Knit Tights ala The Crafty Gemini

Vanessa, of the Crafty Gemini, said “You can never have enough tights.” and my 14yo agrees. With that simply quip, I watched her excellent tutorial and set out to create more tights based on a pair my 14yo already owned.

I have a serious amount of grey jersey knit fabric. Let me tell you why: Thrift Store!! I bought this giant grey jersey flat sheet with the intent of making a maxi dress or maxi skirt. Sure, it was bedding, but at the end of the day it was still a super soft jersey knit. I think I might have paid $5-$7 for the huge sheet. I heart thrift stores!

If you cannot find a jersey flat sheet at the thrift, you can always grab jersey knit sheets here.

Vanessa?walks you through all the steps on her video. I sorta skipped a step though… I didn’t trace it onto paper first. As it turns you, you should totally do that! No worries. I’ll do that for the next pair.

Instead, I just grabbed a ruler and rotary cutter and set forth to cut out a piece 5/8″ larger than the folded tights.

That worked out.

Back in college, I made my brother about 25-30 pair of shorts from various woven cottons and flannels. Do you guys remember “jams” from the 80’s? We’ll we were rockin’ those well into the 90’s. I can whip up a pair of shorts, pj pants or… as it turns out… leggings in no time at all. Fun fact.

The serger made the construction even faster and is perfect for stitching knits.

Vanessa uses a great technique for the waistband. I had actually never tried this technique before, but I can tell you, it will be my go-to from now on. Holy smokes it was super fast, super easy AND I didn’t have to look for safety pins or create a waist band casing to hold the elastic. Her method is the bomb!

The elastic is serged (or zigzag stitched) to the fabric’s cut edge at the waist.

 

Fold down and zigzag it into place. Very cool.

Last step should be the leg hems. Those are also zigzag’d.

But then my sweet 14yo tried on the pants. Turns out, I should definitely have created a “front” and a “back” pattern template. (which is why next time I’ll definitely be tracing the pattern onto paper first.) The front had way too much pooch, so I had to take that in?a couple inches.

So, take in center front seam and lower the waistband, as it fits on the body, by about two inches. Done and done.

I think I’m going to need to hit the thrift shop for more fabric!!