Adding a racing stripe to your leggings pattern is surprisingly straightforward. Essentially, it’s a form of color blocking, so if you've worked through our color blocking tutorials or followed along with the color-blocked raglan guide, this will feel familiar.
To get started, imagine where the side seam would be if your leggings had one. Since this pattern is a single piece with no actual side seams, the next step is to find the midline. Fold the pattern at both the waist and hem to create a straight crease running down the entire piece. Don’t worry too much about the rise or leg proportions; we're just aiming to establish the central axis of the waist and hem. It should look something like this:
With the crease in place, open the pattern and draw a straight line along the fold. This represents the theoretical side seam.
Deciding on the width of the racing stripe is next. For my preference, two inches works well, but the ideal width depends on the overall look and size of the leggings. Larger sizes might handle a broader stripe, while smaller sizes may look better with a narrower one. Position the stripe over your theoretical side seam—whether centered or slightly towards the front. In my example, I've opted for a stripe that's 1 inch on each side of the center line if this were full-scale. Alternatively, you might choose to allocate 1 1/2 inches to the front and only 1/2 inch to the back, depending on the aesthetic you're after. My stripe lines are colored red here for clarity against the pencil-drawn side seam.
Once the stripe is marked, it's time to cut the pattern along these lines. As with any color-blocking project, you'll then need to add paper extensions to the cut edges for seam allowances, which I’ve highlighted in orange in these images. (Pro tip: A clear 6†x 1†graph ruler is super helpful for this step!)
After adding the seam allowances, you can cut your fabric. All pieces should now align parallel to the stripe lines, simplifying the layout and cutting process. Although most knits stretch more in the weft than the warp, use a stretch stitch when sewing the vertical seams to ensure the stripe remains flexible. Once the pieces are reassembled with the stripe intact, proceed with assembling the leggings according to the instructions.
Simple, right?
For styling inspiration, check out this cool take on tuxedo stripe leggings:
If you're feeling unsure about sewing with knits, don't stress! There are plenty of tips available, and our pattern instructions are packed with detailed guidance. We include such instructions with all our knit patterns, so you can approach new challenges with confidence. While I can’t physically hold your hand, I hope my encouragement helps!
By the way, if you're diving into these tutorials and feeling nervous about working with knit fabrics, take heart! There are several tricks to make the process smoother, and our pattern instructions are designed to walk you through every step. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced sewer, these resources will help you tackle new projects with ease. So go ahead, give it a try—you’ve got this!
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