About

Cost: $ $ $ $ $

Difficulty: • • • • •

Time: 2h00

Simple Chic Knits
If there is an item of clothing that begs to be lurid, it is surely the legwarmer; this is an opportunity for really experimenting with sparkly yarns and colorful contrasts. My daughter has her eye on this pair for her dance classes, and frankly who can blame her! These legwarmers are incredibly simple to knit and can be made for a child or adult. The fact that they are knitted flat means that they are a great beginner project, but if you fancy knitting them in the round, go ahead; simply join in the round at the end of the cast on and follow the pattern as it is for the rib. Once you reach the main pattern section, follow row one only, changing the yarn every four rows.
If you substitute the wool yarn for one sold in smaller balls, a 1¾ oz (50g) ball is enough for one pair of leg warmers.

Yarn
Sweet Georgia Superwash DK (100% superwash merino wool) sport-weight (double knitting) yarn, 4oz (115g), 256yd (234m) skeins
1 skein in Ultraviolet (A)
Lana Stop Platino (100% nylon) sport-weight (light double knitting) yarn, 13⁄4oz (50g), 20yd (200m) balls
1 ball in Bronze (B)

Needles and equipment
1 pair of each of US 5 and 6 (3.75 and 4mm) straight knitting needles
Large-eyed knitter’s sewing needle

Size
To fit: child(adult)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Length: 12¾ (17½)in (32(44.5)cm) long
Circumference (unstretched): 6(9¾)in (15(25)cm)

Gauge (tension)
Project gauge (tension) for both yarns is 32 sts and 28 rows to 4in (10cm) over stripe patt (unstretched) using US 6 (4mm) needles.
Standard ball band gauge (tension) for Platino is 16 sts and 30 rows to 4in (10cm) over st st using US 8 (5mm) needles.
Standard ball band gauge (tension) for Superwash DK is 22 sts to 4in (10cm) over st st using US 6 (4mm) needles.

Posted by Ryland Peters & Small • Published 29th February 2016 • See Ryland Peters & Small's 148 projects » © 2024 Karen Miller and Susan Ritchie of Mrs Moon / CICO Books · Reproduced with permission. · Simple Chic Knits by Karen Miller and Susan Ritchie of Mrs Moon, published by CICO Books (£12.99) Photography by Penny Wincer & Emma Mitchell © CICO Books

Print • Embed

Jenn H. favorited Spangly Legwarmers 23 Mar 06:07
Sofia favorited Spangly Legwarmers 12 Mar 14:24
Kinhime Dragon favorited Spangly Legwarmers 02 Mar 17:32
Ryland Peters & Small published his project Spangly Legwarmers 29 Feb 09:00

Step 1
LEGWARMER
Make 2
Using A and US 5 (3.75mm) needles, cast on 48(78) sts.
Row 1: [K1, p1] to end.
Row 1 sets the rib patt.
Rep the patt 7 more times.
START STRIPE PATT
Change to US 6 (4mm) needles and B.
Row 1 (RS): [P2, k4] to end.
Row 2: [P4, k2] to end.
Row 3: [P2, k4] to end.
Row 4: [P4, k2] to end.
Change to A and rep these four rows.
These 8 rows form the stripe patt.
Rep the patt 8(12) more times, then rep rows 1–4 once more (both sizes).
Change to US 5 (3.75mm) needles and A.
Knit one row.
Next row: [K1, p1] to end.
Last row sets the rib patt.
Rep the patt 7 more times.
Bind (cast) off in patt.
Step 2
TO MAKE UP
Weave in ends.
Right side in, fold a legwarmer in half lengthwise. Using backstitch, sew up the long seam. Rep for other legwarmer.
Step 3
CARRYING YARN FOR STRIPES
As the color changes are frequent and the edges will be hidden in the seam, I thoroughly recommend carrying the yarns up the side of the work, rather than breaking the yarn off each time you change color. If you’ve never done this before it simply means that you leave the color you’re not working with attached to your work, then just start using it again as you need to. Be careful not to pull the yarn too tightly up the side.