  by
Stefanie Japel
It's spring. It should be getting warmer any day now,
right? Right.
While
you are outside shivering in chiffon, waiting for
that first butterfly to de-cocoon, you need to keep
warm. The perfect solution is these legwarmers! Carry
them with you - stick a pair in your backpack, or
in your bottom desk drawer at the office. You will
no longer have to let sudden temperature changes or
gale-force winds get you down!
This
pattern is a basic design that can be altered in a
multitude of ways. Use smaller needles and a finer
yarn, and work 2 or 3 inches of ribbing at the top
if the yarn you choose is elastic enough - just keep
the finished dimensions the same. Substitute elastic
for the I-cord. Hem the bottoms or not. Add a pattern
stitch, like cables or a lace panel, up the sides.
Decorate with intarsia or a Fair Isle band. Make them
thigh-high or ankle-length.
Experiment!
|
|
model:
Stefanie Japel
photo: Nathan Japel |
| SIZE |
|
adult S[M, L] |
| |
| FINISHED
MEASUREMENTS |
Circumference:
10[12, 14] inches [stretchy]
Length: variable
|
| |
| MATERIALS |
|
Cinnamon's Dye Pot [Brushed Mohair; ~250 yd
per 4 oz skein] ; color: Enchanted Forest; 1
skein [all sizes]; or any glamorous yarn of
the same weight. Use a finer yarn if a more
open fabric is desired.
One skein sock yarn for I-cord
1 set US #15/10 mm straight needles
1 set US #11/8 mm straight needles
1 set US #2/2.75 mm double-point needles for
I-cord drawstrings
darning needle
|
|
| |
| GAUGE |
| 11
sts/12 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch |
| |
| DIRECTIONS |
Legwarmer
[Make two]
Using #11 needles, CO 23[25, 27] sts.
Work 4 rows in St st.
Purl 5th row [RS] to make a purl ridge
on right side of fabric.
Change to larger needles.
Work in St st for 7 rows, keeping knit side as
RS.
Inc 1 st each side of 8th row -- 25[27,
29] sts total.
Continue straight for 7[9, 9] inches, ending with
a WS row.
Next row [RS]: inc 7 sts evenly across. 32[34,
36] sts total.
Work 7 rows.
Next row [RS]: Inc 7 sts evenly across. 39[41,
43] stitches total.
Work straight to desired length ending with WS
row.
Newt row [RS]: P across.
Work 4 rows in St st, keeping the knit side as
the right side.
|
| |
| FINISHING |
|
 Steam
pieces flat.
Using right side purl rows as a guide, turn and press
both top and bottom 4 rows.
Sew seams together, being careful not to pull tightly
so the seam will be invisible when finished.
Be sure to leave 2 inches open at top for I-cord casing.
Sew casing in place [sew as if hemming the top, but
leave the edges open so that the I-cord can be inserted.]
Hem bottoms if desired.
Knit 2 feet of I-cord for each legwarmer.
Attach a big safety pin to one end of each I-cord
length and thread into casing.
Tie into bows and get fabulous!
|
|
| ABOUT
THE DESIGNER |
Stefanie is a compulsive knitter, currently
living in Baltimore, Maryland with her husband,
Nathan, and two cats.
She also spins and dyes her own yarns and is
a budding jewelry designer. Visit her website
at http://www.glampyre.com.
|
| Pattern
& images © 2003 Stefanie Japel. Contact
Stefanie. |
|
