Pins!
I’ve sewn lots of pairs of leggings for my girls over the last few years, but until last month, I hadn’t made a pair for myself.
These leggings were created with a dual purpose (always a good thing)… to fill a wardrobe gap and to test out a pattern for an upcoming teaching gig.
The pattern is Jalie 2920 Leggings, Stirrup Tights and Mini Skirt and I used a medium-weight cotton/lycra with great recovery from Clear It (which is unfortunately sold out). After measuring an old well fitting part of leggings against the pattern I added an inch to the rise (a common alteration for me) and three inches to the leg length. Yes, three inches! And these pins of mine are not known for being long… quite the opposite! I did sew this pattern in some viscose/lycra and a lighter weight cotton/lycra and the same alterations were required.
I’ve had more wear out of these leggings than I would have expected. I wear them when walking my girls to school, they were the perfect trans-seasonal layering piece to take on a recent family holiday to Sydney, and I have been known to wear them around the house with a long sleeve tee and then just fall into bed and let them assume the role of pyjamas!
I’m very honoured and excited to be part of the teaching line-up at The Craft Sessions this year. Are you familiar with The Craft Sessions? It’s a fabulous weekend retreat in the Yarra Valley (about an hours drive from Melbourne) organised so participants can come together, craft (there are twenty workshops to choose from!), connect and be inspired by each other and the joy of handmade.
At the retreat, I will be teaching three classes:
- Garment Sewing – Leggings
- Garmnet Sewing – Aeolian Tee/Dress
- Sewing – Perfect Denim Tote
Registrations open this afternoon at 5pm and all spots have been known to sell out in a couple of hours! So, if you’re interested don’t delay!
Pattern: Jalie’s 2920 Leggings, Stirrup Tights and Mini Skirt
Size: 28
Fabric: Cotton/Lycra from Clear It (sold out)
Alterations: Added 1″ to the rise and 3″ to the leg length
Accessories: Uimi Indiana Scarf and as-new second-hand Funkis shoes
Anna – I can’t make it to the craft sessions but I would be keen to take a class taught by you. Do you think you might consider offering more elsewhere?
Hi Rachel. I will be teaching my denim tote bag in Melbourne at The Cloth Shop one Saturday in July. I will keep you posted when the details are finalised.
Oops, don’t know what happened hereOopsI am newly in love with leggings, and your photo site is lovely!
I’m always depressed when you have summer “Down Under” while I’m in the “Depths of Despair” with winter coming here in New York.
This topsy-turvy world we live in has me in disbelief sometimes too. It’s hard to imagine when we are baking here in Summer you are often knee deep in snow!
Lovely pins! I always like the idea of leggings and obviously wear tights for work, but I find the ones I can buy are a bit “sheeny”. I’m not a fan of sheeny. How about your fabric? Any suggestions?
I’m not a fan of sheeny either Jillian. The cotton/lycra blends are definitely less sheeny (and a heck of a lot easier to sew) than viscose. I would ensure that the cotton is a good weight too as there is nothing nice about see through leggings!
How exciting, I bet you will be a great teacher. You must be very tall, three inches!? That’s normally how much I have to lop out of most patterns!
At 165cm tall Louise, I’m not tall. I actually think there is a drafting problem with the pattern.
Great ‘pins’! you look really cute – and love your shoes 🙂
Thanks Coco. These shoes are a bit of a favourite of mine.
Fab pins! Nothing like perfectly fitting stretchy wear I say!
I’m blushing Sarah!
Very smart looking “”pins” and often wonder if I would leggings them as I love my tights as my feet get so cold.
And there is nothing worse than cold feet Sharon, so it sound like you might need to stick with your tights.
Nice one Anna! Not having such elegant slender pins as yours I’ve never got around to sewing leggings. But I actually think I’d love superfine merino ones to wear under skirts in winter.
How exciting to be teaching at Craft Sessions! (but doesn’t get you out of that promised small group tote bag sewing session at yours 😉 )
There will be tote sewing at mine. Mark my word!