In the 80s leg warmers were all the rage. However, this post will have you wondering how to DIY Leg Warmers for today’s fashions 🙂
Depending on what you read now, some say leg warmers are back on trend. I don’t really worry too much about trends. I wear what I think makes me look better.
For me, it’s not about showing off some bright colorful leg warmers. It’s about bridging that gap between my calf and the top of my short boots.
Without leg warmers, I feel that transition looks awkward and out of balance. I’m saying “out of balance” because I’m not a size 2. I feel that going from curvy hips down to super skinny ankles just accentuates my hips. (Of course, all that changes if I’m wearing heels 😉)
Here’s a screenshot to show the gap I’m referring to. And please remember this is just my opinion for myself. I do me, you do you!
With a pair of scrunched leg warmers, I can hide that gap. So when I do wear leg warmers, I just instantly feel more balanced.
And there’s another reason I like leg warmers, because it’s an opportunity to add some fabulous detail to an outfit. For example, check out my unusual leg warmers below with a ruffled edge!!
Here’s another angle. Check out those cute wedge ankle boots complimented by my DIY ruffled leg warmers. (That’s a boot zipper you’re seeing.)
Altering One Project Created a Fringe Benefit
Two of these long sweater dusters were recently given to me. They were identical – a white one and a black one. Here’s the white one.
I already had a long sleeve black sweater duster that I was happy with. So, I decided to cut the sleeves off the black ruffled sweater because I REALLY like SLEEVELESS sweater dusters!
Sleeveless sweater dusters allow me to show off a variety of great sleeves from my tops. In the photo below, my top features these wonderful puff sleeves. But the top is not as long as I would like. That’s where the new sleeveless sweater duster (that I just created) works perfectly.
But let’s get back on topic.
How to DIY Leg Warmers; I Used Cut Off Sweater Sleeves!
I cut off the black ruffled sleeves (because I wanted the sleeveless duster shown above). And now these sweater sleeves were just too pretty to discard. Ideas fluttered in. I need to figure out how to DIY leg warmers.
I quickly cut these ruffled sleeves straight along the top edge and used a zig zag stitch to keep them from fraying. And a zig zag stitch allows you to stretch the sweater fabric more easily over the heel of your foot.
But I did say “No Sewing”. So, as an alternative to sewing, you can use fray check as an alternative to keep the edges from fraying. Fray check is a sealant that prevents fabric from fraying and secures thread ends.
This easy idea works best with sweater fabric because it usually stretches.
If you don’t have a long sleeve sweater that you want to alter. You could check out your local thrift store. Look for sleeves with interesting details.
Of course, simple sweater sleeves can also work. I like this simple style below to wear with flat boots.
Below is another variation of leg warmers that I created from the plain sleeves (shown above). These DIY leg warmers give the illusion that I’m wearing taller boots 🙂
Here’s a Thought for One More Version
I saw these boots and another idea fluttered in. It would be super easy to mimic this look with the sleeves from one of those sherpa-like sweatshirts (aka faux shearling).
And One More Idea While on the Topic of Sweater Sleeves
Turn your DIY leg warmers into boot cuffs/boot toppers 😉 A trip to your favorite thrift store could get you all sorts of sweaters in fun colors.
Materials Mentioned
Tools Used
Gingher 8” knife-edge scissors
Brother strong and tough sewing machine (but you don’t have to sew these 🙂
Take Away
Save interesting parts and pieces from other projects. You never know how ideas might flutter in. For me, it was seeing the pretty sleeves all by themselves, that had me wondering how to DIY leg warmers.
Here’s to wearing what makes you feel good and Making it Fabulous!
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