Leggings, the $5 version

So I finished up my first leggings class for teens this past Sunday. Talk about multi-tasking! This makes me think of the times I've been in the kitchen making lentil soup, pesto sauce and filling up the ice tray all at the same time. If you can handle cooking multiple dishes at once, you most certainly help four students who all need your help now. That was certainly the way I felt during my leggings class on Sunday. I had to go the bathroom, but I didn't leave the classroom once during the 3-hour workshop. And I'd just had an iced coffee to boot! Somehow, I just got in the Zone of super-concentration for the afternoon. I focused on my students, what they needed and getting out on time, more or less.

So I moved from the cutting table, to the machines, asked a student to assist another, and did some magic with the seam rippers. Four pairs of leggings of varying quality emerged completed by a little after the end of class. I even managed to sew on some stretch lace by request from my youngest student, a 9-year-old (who incidentally seemed to have the least fear of the advanced Viking sewing machines. She put down a whole of straight stitching on her fussy fuschia knit while I was with one of her peers. It wasn't perfect, but she did it!)

I didn't end up doing the twin-needle stitching on the hems after all. It's just too complex to set up individually. In a future seminar, I might set up a machine or two with these needles in black and white threads. Then, we could just pick the thread that best matches the chosen fabric and get it done and over with. Or I could suggest in my materials hand-out a fabric that has some white or black in it. I'd also make my class slightly longer. It's so difficult to complete any project in 180 minutes, let alone a pair of leggings. So all workshops - hats, underwear, t-shirts - are going to be 3.5 hours at least. It makes my life easier and less stressful. Everyone's more likely to walk out with a completed project. There's nothing less like leaving a one-time class with a project that's not done and you don't have a clue on how to finish it. None!

But I loved how my students were just so enthusiastic: they all had previous experience on the Vikings. The entire class had learned how to make pajama pants, one had even made a simple dress. I think it also helps that they're used to computers, so a sewing machine with a glowing display and up and down buttons are kid-friendly.

Even if they never touch McCall M5512 again, I hope they wear their leggings. To me, that's primo! If you don't wear what you make, you're less likely to sew. No one's going to see the crooked stitched, the less than perfect waistband, so why not just wear it. Besides, you spent money on it, you might as well as get some wear out of it. For example, I've got a short sleeve top on today underneath a Sandra Betzina tunic. The short sleeve top is a little big, the neckline wonky, but the fabric is so soft and comfortable. It's suitable as the extra layer that I need during this damp, cold day.

Back to Sunday. I was able to finish my leggings after the students left. I'm wearing them now beneath my black yoga pant.

I've since ordered this pattern, because I prefer my leggings long ankle-length. This accessory is so inexpensive, you can easily make it for less than $5, which makes it much cheaper than the basic black one I got for about $15 at Marshalls recently. I'm incredibly thrilled with this easy-to-make accessory, that I just want to share my knowledge with other women. How likely would you be to sign up for a how-to-make leggings workshop? You can not only make pairs for yourself, but children too. It's practical!

Teaching Teens Twin-Needle Stitching? Easy McCall's M5512*

I'm quite proud of these leggings. They look so ready-to-wear. Actually much better than anything you would find in the Bloomingdale's legwear department, which really is the best place real-time to find something for the part of your body that enables to walk. Can I just say how pleased I am with these? My main objection is that they're a bit high-waisted for my low-rider taste. My fear is that my teen-age students will say the same thing. But I've no clue about how to convert them into low-rise leggings. Absolutely none. Hey, maybe my pupils won't care. High-waisted jeans and skirts are back. Why not leggings? I'm not sure even Hilary Duff, whose name is on this pattern, would dare to wear belly-button hiding accessories. I understand that bare midriffs are out of style unless you are Britney Spears up on the stage singing "Womanizer." I understand, sympathize and have no interest in showing off my naval to the masses. Even teens who don't want to wear cropped teess might have a problem. I mean, these might feel like a girdle to them! They don't wear full-coverage underwear, why would on the planet would they opt leggings cut the same way?

So I'm nervous about this. The complaints, the groans, the sighs, the shrugs! But I'm not about to alter the pattern, at least in a three-hour timeslot. We need to start and finish on the dot, which can be done because I did this past weekend. If you stick with the pattern. Ignore the instructions though. McCall's would have you make a casing and slide the elastic through with a safety-pin! That's just plain dumb. I cut a length of elastic, which I stretched out to fit my post-high school hips. Stitched that into a loop. Marked the elastic and the leggings waistband into quarters with blue chalk. Matched up those on the sewing machine, using the three-step zig zag. I'm not going to tell you how I finished it, because I think it looks bad. Here's what I'd do next time. With the sewn elastic flipped to the wrong side, I'd anchor all that down with a straight stitch (tension 4) on the outside, getting as close to the raised edge of the elastic as possible.

Here's another thing I'd do differently. I'd use the twin-needle straight stitching at the bottom (right now Steam-a-Seam is holding the hem together). Now I know how to use a twin-needle, but it took me a long time to figure it out. I had to get over my fear of breaking the dang things. I still get nervous about that even now. Anyhow, I know how to set up a twin-needle stitch, but I'm thinking this would be difficult for a teen to do in what's being pegged as a beginner's class. What do you think? Should I just tell 'em to use a zig-zag instead or are they going to get all cranky on me about it looking homemade? Please advise now, before I head off to a local pub for a pint of Guinness Stout.

Perhaps you're wondering about the flocked appliques. Those are iron-ons! Two of them set me back 50 cents. Such a bargain. I only wish there were more of them left at Vogue Fabrics, but last time I looked there were about three hanging on a wall hook near the business office. I'm heartbroken because I can envision these appliques on a gazillion other things - blouses, jean pockets, more leggings even a wool felt hat.

One more complaint about the leggings. I prefer mine longer, closer to the ankles. I could lengthen them (I think) by simply splitting the pattern at the calves, adding some inches with extra paper and them taping the whole shebang back together, right? For those of you who like to wear leggings, what style do you prefer? Fabrics? Embellishments? I'm toying with the idea of offering this workshop for adults in the fall. What say you?
* I made these leggings using a 1 yard remnant of supersoft jersey. Set me back all of $1.99!