Buttoned-Up Legwarmers (almost spats) with basic tutorial

[LauPre]

The weather is starting to get nice already (I saw new buds on the trees when I was out biking this morning!) but it's still a little chilly.  I've been neglecting my poor skirts and dresses all winter and I'm ready to start wearing them again.  Unfortunately, I'm the type who is always cold, so what's a girl to do?  Whip up some cute legwarmers to keep my ankles toasty! 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/2298664608_593e609d9f_o.jpg

Cute, right?  They're also really easy to make!  If you want to make your own, measure around your calf at about the height you want the legwarmer to come up to.  Cut two pieces of stretchy fleece as wide as your measurement and as tall as you want.  I went with 10inches tall.  Then cut out 4 pieces of a non stretchy lining fabric (I used cotton quilting fabric)  each one 3 inches wide and as tall as your fleece to support your buttons and button holes.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2298664652_c17b869c1b_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/2298664634_81dc1009bd_o.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3052/2298723182_fe1af051d1_o.jpg

Next, sew the lining pieces to the fleece at each side where the buttons and buttonholes will go.  Then all you have to do is add the buttons and buttonholes and you're done!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/2298723210_ccbe772f0b_o.jpg

I didn't want to bog down Craftster with a ton of big images, so if you want to see a more detailed version of this tutorial you can see them on my blog http://laupre.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/tutorial-easy-buttoned-legwarmers
Thanks for looking!

Edit:  This tutorial and the accompanying photographs are for personal use only, and not for commercial purposes.

[Babyangel]

Im not a big fan of leg warmers I think they would look rediculous on me but I may have to try this because yours are awesome!

[spooky.kitty]

those are awsome 

[acidtrix]

i love these! they look so cool ^_^
perhaps this would be a good project to try out my sewing machine - i paid almost $150 in november to get it tuned up and the timing adjusted and i've been too scared to use it since in case i mess it up again

[kcartwright856]

So cute! I might give these a try, but my brother says I have "Russian shot putter" legs.

At any rate, thank you for being so generous with the tutorial. =)

[Feast Your Eyes]

Absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to try these out! Hopefully I can figure out button holes on my machine. 

So cute! I might give these a try, but my brother says I have "Russian shot putter" legs.

I am an only child, but from what I gather, brothers are dumb. Ignore him and wear what makes you feel good!

[BlackResonance]

  Those are so cute! I love them. They remind me of something Victorian.

(And I have to ask...Where did you get your shoes? I've been looking for that style and all I find are old lady shoes.)

[batgirl]

These are adorable! Very clever idea!!

[LauPre]

So cute! I might give these a try, but my brother says I have "Russian shot putter" legs.

Aw, Brothers can be cruel.  You shouldn't listen to him anyway. Being your brother means that he can't see you as sexy, so how could he know?  I do have to admit that the phrase "Russian shot putter" legs made me giggle, though.

Those are so cute! I love them. They remind me of something Victorian.

(And I have to ask...Where did you get your shoes? I've been looking for that style and all I find are old lady shoes.)

I've been in love with Victorian style lately,and these were a little bit inspired by women's boots and men's spats from that era.  I've been thinking about doing a pair of spats along this same line with a faux leather and a ton of little buttons, but without the stretch of the fleece it will be a bit tricky to get the fit right.

And the shoes are actually from payless.  It's a bit of an odd story on getting those.  I'd been searching for months for a simple pair of black heels that had to meet my criteria: a rounded toe, a strap, a heel that wasn't too high or too low, and the sole had to be kinda rubbery (not the slippery, loud click-click soles that a lot of heels have).  Months of occasional searching went by and then, on my way home exhausted from fabric shopping there was a problem on the bus (you don't want to know) and we all had to get off and wait 15 minutes for the next one... in the pouring rain.  There was a payless right there, so I went in to escape the rain, stumbled across these, bought them, and got back out just in time to catch the next bus.  They're made by American Eagle and were just $19.99.  you can find them here:  http://www.payless.com/Catalog/ProductDetail.aspx?&TLC=Womens&SLC=WomensDress&BLC=WomensDressTrendy&Width=Regular&ItemCode=58735&LotNumber=058758&Type=Adult&Popularity=823&DescriptiveColor=Black
I really like them.  They're comfortable even after running around town all night (and I'm a big baby about wearing heels).  I havn't had them that long, but they seem to be holding up pretty well, too.

[michpitts]

THose are so cute! I definitly have to try them - thanks so much for the tut!