Jalie Clara Leggings Pattern Review and Sewalong

I’ve been very much in need of leggings for the gym lately. I only had two pairs and one of them was already starting to fall apart. So of course I decided to try out sewing some for myself! I really like very high waisted leggings with a wide waistband, so I chose the Jalie Clara leggings pattern (you can buy it HERE). They offer both a PDF and a print version, but I went with the PDF because I needed some instant gratification 😉

And I’m super happy with how they turned out! I’ll definitely be making at least one more pair.

This pattern was so quick and simple to put together, so I decided to do a bit of a mini sewalong and just show my process for sewing these. And at the end I’ll give my thoughts on sewing up this pattern, so if you’re here just for the review you can skip to the end. Let’s get into it!

What you need:

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• Jalie Clara leggings pattern
• Athletic stretch knit fabric (I got mine at JoAnn Stores)
• 3/8 inch elastic
• Sewing machine and stretch needle
• Ballpoint sewing pins
• Thread
• Iron and ironing board
• Serger (optional, but makes things easier and faster)

Steps:

1. Cut out all your pieces
2. Stitch and notch the crotch curve
3. Sew gusset to one side of the back
4. Stitch center back seam
5. Sew the inseam
6. Put together the waistband
7. Attach waistband to leggings
8. Hem leggings

Instructions:

Step 1

First, you’ll cut out your pattern pieces for view A in the size that matches most closely with your measurements. With the PDF pattern there are layers, so you can choose the layer that just has your size and deselect all the other sizes. This makes it super easy to cut out once it’s taped together because only the lines for your size show up.

There are only 3 pattern pieces: the leg piece, the waistband, and the gusset. You cut two waistband pieces, one leg piece (it’ll unfold into two), and one gusset from your fabric, making sure to line up on the fold where indicated on the pattern.

Step 2

Next, sew a straight stitch around the crotch curve of the leg piece 1/4 inch from the edge. Be careful that the stitching is only 1/4 inch or less from the edge because it will make the next steps go a lot better.

Next, cut notches up to (but NOT through) your stitching along the crotch curve. This will allow you to straighten out the crotch enough to fit with the back inseam later.

Step 3

Next, we’re going to attach our gusset to the back of the leggings! With right sides together, pin the gusset to the edge of the right back as shown below.

Then sew it on with a 1/4 inch seam, either with a zigzag stitch or serge along the edge.

Step 4

Next, fold the gusset out away from the main leg piece and press the seam allowance down away from the gusset. Then match the two backs and pin them together right sides together, matching the notch.

And sew or serge the backs together. After you unfold the pieces and iron the seam allowances flat, it will look like this from the wrong side:

And like this from the right side:

Next, use a zigzag stitch to topstitch the seam allowances down around the gusset. I think this step really makes a huge difference in making your leggings sturdy and it keeps the seam allowances flat.

Step 5

Now we can sew the inseam! Fold the leggings and pin the entire length of the inseam from ankle to ankle together, matching notches. This is where the notches you made in the crotch curve will help you straighten out the curve enough to pin it to the back.

And sew or serge that entire inseam with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Then you can turn the leggings right sides out and press the seam allowances towards the front. Next, I topstitched the seam allowance down along the front of the gusset. I don’t think this is in the instructions, but I liked the look of it and felt it would make the area smoother.

Step 6

Now it should be starting to really look like leggings! But with a very very low rise. So it’s time to deal with adding the waistband.

Grab your two waistband pieces and fold each in half with right sides together, matching and pinning the short edges. This will result in each waistband piece forming a loop.

And sew or serge the short ends. For some reason I didn’t get a picture of this, but just sew where I have it pinned in the photo above.

Next, pin the two waistband pieces together with right sides matching. Make sure the notches match along the lower edge. But pin the upper edge.

Sew or serge these unnotched edges together.

Next, we’re going to add some thin elastic to the top edge of the waistband to make sure the leggings stay snug on your waist.

First, place four equally spaced pins at the top serged edge of the waistband.

Next, cut a piece of elastic in the length according to the pattern instructions… or if you’re too lazy to look it up like I am, just stretch it around your waist and cut it to a comfortable length. Overlap the ends of the elastic and stitch them together to form a loop.

Then place four equally spaced pins in the elastic.

Next, line up the pins on the elastic with the pins on the waistband and pin them together where the pins match. Pin the elastic only into the seam allowance (onto the serging).

And sew the elastic to the waistband with a zigzag stitch, making sure to stay within the seam allowance. You can stretch the elastic to fit the waistband if necessary.

We’re almost done with the elastic, just one more step! Fold the waistband out so that the right sides are facing up, like in the photo below.

Then use a zigzag stitch to topstitch the elastic down to one side of the waistband. This will be the inside part of the waistband and won’t show when you wear them.

Now you can fold the waistband in half, with the elastic at the top, the topstitching on the inside, and with right sides out. Give it a quick little ironing to make it all lay nice.

Step 7

Then with right sides together, pin the bottom edge of the waistband (with the open edges together) to the top of the leggings. Be really careful here that all the notches line up. You can also baste the bottom edges of the waistband together before doing this so you don’t have to try to match up all three edges at once.

And sew or serge on the waistband with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Then just unfold the waistband and iron it nicely. And we’re almost done!

Step 8

The last step is just to hem the bottom of the leggings. Fold under a 3/4 inch hem and stitch it in place with a zigzag stitch.

Give it all a final ironing and you’re done!

Review

Did it turn out as expected based on the pattern envelope?

Yes, it definitely did. I chose this pattern because I wanted high-waisted leggings with an extra wide waistband and this pattern definitely delivered on both.

How challenging is it to sew?

I thought it was a relatively quick and simple project. If you’re an advanced beginner or intermediate sewist, I think you can definitely handle this! A serger definitely helps though and in my opinion makes the leggings look more professional. Also, the gusset could be a bit challenging to get right, but I have faith that you can do it!

Would I sew it again?

YES! I have already made another pair… and have a third pair in the works.

Overall rating

Ok, I have to give this a 5/5. It was exactly what I was looking for and I felt the instructions were relatively easy to follow. Some of the wording was a bit confusing, but they had great diagrams to show the steps. The fit was really great for me and all the pieces and notches matched up perfectly. I also loved that they don’t have a center front seam, it makes a huge difference when it comes to fit.

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