping I've got most of you covered. The pattern covers the tallest person on the team, while it also includes 3 different places where you can lengthen or shorten to suit your own body measurements and height.
So, if you want to look smoking hot, like the pattern testing team, get this pattern !
Features:
- Real sizing based on real women's measurements
- Quick and easy to sew
- Just one pattern piece
- 3 places to lengthen or shorten so they'll be just right
- Good range of sizes
- Step by step written instructions along with videos on how and where to measure, and sewing instructional video too.
Pattern tester feedback
Theresa from The DIY Page – I loved the pattern, it was super easy and the fit was good. It was easy to alter. I marked the back of the leggings by sewing a little ribbon tab. It sticks out from the waistband. I always do this if the front doesn't look different from the back.
Linda – I'm not a big legging fan and don't wear them very often but needed some to workout so I decided to try the pattern. I really like that there is only one piece to the pattern. I have to say that once I tried on my leggings for the first time I was so so impressed with the fit ! They fit well everywhere! When I finished them I wore them for meditation and sometimes with others after crossing your legs and moving around they go down and when you get up you have to pull the leggings back to their place so they crotch is at the right place but not those ones. After that I went for a walk and did exercises with them and they remained in place and don't pull from anywhere. I will be making much more of these for sure! Thanks Deby for a pattern for real women!!
Diane from Two Chicklets Sew Shop – I didn't have enough of this fabric to make them long but these are perfect for walking shorts. I wore these to go walking with a friend this morning and they worked great. One piece = easy!
Sonja – I made the leggings in 2 hours yesterday. Very easy to follow. I wore them all day. Great pattern. My first time sewing a stretchy fabric. I liked that I learned how to sew and work with knits. I also learned what stitches to use. It was great. I was very excited they fit on the first try.
As usual, to make downloading easy and reliable, the pattern is hosted in my design account with Payhip. If you don’t already have an account, you will need to sign up to purchase and download, but don’t worry, it’s quick and easy.
Download this pattern and instructions from my design account at Payhip...
Where can I now purchase this pattern? The Etsy link says the pattern is not available, and the Craftsy/Bluprint shop is closed.
is back on again…Thank you for letting me know.
Never mind on the amount of fabric, just read your reply to someone else about taking the measurement from the pattern once you determine your size. Sorry
I live in a small town and am getting ready to travel to the big town, so I need to know how much fabric to buy. I can find nowhere on the PDF that states how much fabric for each pair of leggings – I haven’t measured, but probably close to a 12 in everyday sizing. How much fabric should I need?
all depends on the width of the fabric you buy, how long your legs are and how wide your hips. The best thing is to print the pattern and work out how much you need depending on the fabric you find.
I wish you accepted something besides PayPal because I refuse to use it be Austin she I get so many phishing emails every time I click on a paypal button.
That is bizarre, it is the most secure way to get paid and send payment as far as I know.
do the 2 step sign in where you get a code onto YOUR phone and then ignore/delete all the bad emails. You really are safe with the 2 step.
I was gifted with fabric to make leggings for my daughters, I am on a tight budget and NEW to sewing. Any tutorials on setting to use and how to measure? I have never made cloths before lol .
I’m new to sewing and wanted to make my wife some leggings since she enjoys them so much. I think she will like the idea of versions that are made to fit real women. However, she really likes the yoga pant topped leggings because to her they are more comfortable. Are there any instructions on how to achieve that instead of the elastic top, or is there anywhere I might be able to find out how to do that?
Not yet, in this site, however I will be publishing a pattern for yoga legging late in the summer. Stay Tuned!
This morning I bought your leggings pattern. By lunchtime, finished! Wow… easy to to, superb fit – and I am no Skinny Lizzie. Just need to make a couple of long tee-shirts to wear with them now, so I can be not just pleased with what I’ve done, but elegant too… and get some more jersey to get making more …
Living in central France, ( yes, I’m English) I need to use internet-available patterns… so am loving your site – both free and paid-for patterns. Thank you.
Hi Judy, that’s really great to hear and thanks for posting the comment.
I love that you included photos of real women holding LOVE YOUR BODY signs, but why follow that up with a photo of Barbie doll women? It negates the earlier message, IMHO.
It’s all supposed to be just light-hearted fun, that says whatever body shape or size you are, you can look smoking hot in leggings that fit you perfectly. Sorry if you were upset by it.
I tried to purchase this pattern and the paypal info form will not take my zip code.
Hmm, that seems very odd and is probably an issue with Paypal rather than Craftsy. You could try on the Etsy store instead. This pattern is also listed HERE. Let me know if that still doesn’t work and I can do the sale manually for you.
I have sewn a tiny bit on jersey knit before, but I always have the problem of wavy seams. (I don’t feel like I am stretching the fabric-sometimes I don’t even touch it) I get my best results (not great) with the walking foot and stretch foot. However, I would love to be able to use the overcast stitch for knits and finish it all at once. Any suggestions?
when you sew on knits, if you use a ball point needle and grasp the seam in front of the presser foot, and the other hand holds steady behind, stretch the seam gently as you sew with a straight stitch about 10-12 stitches per inch, longer than on wovens. This way you are packing a tiny bit of extra thread in each stitch allowing it to stretch with you and not break. Follow up with a second stitch parallel in the seam allowance just a bit away, not on top of the first stitching. Done… no seam finishing needed. See Stretch N Sew books for more info on sewing with knits.
I cannot find the yardage for the leggings. Help please.
Assuming you have a wide fabric, say 54 -58 inches wide, then the yardage you need will be the length of the leggings from waist to ankle, plus a couple of inches for seam allowances. So it depends on how tall you are and how long you want the leggings to be. Once you print out the pattern, take your measurements and adjust it if necessary, then you’ll be able to measure the piece and that is how much fabric you need. Hope this helps.
If the cost is $2.95, then what about or what part of this pattern is free? I’m confused, thx
brenda
Hi Brenda, this is not one of my free patterns, this is a paid one. If you want the free leggings pattern, there is a link to the previous tutorial which you can download the spreadsheet and use your own personal measurements in order to create a custom pattern. All of the info etc on that is free. But for those who don’t want to go to the trouble of doing that, then they can pay to buy this pattern which I have already made. Sorry if there is some confusion but I don’t think I say anywhere that this pattern is free.
I’m so glad that you decided to do a pattern! I have a teenaged daughter that lives in leggings. There are a lot of pretty knit fabrics and she’s got a birthday coming up, so I think I’ve figured out what I’m going to making for her!
That’s great Jane. I’m pretty much always in leggings when I’m at home, and often I’m out and about in them too. I hope your turn out well.