Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Earth Day Accessories : Tree Leg Warmers!

It's no secret I'm a conservationist. My minor in college was Environmental Sustainability and I feel a strong affinity with the planet that gives human beings everything they need to live.

It's also no secret to my roommates that this project has been sitting in my "unfinished" knitting basket for over two years. You have no idea what a relief it was to finally finish this adorable project I've had on hold for so long. Or maybe you do, fellow knitters.




Although sadly, I didn't make this using any recycled or environmentally friendly materials, I encourage it. Salvage yarn from someone who doesn't need it, use an old sweater you were planning to throw away, and make use of the scraps from this project!




Materials:
One set of US Size 8/5mm double pointed needles
Optional - 16 inch circular needle, US Size 8/5mm (this is easier)
Two skeins of Patons Classic yarn in green and brown
1 Cable needle (or a spare double pointed needle, if you are careful)
1 stitch marker

Gauge:

Abbreviations:
CO = Cast on
K = knit
P = purl
K2T = Knit two stitches together
Inc = Increase by 1 stitch; do this by picking up the stitch below
C2 = create a cable using the next 2 stitches
C4 = create a cable using the next 4 stitches
WYF = With yarn in front

*If you don't know how to do any of these, look up some instructional videos on youtube. There are many, many helpful videos you can use.


Pattern:
With GREEN yarn, CO 66 onto circular needle or double pointed needles
Join in the round and place stitch marker.

K x 10 rounds
(K x 9, K2T) x 6 times for 1 round
K x 5 rounds
P x 1 round
K x 3 rounds
(K x 4, Cable x 2 stitches) x 10 times for 1 round
K x 5 rounds
P x 1 round
K x 3 rounds
(K x 4, Cable x 2 stitches) x 10 times for 1 round
K x 5 rounds

Take BROWN yarn
Alternate K1 BROWN, K1 GREEN for 1 round
Alternate K3 BROWN, K1 GREEN for 1 round (end green yarn)
K x 1 round
(K x 2, Cable x 4 stitches) x 10 times for 1 round
K x 8 rounds
(K x 2, Cable x 4 stitches) x 10 times for 1 round
K x 8 rounds
(K x 2, Cable x 4 stitches) x 10 times for 1 round
K x 8 rounds
(K x 2, Cable x 4 stitches) x 10 times for 1 round
K x 8 rounds
(K x 10, Inc x 1) x 6 times for a total of 66 stitches
K x 5 rounds

Bind off

and voila. huggable, aren't they?




7 comments:

  1. Looks like the pattern as written does not match the photo. My "brown" section cables line up, yours do not look that way. Still a very nice pattern.

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  2. A gauge would be helpful. I started with size 8 needles and then started over on 6's because I could tell they were going to be way too sloppy big; they were still too big. Round 111 doesn't compute for me. If you decrease by K2 10X you have to go beyond one round, yes? One set of K9, K2 =11 and one round is 66; x10 would be, well 111 stitches, leaving 56 ....and mine still looks bigger than your picture above. I wonder if it is just me or if others have had the same issue....cause, darn, the pattern is so cute.

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  3. Nice looking pattern. After reading Comments I think I should put a few notes in the pattern. Looks really cute though. Thanks ladies..

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  4. Used to wear leg warmers to stand out waiting for the school bus on cold mornings. We were not allowed to wear pants to school in those days. These are cute and I'll add them to my list of projects.

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  5. I would love to try making them. Thanks for the pattern.

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  6. Pam I would love to try making these.

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  7. Looks like the leg warmers don’t match. The patterns seem different and one on left looks bigger. I think I will come up with my own.

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