How to Upcycle Old Leggings and a T-shirt Into a Cute New Top

Don't throw away your old leggings! Upcycle them with a t-shirt to make a new top. In this tutorial, I'll show you how to make sleeves from your old leggings and sew them to a t-shirt to create a new color block top.
Read on for the full tutorial, or watch the video:
Step 1: Cut down the sides of the t-shirt
The t-shirt I had was oversized and baggy. To alter it to fit, I laid my favorite long sleeve t-shirt on top of it, folded back, and cut around it with a 1/2" seam allowance
Step 2: Cut out sleeves from the leggings
Lay the long sleeves of your template t-shirt over the leggings, aligning the hems. Cut new sleeves around the sleeves of your template.
Step 3: Attach the sleeves to the t-shirt
Open up the bodice and lay it flat. With right sides together, pin and sew the shoulder cap of the sleeve to the flattened armhole of the bodice.
Step 4: Sew the sides of the bodice and sleeves
With right sides together, fold the bodice and the sleeves lengthwise. Pin and sew along the edge.
In less than one hour, you'll have a super cute t-shirt with leggings sleeves. Using your favorite t-shirt as a pattern will guarantee a great fit.
Enjoyed the project?
Suggested materials:
- Leggings (Thrift store)
- T-shirt (Thrift store)
The author may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.

Comments
Join the conversation
Looks too complicated, plus I don’t have a sewing machine. 😒
This is actually a great idea and pretty simple, if you have a machine, and you have a tidbit of sewing ability or knowledge. I do think it would be BEST presented in early fall of the year! Being in FL I don’t think I would deal with long leggings and long sleeves, at this time!! BUT what a fab idea!!!