Add a skirt to leggings

Inside: Learn how to add a skirt to leggings you’ve made or bought. Dress up a pair of leggings with a skirt in this easy sewing hack. Change up leggings with a skirt.

So I’ve sewn lots of leggings from scratch and added skirts to them while sewing. This is an easy process and you can see my full leggings with skirt tutorial here. Last week I had a pair of leggings that didn’t have a skirt and were already sewn up. I decided to try and add a circle skirt to the leggings that were already sewn and see what I could come up with.

It was SO super easy I decided I needed to share the tutorial and process with you all. I’m sure you have a pair of sewn or bought leggings that are just begging for an added skirt. {haha}

Leggings with a skirt added

How cute is this legging/skirt combo now? Adorable right? Did you see my knee patch hack last week? Since I was already adding knee patches and cuffs to this pair of leggings I thought a coordinating skirt with be the perfect finish.

I had not previously added a skirt to leggings that were already finished, but it actually was a super easy process.

Rose loves wearing leggings everyday, and I prefer that she not just wear leggings as pants, so this skirt option is really a perfect solution. You can make the skirt as short or as long as you want and it makes for perfect playwear.

Rose is also wearing the girls fitted tee free pattern as a top in thermal. I think it’s a great combination with this skirt and leggings.

See! Attached.. I love that this option can play as hard as my daughter… monkey bars, swings, running and biking, these leggings are made for play while also looking adorable.

Sewing a skirt to leggings

Alright, now that we established this is a super fun and easy sewing hack that you must try, let’s get started!

Grab a pair of leggings that you want to make even more awesome and let’s get started. {note: if you want to sew leggings from scratch and add leggings as you are making them HERE is the tutorial}

You will also need to cut a circle skirt to go with these leggings. To do that first start by cutting off the top of the leggings. I cut 1″ below the elastic. I wanted enough fabric to sew the skirt and not have the elastic get in the way.

From this we will not get the measurements we need to create the circle skirt.

Measure the top of the skirt – mine was 10″ across, so a circumference of 20″ Divide this number by 6.28 {just trust me on the math} 20/6.28=3.1″, this will be in the inner circle.

Then measure from the cut to above the knees {or where you want the skirt to end} that was 12″.

I cut and marked the small circle at 3.1″ and then measured, marked and cut again at 12″ for the length. See this post on circle skirts if you need more help!

Now we will layer these leggings and skirt. Place the leggings right side out and then the skirt goes over the leggings with the right side out as well.

Place the right side of the waistband on the right side of the skirt and match the front and back seams. The skirt should also be divided in half to meet these marks. You should have three layers of fabric, leggings, skirt and waistband. Pin or clip all the way around the top.

Sew around to connect the top. Use a stretch stitch or serger to sew. Fold the waistband up after sewing to finish.

Awesome finished leggings, ready to be paired with a shirt and worn.

And that’s it! These previously holey, too short leggings are now super cute and ready for play.