Come New Year’s, everyone and their mother is looking to get back into shape, but that doesn’t mean fashion needs to be tossed out the window. Keep your workout wardrobe up to date and 100% you with a pair of customizable leggings. Best made with one of Mood’s UV Protective compression tricots, the Ixia Leggings are a simple pair of leggings that can be easily transformed into a comfortable and chic gym ensemble. Read on to see how you can quickly hack this free sewing pattern!

Purchase Materials Used Below:

• 1 yard 5.6 oz Black Matte Tricot w/ High Compression
• 1/2 yard Black Power Mesh
• 1 spool of 10 Black 1000m Gutermann Sew All Thread
• MDF112 – The Ixia Leggings Sewing Pattern (free download below!)

Alternative Recommended Fabrics:

• Performance/Tech Fabrics
• Bamboo Jersey
• Pique Knits

First, the original Ixia Leggings pattern is a very basic pattern for regular, basic leggings. To add the side mesh panel, you’ll need to make just a few quick adjustments.

To start, use a clear ruler to mark 1.5″ inward from the outer seam of both your front and back leggings pieces from waistline to hem.

Since you cut 1.5″ from both your front and back panels, you’ll need to cut a 3″ wide strip of your mesh for each leg. The length should match the length of your legging panels.

If you’d like to add a modestly panel toward the top of your leggings like I did, cut 12″ off of your mesh strip at a diagonal and cut the same 12″ piece (plus seam allowance) from your main legging fabric.

Using a stretch stitch or serger, connect the modesty panel to your mesh strip like you see above and then top-stitch the seam allowance in place. Be sure to make the two stips so the angled portions mirror each other.

Next, use a stretch stitch again to sew your mesh insert in between your front and back legging panels, like above. I chose to attach the inserts so the solid angled portion pointed toward the front of the leggings.

Top-stitch the seam allowance down with a stretch stitch again and your leggings are ready to be completed! Simply visit the original pattern instructions to continue sewing your new workout gear!

Will you be giving this pattern hack a try? Let me know what other ideas you can think up for leggings in the comments below!