Rachel "Ivy" Clarke

MetaPostModernLegwarmers, a fully-fashioned hand knitting pattern, first appeared in the Spring/Summer 2008 issue of the online publication MetaPostModernKnitting.

METAPOSTMODERN LEGWARMERS

by Rachel “Ivy” Clarke

Difficulty: advanced beginner. This pattern involves working cables, and working with two yarns held together.

Much to my chagrin, it seems that the 1980’s are coming back into style full-force. For me, living through 1980’s fashions the first time around was bad enough. One of the most popular styles making a comeback right now seems to be the skinny pant legs. Some of us (myself wholeheartedly included) just cannot pull off the skinny pants look.

So what about that other 1980’s fashion staple, the one that might help disguise my skinny-panted legs, the legwarmer? Legwarmers can give those of us that need it a little more flair (and flare!) near our feet, not to mention keeping us warm without having to hitch up our tights all the time (a personal pet peeve).

I haven’t seen too many legwarmers around, and when I went searching for knitting patterns, they seemed few and far between compared to other garments and accessories, and most of them left me yawning. When I discovered Stephanie Japel’s Postmodern Legwarmers from 2003, I wondered: has it really been 5 years since we had a decently stylish and interesting legwarmer pattern?

My rebellion against the skinny pant and my desire to create a new, interesting pattern design brings you a fresh, updated, MetaPostmodern legwarmer. The cable, entwined with subtle metallic thread, gives these legwarmers a touch of class without being over-the-top gaudy, and the tapered ribbing (using decreasing and increasing needles sizes) gives that nice boot-cut look those of us who detest the skinny pant. As a bonus, the upper ribbed cuff folds down to cleverly hide an inner length of elastic designed to help keep your legwarmers on your legs where they belong, and not around your ankles.

SIZE
One size

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference (unstretched): 13”
Length (unfolded): 18.5”

MATERIALS
[MC] Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride [85% wool/15% mohair;190 yd per 131g skein]; color: Crème M10; 2 skeins.
This single-ply yarn gives the legwarmers a very nice polished look. You can use any yarn of the same weight that has good memory.
[CC] J&P Coats Knit Cro-Sheen Metallic Crochet Thread [85% mercerized cotton/15% metallic filament; 100 yd per spool]; color: Gold; 1 spool.
The important part about CC is that it is very thin, so it gives the cable a sparkle without adding bulk.

1 set US Size 6/4mm straight needles
1 set US Size 7/4.5mm straight needles
1 set US Size 8/5mm straight needles
1 set US Size 9/5.5mm straight needles
1 set US Size 10/6mm straight needles
1 cable needle, 1 yard ¼” elastic, sewing needle and thread

GAUGE
18 sts x 26 rows = 4" in St st with US 6 needles

PATTERN NOTES
MPMK's list of abbreviations.

Leg Warmer is worked from the Bottom Cuff up. Note: When working the cable panel, MC is held together with CC on 9 sts of panel only.

PATTERN

Right Legwarmer

Bottom Cuff

With Size 10 ndls and MC, CO 62 sts.
Row 1 (WS): *P2, K1; rep from * to last 2 sts, end P2.
Row 2: *K2, P1; rep from * to last 2 sts, end K2.
Rep Rows 1 & 2 until piece meas .75” from CO.
Change to Size 9 ndls, and work even in patt until piece meas 1.5” from CO.
Change to Size 8 ndls, and work even in patt until piece meas 2.25” from CO.
Change to Size 7 ndls, and work even in patt until piece meas 3” from CO, ending on a WS row.

Begin Cable Panel

Row 1 (RS): Change to Size 6 ndls, with MC K42; join CC and holding tog with MC, K9; K11 with MC only.
Row 2 (WS): P11; pick up CC and hold tog with MC, P9; P42 with MC only.
Rows 3-4: Rep these 2 rows, once more.
Row 5 (RS): K42; slip 3 sts to cable needle (cn) and hold in front of work, with MC and CC held tog K3, K3 from cn, K3; K11 with MC only.
Row 6: Work as for Row 2.
Rows 7-10: Rep Rows 1 & 2, twice.
Row 11: K42; with MC and CC held tog K3, sl 3 sts to cn and hold at back of work, K3, K3 from cn; K11 with MC only.
Row 12: Work as for Row 2. Rep Rows 1-12, 7 more times.

Next row (RS): With MC only, K1, *K2tog, YO; rep from * to last st, end K1. Purl 1 row.

Top Cuff

Row 1 (RS): Change to Size 7 ndls, *K2, P1; rep from * to last 2 sts, end K2.
Row 2: *P2, K1; rep from * to last 2 sts, end P2.
Rep Rows 1 & 2 until piece meas .75” from beg of Top Cuff, ending on a WS row.
Change to Size 8 ndls, work even in patt until piece meas 1.5” from beg of Top Cuff.
Change to Size 9 ndls, work even in patt until piece meas 2.25” from beg of Top Cuff.
Change to Size 10 ndls, work even in patt until piece meas 3” from beg of Top Cuff, ending on a WS row.

BO all sts loosely.

Left Legwarmer

Bottom Cuff

Work as for Right Legwarmer until piece meas 3” from CO, ending on a WS row.

Begin Cable Panel

Row 1 (RS): Change to Size 6 ndls, with MC K11; join CC and holding tog with MC, K9; K42 with MC only.
Row 2 (WS): P42; pick up CC and hold tog with MC, P9; P11 with MC only.
Rows 3-4: Rep these 2 rows, once more.
Row 5 (RS): K11; with MC and CC held tog K3, sl 3 sts to cn and hold at back of work, K3, K3 from cn ; K42 with MC only.
Row 6: Work as for Row 2.
Rows 7-10: Rep Rows 1 & 2, twice.
Row 11: K11; slip 3 sts to cable needle (cn) and hold in front of work, with MC and CC held tog K3, K3 from cn, K3; K42 with MC only.
Row 12: Work as for Row 2. Rep Rows 1-12, 7 more times.

Next row (RS): With MC only, K1, *K2tog, YO; rep from * to last st, end K1. Purl 1 row

Top Cuff

Work as for Right Leg Warmer.

FINISHING

Block if desired. Seam the back of each legwarmer, making a tube. Cut a length of elastic to fit snugly yet comfortably around your calf, just below the knee. Weave elastic through eyelets and sew ends securely. Weave in ends. Repeat for second legwarmer. Wear with style and pride!

Photographer: Caroline Bautista
Model: Anna Wilcoxon
Illustration: Caroline Bautista