Last weekend I made the cutest leggings for my Vermont grand baby. This morning I took a few pictures to share with you. They will go off in the mail this afternoon so she can wear them for the holiday season.
I was in Jo-Ann’s about a month ago and picked up this adorable reindeer fabric. I love the expressions on the face of these deer. At the time, I was hoping to make one-piece pajamas or a little dress with the fabric but I didn’t buy enough. Drat . I had enough for leggings though.
As usual, I perused Pinterest and found this free pattern. It was just perfect, very simple and it went up to size 2T. My sweet grand daughter is a chunk and I didn’t want the pants to be too tight. The pattern is from Toddah.net and prints out on four pieces of 8 1/2 x 11 paper. The instructions are simple and if you are just learning to sew, I recommend this project. It is beginner friendly.
It took all of 45 minutes to cut and sew the legging. I used a tiny zig zag stich while sewing so there is some give with the knit fabric.
Each seam was finished with an extra zig zag stitch. I wasn’t exactly sure about the length. I had an inseam measurement of ten inches from her mama but it seemed long. I put elastic at the ankles. That way if they are long, they can bunch up at the ankles.
Last finishing touch was to stitch an X at the back of the waist so it is easier to tell front from back. I can’t wait to see how these fit.
While I was working on these, I kept thinking about the kids’ Christmas stockings. I felt like they needed an embellishment at the top. I took a run to Ben Franklin and found this red twill tape with a white stripe. It has a rustic look that I thought worked great with the Winter Friends fabric. When I got home, I asked my husband to make some rustic buttons for me. He found a maple branch and sliced some rounds from it. Then he drilled two needle-size holes for stitching, sanded and put some finish on them. They are SOOOOO cool. I was thrilled with the finish of the buttons. (You can bet I will ask him for more of these in the future. He whipped them out in no time. What a talented guy!)
The twill tape would surely fray over the years so I stitched a teensy hem at each end and painted a bit of white glue over the ends. I think that will help the tape remain intact.
What do you think? I feel like this is the icing on the cake. The stockings feel finished now.
Do you want to see a button up close? Yes, I thought so.
OK – This is it. No more blogging until after Thanksgiving Day. This afternoon Julia and I have a date to make pumpkin pie, fudge and the dough for tomorrow’s rolls. Happy holidays to you and your family!
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Lovely; the finishing details on the stockings really are perfect. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you Yvonne! I love them – they just needed that last bit of decoration. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you Susan. Same to you – enjoy the holiday weekend. 🙂
OMG!! That’s all adorable!! And Hubby MADE the buttons?? Really? I’m very impressed.
I was impressed too! Especially since I just asked him for buttons and this is his first attempt ever. They are so cute. I am not sure I would put them on a sweater – I don’t know how they would hold up to laundering. But as a decoration, perfect!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving B2. 🙂 (from B3)
I love the addition of the rustic buttons ( what a handy guy, your Hubby) and the twill tape. I concur, finished! What a cute pair of legging too! I am off to find that pattern. I have a 18 month old granddaughter, that could use a pair of Christmas leggings! Thanks
Hi Judy — Thanks so much for the comment. He is definitely a handy guy. We have a lot of fun when we work on projects together.
Let me know how the leggings go. I am sure you will enjoy making them. After that you will enjoy watching her wear them. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!
Bernie, the leggings are adorable! And, you’re right. The twill with the buttons absolutely finishes the stockings. Great job on all of them!
Thank you Nancy!! Those leggings will be a whole lot cuter when they are filled with chubby little legs. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Those buttons are the coolest! And those sweet, sweet leggings! I think my niece needs a pair… 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving Bernie!
Thanks Beth. If those leggings fit (and I hope they do!) I will make more. They are so simple – a fun, quick project.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
The leggings are adorable, and I love those buttons! So fun that your hubby made them! Happy Thanksgiving, Bernie! I’m hoping to pop by your site on Friday!
Thank you Wendy. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
You are right the fabric is adorable and it makes great leggings, you are so talented. The twill ribbon is the perfect finish to your lovely stockings, you have a very talented husband, wonderful buttons.
The leggings are adorable!! Sometimes there are some great finds at Joann’s! Add a little magic by Grandma and you have something wonderful!
Oh Bernie! I saw the reindeer pants on Instagram and loved them, but here they are even cuter! You have to be sure to post a pic of her wearing them. I’ve made my grandson pj pants and pj shorts for several years running and he’s got LOTS of mileage out of them, loves ’em. Frozen, M&M guys, monsters, too much fun. And then the stockings! Ahh! The maple buttons and twill tape are ‘da bomb’ — perfection on already-adorable stockings. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, man I’d love to be there for the sweets you and Julia were about to make…
Even though you had other plans for this fabric, those leggings will be so much more flexible and useable.. Great job.
Thanks Tammy. I sure hope they fit! Hard to see from such a distance for a little one. Hope all is well with you!
Oh, sweet, cozy leggings! They will be such a fun addition to her holiday wardrobe. What a quick finish! I think you nailed it with the finishing touches on the stockings. I’m thinking there will need to be wooden buttons on some Chemex cozies, too.
Hmmmm, that is an interesting idea. I need to wash them in the machine and see how they do. I love the way they look tho – so it would be fun to use them on other projects