Monday, September 28, 2009

Dollar Store Scarf to Baby Legs -- TUTORIAL

"Baby legs" -- super long socks with no feet -- are so popular right now. It seems that there are new versions and twists on this idea fairly often. Well today I will show you my ONE DOLLAR version!!


I found this super-duper soft, extra stretchy scarf at the dollar store and knew immediately what I wanted to do with it! One scarf is all you need!


STEP ONE: Fold your scarf in half, lining up the stripes, and cut it in half right at the center fold.


STEP TWO: Serge along your cut edge, stretching it a little as you go. (You could experiment with finishing the edge by using a zig-zag stitch -- making it as wide as you can, and short. I have not tried this. If you do, let me know what works!)


STEP THREE: The way the ends of the scarf are originally finished does not allow for enough stretch, so you will need to serge the opposite end of your scarf the same way. (I serged off the pink end so my thread would match the stripe I was serging.)


STEP FOUR: Using a zig-zag stitch and starting with your first scarf half, fold it in half lengthwise and sew all the way down the long edge. Don't forget to backstitch! You may need to push it along under your sewing machine foot, but mine fed through pretty easily with just a bit of guidance.


Check to make certain your stripes are matching as you go.


STEP FIVE: Backstitch at the end, and check out how long and skinny it is! Are you worried it will never fit your baby's chubby legs?


Have no fear!


If I can get it on my arm, you can get it on your baby's leg!
(They actually fit my three-year-old just fine, too!)


TA-DA!!

I can also see these on an older child or tween (or even me!) as arm-warmers, which are also very popular right now. These will keep you quite warm -- perfect for colder weather when it's too warm for a jacket but too cold for going without!

54 comments:

BJ_Mama said...

This girl's going to the dollar store...TODAY!!! Thanks for the GREAT idea!!!

Anne said...

wow! Who knew that a scarf would stretch that much?? What a cool idea!

I posted a link to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-baby-legs-leggings-from-a-scarf/2009/09/28/

--Anne

Lynette said...

I love it! I think I need to head over to the dollar store to see if they have any cute scarfs...thanks!

Lynette
getyourcrafton.blogspot.com

Mandy from Burkett Blessings said...

Love this idea!!! My SIL has a baby shower this week, so the timing couldn't be more perfect! Thanks for sharing!!!!!

Heather - Dollarstorecrafts.com said...

So cute! I did make arm warmers with a DS scarf last year... I love stripes!

Kari Sweeten said...

Such a cool idea!! LOVE this!

My Trendy Tykes said...

looooooooove it!

Wendy Piersall said...

No freaking way! I was in my dollar store over the weekend, saw the exact same scarves and had the exact same idea!!!

Great minds think alike! :D

Lisa said...

Those are the cutest leggings I have seen.
:)Lisa

Kelly Fox said...

Too cute! I just went to Target and grabbed some similar scarves from the dollar area at the front of the store! How long was your scarf to begin with?

seven thirty three said...

So cute. These will be perfect for my 4 mos old! Can't wait to give it a go... now to find the perfect scarf.

Robin (RsIslandCrafts) said...

What a great idea! Thanks :)

Bethany said...

You're a genius! What a fantastic idea, I like these more than the babylegs from socks. These will be perfect for my baby this winter.

Meka said...

Thank you for the awesome tutorial! I tried these and I don't have a serger but I did the zig-zag with shot stitches and it worked great! They are sooooo adorable. I posted my project at http://edensflowergarden.blogspot.com/ if you would like to see!

Elise Edwards said...

Thank you - what a great idea! Yet another reason that I 'need' to get a serger... Though I see above that the zig-zag stitching could work well too :)

Patsy said...

WOW!! Thanks for the great tutorial. Will definately try this one!!

Tracie said...

Very cute and a wonderful tutorial!!!

Marie {Make and Takes} said...

I love this! What a fun and simple idea.

Lindsey said...

Wow, awesome!

I'm interested in the quilt in the background of the top picture. Did you make it? What pattern did you use? What fabric? It's really lovely!

Care said...

Lindsey, I wrote a little bit about the quilt in this post: http://obsessivelystitching.blogspot.com/2009/07/tablecloth-quilt.html

(The pattern is called Disappearing Nine Patch, not Hidden Nine Patch like I originally thought. You can do a google search to find it numerous places -- It's a really simple pattern to do!)

Tegan | Celebrate Twelve13 said...

Thank you for the non-serger instructions! I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment on my blog letting me know someone tried it. :) I can't wait to try it!

Nicole said...

Saw your idea on u-create and went to the dollar store today and found the same scarves! I love the idea! I will give you credit when I finish. My blog is: www.pendletonfam.blogspot.com. Thanks! And I will try zig zagging mine too since I have no serger!

Anonymous said...

This is such a great idea! Seems like everybody I know is having or has had a baby this year so this will come in handy. Thanks for sharing!

ROLLERWRITER said...

Could you use 2 scarves and make adult legwarmers? Hoping to copy this idea and use on post a link on my blog. Thank you!

Lindsey said...

Thank you so much for the info on the quilt. I'm just getting into quilting and I love collecting great patterns/ideas for "someday." Thanks!

Heather - Dollarstorecrafts.com said...

Woo hoo, Craft blogged about you! http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/09/how-to_baby_leg_warmers_from_d.html?CMP=OTC-5JF307375954

And, now I'm off to check out all your readers' versions of this project!

That Girl Ang said...

toooooo cute! So adorable!

Wendy said...

My ten year old's legs aren't much bigger than my arms. They might work for her too.

Thanks. Great tutorial!

SommerNyte said...

Great tutorial, but I'm concerned that the seams will both the wearer... how comfy/soft do they end up being?

ringmaster said...

love it but i think i am in love with the quilt more!!!!

Care said...

SommerNyte, I don't think the seams will be a comfort issue unless you've really crammed someone way too big into them!

Unknown said...

What a fabulous idea!!!!! Thanks for sharing!

Alena Jo said...

Sweet! Thanks for the tutorial! I am totally making those this winter!

Tammy said...

I made these this weekend. I don't have a serger so I used a zigzag stitch. They are adorable! I bought the scarf in several colors. The purple and black ones are perfect for my 8 year old's witch costume! I'll put up a photo on my blog tomorrow.

Tracey said...

ADORABLE!!! Thanks for showing us how it's done.

Lenetta said...

I've made a ton out of knee socks, but I'm definitely digging this version. I'll have to stop at the dollar store next time I'm in town! I linked to this on my weekly roundup (post can be found here) - thanks!!

Miranda said...

I stopped by and bought ever color scarf they have so I can make my girls some! Thanks so much for the idea!

Miranda said...

http://miranda-mommy-chronicles.blogspot.com/2009/10/making-my-first-pair-of-baby-legs.html

I made a pair for my daughter.

Melissa Hannon said...

I made them.. for me!! I needed new wrist/arm warmers for halloween. Also, the purple/black scarf matched my daughter's witch costume so I made a pair of leg warmers for a 6 year old. LOVE IT. Heading back to get more now.. i'm hooked.

tara_allen said...

I sooo wanted to do this, but none of my dollar stores have scarves and I can't seem to find anything similar anywhere else. Probably cause I live in FL and we wear scarves once or twice a decade.

Amanda said...

Cute! Thanks for the tutorial~!

Star @ A Load Of Craft said...

I linked this post on my new craft blog at www.aloadofcraft.blogspot.com - thanks so much for the tute!! I used the zig zag method & it worked great.

Dot said...

Hiya!
Just wanted to let you know that we've included this on dabbled.org today for our clothing refashion roundup... thanks for sharing this great idea!

dot

Link: http://dabbled.org/2010/02/clothes-tutorials-recycle-your-wardrobe.html

staceycanada said...

That is an awesome idea! I am going to have to make some for my 2yr old and my 17 yr old!

Unknown said...

I also made some baby legs for my daughter, but I used those extra long socks for adults they sell at the dollars store; just have to cut the feet off and sew the bottom!

Jenny said...

I like this better than turning knee socks into baby legs! This is awesome! Thanks so much! I featured you on my blog!
http://aworldofcrafts.blogspot.com/

Karen M. Owen said...

is there anything you can not do?

Tracy said...

These are great! I made 2 pairs and linked this tutorial on my own blog. http://twhitney.blogspot.com/2011/02/baby-legs.html

THANK YOU

Anonymous said...

Wow thats an amazing idea! But if you need to buy leg warmers that are made of better material and last longer, maybe use them for photo shooting, then I suggest you check out some of our products here:

www.tinypinky.com
www.facebook.com/tinypinkyclothing
www.pinterest.com/tinypinky
www.twitter.com/Tinypinky1
www.instagram.com/tinypinkydotcom

Barbara Nimmo said...

Your blog post on transforming a dollar store scarf into baby legs is a creative and budget-friendly idea! Repurposing items is not only eco-friendly but also adds a personal touch to baby fashion. As I was reading, I couldn't help but think about how savvy shopping can complement DIY projects like these.
promocodehq

Ashlee Rolfson said...

For those looking to enhance their crafting adventures with some savings, I'd recommend exploring frugalishness. This platform offers a treasure trove of promo codes and exclusive deals, turning your creative projects into budget-friendly masterpieces.

Timothee Lambert said...

"I can't get enough of this blog! The writing style is engaging, and the topics covered are not only relevant but also presented in a way that is easy to understand. Truly commendable work!"
https://www.aintpayingfull.com/promotions/all-stores

Kit Charles said...

"This blog has become a part of my daily routine, and for good reason. The consistent quality of content, the engaging writing style, and the relevance of the topics covered make it a standout in the blogosphere. A big round of applause!"
https://justamazingdiscounts.com/rightathome-coupon/

Abigale Huels said...

"The author's responsiveness to reader feedback is noteworthy. It creates a sense of community and collaboration, making readers feel heard and valued. The interactive nature of this blog adds an extra layer of engagement that is truly appreciated."
https://tryvoucher.com/