Make your own baby leg & arm warmers!
January 21, 2008
As a single mom of 3 under the age of 3 I am always looking to save money by figuring out how to make those neat pricey things that everyone has gotta have! I LOVE baby legs, but with 7.5 month old twin girls at $12-$15 a pair it adds up fast. So I came up with a tutorial to share on my blog for free with other moms just like me.
This is a quick inexpensive project that anyone can do! The socks in the tutorial below were $1 at Walmart, but Target & the dollar store are great places to get them as well. I have found them ranging from $1-$4 depending on length & where you get them. These are harder to get between Easter & back to school shopping (late spring & summer months) because its just to warm so most people don’t want to buy socks!!! Here is a picture of my identical twin girls (7 months at the time) in their matching ones of course. They are a GREAT alternative to tights, making diaper changes much easier. They are warmer & much more durable & can also double as arm warmers to give a warm layered look to your favorite t-shirts for girls & boys of all ages.
Supplies…
Womens tube/knee socks (6m-6yr) or Womens crew socks (0-18m) Girls knee socks also work GREAT.
Sewing machine or needle & thread
Scissors
Pins
STEP 1: First cut the socks into sections as pictured below. You will toss the heel & toe scraps, but keep the bottom of the foot. Note: for this tutorial I am working with crew socks, but the process is the same as with tube socks.
STEP 2: Take the section remaining from the foot & you want to fold it inside of itself as pictured below. You should have the nice side of the sock on the outside & inside with a fold on one end & both raw edges on the other.
STEP 3: Stick the long section of the sock inside your newly created tube. This would give you 3 raw edges on the side we are going to sew, the other side will have the folded edge & the finished edge that was originally the top of the sock. If you have a pattern such as stripes or argyle as I used you may try to get them to line up. Once you are happy with the positioning pin together. Make sure to pin just 3 layers, not all 6 or you won’t have a hole to stick your little ones leg through when you are finished.
STEP 4: Time to Sew! Set the stitch length on your sewing machine to 4 (longest stitch), this will allow the most stretch. If the long straight stitch just doesn’t stretch enough for you can also us a narrow zig zag stitch… width at 2 & length at 3. You want to stretch the pinned side over the arm of your sewing machine & sew a straight stitch all the way around. If you can’t get it to stretch over then you can use what ever method you use to sew circles normally, or you can simply stitch it together with a needle & thread the old fashion way.
STEP 5 (OPTIONAL): Your finished seam should look similar to this. For a cleaner more professional look you can use pinking sheers, a zigzag stitch, or serge the seam for extra strength & to prevent unraveling.
Then simply fold the trim down (putting the seam inside) & TADA… a baby & toddler leg warmer simply make another one & test them out on the nearest happy child!
If you have any questions, found a mistake OR would like pictures of baby leg & arm warmers YOU made with my tutorial added to the gallery then please email me so I can continue to improve the tutorial.
Don’t forget to check out all my other free tutorials including my lists of hundreds of free tutorials!
Entry Filed under: Babies & Kids, Sewing, Tutorials. Tags: arm, baby, babylegs, free, leg, legs, pattern, sew, Sewing, socks, toddler, tutorial, twins, warmers.
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1.
smithmott | January 22, 2008 at 12:39 am
What a great idea! I trying to think if anyone I know has a baby right now I can make these for.
2.
zstitches | January 24, 2008 at 3:53 am
Cute! I really like the 60’s dress you made, too, it’s adorable.
One suggestion: Sew the seam with a medium-length and medium-width zigzag stitch so it is a stretchy seam; a straight-stitched seam could have the stitches pop if it gets stretched a bit too much putting it on the baby.
3.
zstitches | January 24, 2008 at 4:01 am
(By the way, I guess if I’m posting as a stranger it would be more polite to introduce myself — I’m Zina, a mom of 4 in Utah who loves to sew. I found your website while surfing the “sewing” tag on WordPress.)
4.
easytoentertain | January 28, 2008 at 11:01 pm
wooo…finally found a few pairs of socks that should work at the dollar store! will have to email you a pic of them all when i am done!
5.
Crystal | February 9, 2008 at 4:26 am
Thank you so much for posting this!! We are expecting our first baby (girl) in March 2008….I’ve been looking online and these are super expensive (in my opinion)!! I just made 2 pairs and I have a whole bag full of socks that I bought today! Including the pattern that your little ones have one!! THANK YOU!!!
6.
Christy | February 16, 2008 at 5:10 am
I’m so glad I found this. I’ve always wanted a pair for my son but I always thought the price was a bit expensive for me. I can’t wait to try it out! Thank you so much for posting this. Btw, your girls are adorable in their matching socks!
7.
Ursula | February 18, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I just love the baby leg warmers, but like a lot of moms I just don’t want to spend the money ($10-$15) a pair for them, It’s so fun to go looking for socks now. and I am having a son next tuesday and he is going to have tons of these to match all his cloth diapers, I just can’t wait. Now I have to make a bunch for my b/g twins that are 2.
Thanks a bunch, and congrads on your super cute g/g twins.
Twin Mama from Ohio
8.
Jessica | February 22, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Thanks for the tutorial with PICTURES! I had heard of “baby legs” and I saw them recently in our Target store, but $12 was way too much to spend. I have a ton of crew sock that I probably won’t wear that I could use to practice on and see what fits my little boy. I know they always have $1 socks in the $1 thing at Target, too. They usually have ones for different holidays as well!
9.
Samantha | February 24, 2008 at 3:36 am
This is a great tutorial. I went out yesterday and found a bunch of cute socks for $0.89 a pair and sat down this afternoon and made 6 pair in under 30 minutes for under $5. Thanks for the lesson I will be cheking out more of your stuff.
10.
LittleLovables | February 27, 2008 at 7:17 am
I just bought some expensive ones for my son. These are so cute, thanks for making the tutorial!
11.
Martha | February 28, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Thank you for posting such a great tutorial! The directions were so easy to follow. I have an 8 yr old and a 2 yr old. The 8 yr old will enjoy these for arm warmers and the 2 yr old will wear them under dresses. I can’t wait to make more.
12.
A-Bear | March 7, 2008 at 4:23 am
THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting the pictures. We received the cutest pair of Baby Legs as a gift for our baby, and I love them. I just googled them to see about getting more and couldn’t believe they cost $10-$15. So I’m now adding socks to my shopping list as you make this look easy enough for even me to try to make some. Thank you!! I’m so excited to try out your instructions.
13.
A-Bear | March 7, 2008 at 4:49 am
Yippeeeeeee! I was tempted to run out to the store to get some socks, BUT it’s late and I’m tired and so instead I grabbed some from my drawer to see if I could do this. YAY!!! Although I only had crew socks, I cut and sewed them in no time and can’t wait to go buy some tube socks to make more of these. Thanks for the great instructions and affordable way to make these baby leg warmers. Thank you!!
14.
A-Bear | March 9, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Here are my creations from yesterday. I’ve got the bug, not sure if this picture will show itself here, but I’ll try. Thanks again:
[IMG]http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg9/jedaryn02/BabyLegWarmers_1_1-1.jpg[/IMG]
15.
A-Bear | March 9, 2008 at 12:54 pm
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg9/jedaryn02/BabyLegWarmers_1_1-1.jpg
hopefully that link works, but if not, I still really enjoyed making them and can’t believe how easy they were to make. Yay!!
16.
Sarah | May 19, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Does anyone know of a good place to buy cute knee socks? I checked WalMart & Target but not much luck – maybe it’s a seasonal thing…
17.
Bridget | May 24, 2008 at 11:39 am
Thanks for the great tutorial! I love baby legs but I’m too cheap to buy them and with baby girl #5 on the way I’m definately going to make some.
18.
Amber | May 24, 2008 at 10:19 pm
I’m wondering the same thing – where do you find such great deals on cute socks? I can’t find anything for less than $7 or $8 a pair…except plain athletic socks…
19.
Cathy | June 2, 2008 at 8:30 am
Thanks for the great tutorial. So easy to make…I love the “babylegs” I have made so far!!
20.
haylee | June 9, 2008 at 4:42 pm
i love the legings that are rell cute and the babies
21.
Katie | June 12, 2008 at 3:50 pm
I am printing this up and taking it to my first sewing class. these look soooo easy!!! Thank you so much for this tutorial
22.
annaboo2006 | July 8, 2008 at 5:27 am
thanks for the tutorial – just what my son needed! Great!
23.
Rachel | July 22, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Thank You! I just had a baby girl and almost spent a ton on leg warmers! It’s amazing how crafty us mom’s can be when it comes to saving money! Your girls look adorable in their pink argyle leg warmers too!
24.
StarsSong | August 12, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Thanks for this great idea! When my girls were toddlers (back in the mid-to-late 80’s), I had a few sets of leg warmers for them, in a sweaterlike fabric that looked just like Mom’s!
Now that my first grandchild is due to arrive in Dec, I knew I wanted some for my granddaughter too… now ‘Grams’ can sew some for her little sweetie!
Your little sweeties look adorable in their, btw!!!
25.
Martha | August 26, 2008 at 12:01 am
These are wonderful leg warmers! My daughter just had identical twin girls and I am busy making all kinds of things for them. I am constantly searching for special things to make them, and your leg warmers were just what they need!
I went straight out this evening and bought some Halloween socks and made their first pair of leg warmers for Halloween!
26.
heather | August 29, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I am not in any way shape or form a woman who can sew well. I just have one of those mini sewing machines. These warmers were so easy to do. I made them on my little machine and they ROCK!
27.
Heather | August 30, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I was thinking of using socks but I knew the heel would be a problem but I didnt think of cutting the foot part & using it too by sewing them together. This is definitely the best & easiest way to make legwarmers. Thanks for doing this & helping me with the finishing steps, I was stumped. Guess next time i gotta think a little harder. HeHeHe!!
28.
Jamie | August 31, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Hi Thank you so much!! I have a 3 yr old that thinks she is a rock star and has to dress like one!! This will be great with her skirts in the winter!!! I just sat down and made 2 pair. And she had to wear them to Walmart and it’s 90 degrees outside. Oh well she is a ROCK STAR!!! Its kinda hard to find long socks for her do mens dress socks work. Once again thanks!!! My little rock star is happy!!!!! The girls are so cute!!!
29.
Lisa | September 9, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I just wanted to say “Thank You”!! I was going to buy a bunch of these for my baby for winter and this saved alot of money and was really easy to do.
30.
Chantal | September 12, 2008 at 8:24 am
Thanks! This was so simple. My dauighter says she looks cool with these, haha and has a list of all the different socks she wants to buy!
31.
Ima | September 14, 2008 at 6:14 am
Great tutorial, a creative way to save and getting DD to look fab at the same time. Thx!
32.
Michele | September 26, 2008 at 2:15 am
Thanks for your easy-to-understand tutorial! Was going to spend loads to get a pair for my baby and now I can make loads with the same amount of money!!!
33.
becca | September 28, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Thanks for this super tutorial. I found it a few weeks ago and just made my ‘first’ pair with $1 girls’ socks..all pink flowers and stripes…and it was so easy and they fit my 2 month-old EVEN BETTER than the Babylegs I purchased. I know I’ll be making some as gifts now and more for my little girl, too….thanks a bundle!!
34.
becca | September 28, 2008 at 2:52 pm
oh my gosh I’m sorry I forgot to tell you – your twins are SO CUTE!!!! I love their little GRINS!
35.
jenica | September 28, 2008 at 7:03 pm
i just made a whole slew of them! thank you so much!
xoxo
36.
Tanisha | September 29, 2008 at 9:14 pm
oh i am so excited to make my son some of these. i bought some boy colored socks off ebay. his poor little knees are getting all red from the carpet. also found some halloween socks at joann fabric. my husband just shakes his head at me.thanks so much.
37.
Jackie | September 30, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I was JUST about it make a pair the way I thought it might work and then googled how to make them. We had the very same idea.
I couldn’t raitonalize paying $16 for Baby Legs or even $10 for the copies. So, I bought great socks at the Superstore for $3 and will make them tonight! Great idea for sure! I just bought kid knee highs…hope they work as well. 
38.
tasha roe | October 2, 2008 at 7:33 pm
this is so awesome!!!!
39.
B Boles | October 8, 2008 at 9:31 pm
AWESOME! What a great idea! Thank you so much! I just forund this and in 5 mon I made 2 pairs. I can’t wait to go to the Dollar Tree and find mor socks to use!
40.
newmom | October 21, 2008 at 8:35 am
Be sure not to sure anklet socks, or you’ll make your baby some cute knee socks.
(that’s what I just did…)
41.
Jesi | October 23, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Great Idea! I just made 3 pairs for my son for this coming winter so he can still wear his shorts outfits that won’t fit come next Summer! Super easy, Super Cute! Thank you for the wonderful idea!
42.
April | October 24, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Thank you, thank you, thank you for PICTURES! I have bought so many of these at $8 – $20 each for my daughter and finally saw something about making them myself online (duh, why didn’t I think of that?). But all the “how-tos” with their simple steps are still hard to understand without pictures. Thanks! Now to go plug in the sewing machine & try this!
43.
Kat | October 25, 2008 at 11:53 am
Directions were super easy to follow. I made 10 pairs for my little girl and currently making some for my nieces. I can’t believe how fast and easy it is to make these. It’s so much fun and my daughter looks so cute. I get compliments on them all the time.
44.
Lucy | October 25, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Here are my Halloween baby legs! One ended up slightly longer than the other. Oooops! They have small spiders on them that have a silly grin. As you can also see, I didn’t bother matching up the argyle! Not bad for my first attempt though.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/2971999403_2ca92317c5.jpg
45.
Emily Smith | November 5, 2008 at 10:24 am
I can’t wait to try this!! A baby my daughter is in daycare with has several of these and I have been coveting them ever since I saw them!
46.
Trina | November 10, 2008 at 11:46 am
Great tute! I was looking for a tutorial for arm warmers made from socks but I think this would do just as well.
Thanks!
47.
Mandy | November 10, 2008 at 8:36 pm
That is such a great idea. Babylegs are expensive! I’m linking this from my blog!
48.
Christine | November 12, 2008 at 10:11 am
Wow! I made these in under 15 minutes WITH a baby crawling around me! So easy and so great!
Thank you so much for this superb idea! My daughter is wearing them right now on this cold Ontario November day!
49.
Jenn | November 13, 2008 at 1:27 pm
This is an AWESOME tutorial. I was planning on buying these as arm warmers for my son. Now I can make them myself. Thanks so much!
50.
Solana | November 18, 2008 at 1:56 pm
This is awesome! I was totally astounded by the prices of those baby legs. Someone bought a pair for us and I wanted more but wasn’t willing to shell out $12 a pair! This is a great way to save money. Thanks for posting the instructions!
51.
Suzanne | November 21, 2008 at 11:31 am
This is so awesome! I had some for my first baby that were only $2. They worked great for saving knees. But to buy 2 pair for the twins at $12 is way out of sight. I can’t wait to go get some fun socks and make these. Thanks for sharing!
52.
kelsey | November 25, 2008 at 4:52 am
what a great idea! i’m going to make my son a few pairs to put in his stocking (lol) and for my mommy friends for christmas this year.
53.
Elisa | November 27, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Ty for this web page, I just bought a pair of Bum Genius Baby Legs for $12/pair for my little girl and my mom found this sight. I just made 5 pairs in under 20 minutes using my old socks for practice and some my mom bought @ Target for $1/pair, they turned out cute. I like the the longer socks better, I just wish I could find more socks four less than $3/pair. I am having a hard time finding cheap cute socks! I am constantly looking in the sock departments now! I love the baby legs and this is soo much cheaper!!
54.
Star | December 8, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Love the tutorial! Having trouble locating socks. When you say crew socks do you mean even the athletic type crew with ribbing will work for infants to 6mos? Or should I look for some without ribbing?
Thanks again!!
55.
Kymy | December 9, 2008 at 1:14 am
Star ~ right now is one of the best times, places like target & walmart have lots. Knee/tube socks are ideal, but plain crew ribbed crew socks still work, just not as cute! You can also find them on places like ebay & etsy.
56.
gen | December 11, 2008 at 5:06 pm
BEST THING EVER!
57.
Amy | December 19, 2008 at 12:01 am
Love babylegs! My (11 month) daughter has 4 pairs, and I just bought her 5 more for x-mas because I LOVE them. I have a sewing machine (still in the box from last year’s christmas), and I never thought to make my own!! I think that this will make an excellent first project, and will be great incentive to actually use that Singer! Thank you, thank you, thank you… I am looking forward to saving money and tapping into my crafty side.
58.
Sandy | December 19, 2008 at 11:08 pm
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I was thinking it was so much harder to make leg warmers but you made it SO easy. I just finished my first pair and they didn’t turn out to bad (just a little big)
59.
Chontae | January 2, 2009 at 11:49 am
THANK YOU so much!!!
I’m going to make these this weekend with some of my socks that I don’t wear… if they turn out… off to the store!
Thank you!!!
60.
Martina | January 9, 2009 at 11:55 am
I just found a 3 pack at AJ Wright for $2.99 in case anyone is still wondering where to get the deals. I found a cute grey argyle, grey polka dot and plain grey 3 pack that will be gender neutral (I’m all about saving money and in case I have a girl next time I want to be able to stash them back for her!)
61.
Tomi Ann Hill | January 13, 2009 at 2:06 pm
This is wonderful, thank you so much! I can’t wait to try this!
62.
Candace | February 16, 2009 at 11:45 am
These are so dang cute! I have a couple pairs of baby legs my daughter got for christmas and I wanted more now that she is crawling. I’m going out right now to see if I can find some cheap socks. Thanks so much!!! Hey do by chance know how to make the crochet head bands that everyone is trying to sell? I love those! Email me if you don’t which ones I am talking about.
63.
Frances | February 16, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Awesome. I think that I might have to try and make these. Thank you for sharing!!1
64.
CATHY | February 21, 2009 at 9:48 am
Great idea, keep them coming. It was so easy, saves money and keeps the baby’s legs warm plus you can buy the tops and make the leg warmers to match and have a darling outfit.
65.
adrienne momoftwinboys | February 27, 2009 at 5:58 pm
You are awesome!!! I was looking at warmers online for 12 bucks a pop,what a great thing to share with other mothers who don’t want to break the bank buying baby stuff they grow out of in weeks anyway!! And how silly I didn’t just think to make these myself…sometimes you just need someone else to be creative We love you!!
66.
angela | March 6, 2009 at 10:01 pm
omG! this aRe aWesomE, almoSt spEnd 40 buCks for 3 causE yeaH 12 a paIr bu tDonT forGet shippIng!!!!…u aRe sO cReativE!!!! ThanK u …. buT i ThinK my hUsbie wIll be mOre thAn thankfUl fOr noT breAkinG the banK….:) lol
67.
Jennyb | March 21, 2009 at 8:30 am
Thank you so much for the tutorial! For anyone still looking for cheap socks, Target has a ton of really cute argyle and stripe patterns on clearance right now – I think I paid $5 for packs of three. I’m still in love with the flame pattern on the Babylegs, so if anyone sees knee socks with flames, let me know!
68.
Cade'sMommy | March 25, 2009 at 10:52 am
Thank you SO much for posting this tutorial!! I have a 10 week old boy and I love how leg warmers really spice up onesies to make the sweetest little outfits!
I couldn’t fathom spending $$$ on Baby Legs to match all of his tops and am so happy to have found your post.
I just made my first pair practicing w/ a ribbed navy pair of my hubby’s socks, and they are too cute! I cant wait to shop for cute socks at Target and Walmart!
69.
Andrea Rake | March 25, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I had trouble getting the regular socks to fit right. THe band end (foot part of the sock was a little loose and liked to fall down her legs.) Next time I’ll try it with the leg part of two pairs of socks and sew them together so there is a cuff on both ends. This would still be half the price or more. THanks for the great idea! I love it!
70.
alison | March 26, 2009 at 11:27 am
hi! I love this tutorial and have made some for some friends!
This morning, I followed the tutorial, but made a slight adjustment. I used an old tube sock from old Navy, and instead of cutting all the way across at the heel, I cut a triangle out of the heel portion, leaving a margin for sewing. Then I simply stitched the two edges of the fabric together. (I don’t know if I am explaining this well) Anyway, if you do it this way, then only one side of the leg warmer has a seam line.
71.
Patty | April 6, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Wow… I am sooo excited to find this page… I am going to try some tomorrow!!!
72.
betsy | April 9, 2009 at 7:06 pm
I am going to make my daughter (11 weeks) a pair of easter ones tomorrow I found a cute pair of easter socks @ the $ store. Thanks so much for this I love them.
73.
carmel renehan | April 30, 2009 at 5:10 am
What a brilliant idea! Thank you
74.
Natasha | May 15, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Thank you so much! I made my first pair a minute ago, and in the process of making my second one. Can’t wait to put them on my girl!
75.
Lydia Persson | May 18, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Hey, thanks for this link, they are really awesome, have just made a pair and have a small suggestion.
when doing the cuff I made it skinnier (not shorter) so it hugs the ankle a bit more.
76.
Lydia Persson | May 18, 2009 at 9:36 pm
should introduce myself. I’m Lydia from New Zealand, mother to an 8mth old girl, Brylie. I love sewing and making things.
77.
Brittanie | May 28, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Wow this is so great! I will be making my own from now on! Thanks so much for this tutorial!
78.
jennifre' | June 4, 2009 at 1:55 pm
HEY THERE! this is too funny I have been doing this as well ( I have 3 girls under 6).. & I even took it further for crawling- I found it cool to just cut the toes.. ( no sewing required) and flipping the “heel” part to the kneecap..
Im so addicted.. & love them!!
congrats!
great minds think alike- tee hee
j
79.
Sarah-Fay | July 3, 2009 at 4:46 pm
what a great idea…. i thought of it but dont have a sewing machine so i went and spent $10 on each set… cuz i have twins too!!! but ohh what a great idea… THANKS
80.
Louise | July 4, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Such a good idea, thanks for putting your great & easy to follow directions on the Internet. Have just made two pairs over here in Australia!