How to make a kids' leggings

1. Materials & tools

Materials (one pair, 120 cm height)

• Jersey (single knit, interlock or rib) — about 90 cm wide × 140 cm (35 × 55 in); about 160 cm (63 in) for larger sizes
• Flat elastic, 2.5 cm — about 50 cm
• A ballpoint needle (75/11) and stretch thread

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Kids' clothes” → “Kids' leggings” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the hip, rise, inseam, leg opening, ease and waist casing. Presets cover heights of 100 to 130 cm.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Trace the pattern
   Lay the pattern on the wrong side and trace both lines. Run the stretchiest direction across the body.
2. Cut the pieces
   Cut 2 fronts and 2 backs as mirror pairs — the back has a deeper crotch curve than the front.
3. Transfer the notches
   Mark where the crotch curve ends.

4. Sewing

4-1. Sew the crotch curves

1. Place the two fronts right sides together and sew the crotch curve. Same for the backs.
2. Use a ballpoint needle and a stretch stitch — a zigzag or a dedicated stretch stitch.
3. A plain straight stitch will snap the first time they are pulled on.

4-2. Sew the sides and inseam

1. Place front and back right sides together and sew both sides.
2. Then sew the inseam in one run, hem to hem.
3. Backstitch over the crotch junction.

4-3. Thread the waist elastic

1. Fold the waist into a casing and stitch, leaving a 3 cm gap.
2. Thread the elastic, overlap the ends by 2 cm and stitch.
3. Close the gap.

4-4. Hem the legs

1. Fold each hem by 1 cm, then 2 cm, and stitch.
2. Use a stretch stitch here too, or the foot will not go through.

✏️ Jersey needs a ballpoint needle, stretch thread and a stretch stitch. A plain straight stitch snaps the first time the leggings go on. If your machine only offers zigzag, a narrow one (1 mm wide, 2.5 mm long) works.

5. Tips & variations

• Turn the hems up: cut long and turn them up, then let them down as the child grows.
• Soft elastic: 2.5 cm or wider, cut to the length in the pattern notes (about 90% of the waist). Tighter presses on the tummy.
• Make the set: pair them with the kids' tunic.