DIY: Turn an Old Sweater into Leg Warmers and a Skirt, No Sew!

Ok some of you may be wondering why I would post a winter outfit tutorial in March. To answer your question I currently live in Northern Pennsylvania, where it's still super cold, like 8 degrees cold. Also, I made these in January, ( when it was even colder at nights!) :

Since I made these a few months ago I used the app I mentioned yesterday on the blog, Tayasui Sketches, to draw out a tutorial for the leggings above and to demonstrate what I made use of with the other part of the sweater. I'm not particularly a good sewer, (I can handsew stitches that won't be totally visible,) so a no sew project is right up my alley. I did the best hand sew job I could to add a cute  cuff to the leggings. If you can sew, I think this would be an even better project. Both the skirt and leggings could really be spruced up!

DIY, No Sew, Leg Warmers/Skirt Set:

1. Go to your local conisignment shop, Salvation Army, Goodwill store, etc. Find a cute printed sweater,  or a solid one to spruce up, and check the tag to make sure it's made of any sort of animal wool. Try to get 100% wool, but I found 80% works too. If the tag checks out, make sure it's slightly larger than what you'd normally wear. If it cute, wool, and a lil big, proceed.

2. Wash your sweater on warm, then rinse on cold. This will help it felt better in the dryer. Dry your sweater until it is a desired felted feel. The fabric should be much firmer than before. If it's cut with a sharp pair of scissors, ( I got a pair of fabric shears at Wal Mart for $4,) it will be simple to cut a straight line. I eyeballed it since I was sewing a cuff on, but if you decide not to do any extra, like the maroonish pair above, you could use washable marker and make a line directly on the sweater.

3. Mark, or don't mark, and cut the sleeves off the sweater. These will be the leg warmers. Next cut the body in half, from under each armpit to the other pit. The lower half will be your skirt. Save the upper scrap for future projects if you'd like.

4. If you decide to keep the previous sleeves, now leg warmers as is, congrats! You're finished! All you have to do now is throw on some tights a cute tee and you're ready for the skirt. I folded my skirt over about an inch or less and belted it. But if you're crafty, I think a folded over waist band, or some elastic at the top would be a good idea. E-mail the address below with your own version of this project, your fashion creation, or any other inspiration! 

-Mia

Comment or Email me at:

Mialynn90@yahoo.com