If you’re in a place where it gets pretty cold in the winter, you know that a pair of legwarmers is just the thing. For these legwarmers, I used mainly leftovers from mini skeins used for another project, and I just knit until I ran out of yarn!
The legwarmers are worked from the bottom up, starting with a tubular cast on and rib. Increases are done as you knit to reach the calf circumference needed. Another piece of ribbing and a tubular bind off are the finishing touch.
NOTE: This is the free version of my (upcoming) Leftover Legwarmers pattern. The paid pattern provides a recipe, so you can make legwarmers that fit you perfectly, out of just the yarn you have at hand. It uses DK weight yarn, but the same weight can easily be achieved using fingering weight yarn held double.
Download the Leftover Legwarmers (free version) pattern file here! (English version)
Download den danske version af Leftover Legwarmers (gratis version).
Yarn used: Knitter’s Kitchen Merino/Nylon DK (75% merino, 25% nylon), 225 meters / 246 yards per 100g.
Any DK weight yarn can be used.
Alternatively, fingering weight yarn (approximately 400 m / 440 yards per 100g) can be held double.
Amount used for sample:
The sample is knit for a size 25 cm / 9.75 inch ankle & 40 cm / 15.75 inch calf, and is 58 cm / 22.75 inches in length.
MC (for ribbing): 32g / 72 meters / 79 yards used. The amount needed may vary, based on the circumference needed.
CC: 15 different colors used, varying between 8-14g / 18-32 meters / 19-34 yards of each.
In total, I used 210 g / 473 meters / 517 yards of DK weight yarn for both legwarmers, of which approximately 180 g / 203 meters / 222 yards of CC yarn.
Needles: 3 mm / US 2½ for ribbing, 3,5 mm / US 4 for leg. Circulars for magic loop method or double pointed needles.
Change needles if necessary to get gauge.
Gauge: Sample uses gauge of 23 sts & 34 rows to 10 cm / 4 inches on bigger needles in stockinette stitch worked in the round.
Size: One size (see paid pattern for customizable size instructions), to fit:
Ankle circumference 25 cm / 9.75 inches,
Calf circumference 40 cm / 15.75 inches.
Calf circumference is intended to fit with 10 cm / 4 inches of negative ease, in order to stay in place; actual circumference of legwarmer is 30 cm / 11.75 inches.
The length worked here is 58 cm / 22.75 inches, ensuring that the legwarmer can be scrunched together for additional warmth. Make sure to make the legwarmer at least 40 cm / 15.75 inches long, in order to be able to work all increase rnds.
SCHEMATIC with measurements:
Download the Leftover Legwarmers (free version) pattern file here! (English version)
Download den danske version af Leftover Legwarmers (gratis version).