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How to sew leggings with a Yoga waistband // a Virginia leggings tutorial

Virginia Yoga Waistband

Hey everyone, Holly here!  So I have a fun Virginia leggings pattern variation tutorial for you today. How do you feel about some Virginia yoga style leggings? These are so comfy, and there is no need for elastic!

First we will go over creating the waistband pattern piece. The construction is pretty much the same as attaching the regular waistband (minus the elastic), but I’ll walk you through those steps too.

Let’s get started!

To make yoga leggings, you will need to cut out the View B or D waist line. But you will be using your View A elastic measurement to make to yoga waistband pattern.

Note: since every body is different, you should first measure and test out that measurement to make sure it is comfortable. Remember, while you won’t actually attach elastic to this version, you are using a very stretchy fabric, so it should be a nice tight fit with that measurement. But don’t be afraid to make changes for your personal preferences and comfort.

how to sew a yoga waistband on the Virginia leggings by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Grab a piece of extra long scrap paper to make your yoga waistband pattern piece.

Draw a straight line the length of your View A elastic measurement.

how to sew a yoga waistband on the Virginia leggings by Megan Nielsen Patterns

The height of your yoga waistband is up to you. For reference, we found that about 11 3/4″ (or around 30 cm) worked well. Just remember that the fabric piece will be folded in half, so whatever height you want, remember to double it and add seam allowance.

how to sew a yoga waistband on the Virginia leggings by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Square out these two lines to finish your rectangle pattern piece.

The yoga waistband is a lot taller than the regular waistband pattern piece in height, but a little shorter in length. That is to accommodate the absence of elastic.

how to sew a yoga waistband on the Virginia leggings by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Cut out one waistband piece form your fabric.

how to sew a yoga waistband on the Virginia leggings by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Fold in half lengthwise with right sides together, and sew 5/8″ (1.5cm) from the raw edge.

how to sew a yoga waistband on the Virginia leggings by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Now fold the tube in half width wise, with wrong sides together (right side facing out).

how to sew a yoga waistband on the Virginia leggings by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Pace a pin at the seam, which is the center back. Mark the halfway point from the center back, which is the center front. Then mark halfway between the center back and center front on either side.

how to sew a yoga waistband on the Virginia leggings by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Once you have the legs of your leggings assembled, lay them in front of you, right side out, with the front facing you.

Mark halfway between the center front and center back on either side.

how to sew a yoga waistband on the Virginia leggings by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Place the waistband over the leggings with right sides together. Line up the raw edges at the top, and match up the center front, center back, and the two sides.

how to sew a yoga waistband on the Virginia leggings by Megan Nielsen Patterns

You can see now that the waistband is smaller than the waist of the leggings.

how to sew a yoga waistband on the Virginia leggings by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Stretch the waistband slightly to match it up with the waist of the leggings, pinning in place as you go. Continue until you have the entire waistband pinned.

how to sew a yoga waistband on the Virginia leggings by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Sew together 5/8″ (1.5cm) from the raw edge using a zig-zag stitch or serger/overlock.

Sew around the entire length of the waist. No need to leave an opening gap since we are not adding elastic.

how to sew a yoga waistband on the Virginia leggings by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Flip the waistband up and press well at the waist seam to eliminate any wavy-ness.

how to sew a yoga waistband on the Virginia leggings by Megan Nielsen Patterns

You can wear your yoga leggings with the waistband up….

how to sew a yoga waistband on the Virginia leggings by Megan Nielsen Patterns how to sew a yoga waistband on the Virginia leggings by Megan Nielsen Patterns

or folded down!

how to sew a yoga waistband on the Virginia leggings by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Don’t have the Virginia sewing pattern yet?! Order Virginia today! We absolutely love seeing what you make, so don’t forget to tag your creations with #MNvirginia and @megannielsenpatterns when sharing on social media, and check out what everyone else is up to!

About Author

Holly writes part time for the Megan Nielsen blog– sewing like crazy, creating tutorials and sewalongs. She has been sewing since she was a little girl, and has her degree in apparel design. Now she’s a stay at home mama, and spends all her free nap times at her sewing machine.

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Karen Shearer
Karen Shearer
4 years ago

Ohhh….love the yoga waistband! Thanks! I’m also wondering what pattern was used for the matching the bra top.

Chloe Morien
Chloe Morien
3 years ago
Reply to  Karen Shearer

it’s a forever 21 crop top xx (I stalked Holly’s account to find out :P )

Alice
Alice
4 years ago

Hi, would like to know where the fabric featured in the blog was purchased from? it looks like it doesn’t have any sheen (which I want!). love the yoga waistband variation.

Heidi
Heidi
4 years ago

A bit confused… Is the height of the waistband 30cm, so the fabric piece is double that, i.e. 60cms?

Lodi
Lodi
4 years ago
Reply to  Heidi

Yes. Plus the seam allowances.

Heidi
Heidi
4 years ago
Reply to  Lodi

It worked! Thank you…

Jodie Hickman
Jodie Hickman
4 years ago

I love the Yoga waistband option. I live in yoga pants and actually try to do Yoga 3 – 4 times a week. I am also tall and love the long high waistband. Store bought yoga pants never come up to my waist. Thanks for options.

Jennifer Sandoval
Jennifer Sandoval
4 years ago

I, too, love yoga waistbands, but so rarely have the time for pattern hacking. I’d love if you offered a pattern piece to download of a (shaped) yoga waistband ;-)

Jennifer Sandoval
Jennifer Sandoval
4 years ago

Oh, and where did the model get her tank top? I wish I could find one without a large racerback or large back at all! Also, how did she get that waistline?! JEALOUS (but never in a hateful way!)

Jean G W
Jean G W
4 years ago

Love this waistband hack and will give it try for maternity leggings for my daughter. Thank you! Also, I don’t see a pattern on your website for the bra top. . .Love the higher neckline. Is this a row top?

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[…] waistband I made a yoga waitband because that is just so much more comfortable. For this I used the tutorial on the Megan Nielsen Patterns Blog. Now that I wore my leggings I am considering putting some elastic on the inside at the top of the […]