Bring fashion to your ankles with crocheted leg warmers. This retro craft is an excellent way to repurpose old cotton or cotton blend sweaters into a fashion statement for your legs. Leg warmers are no longer worn just to exercise, but over the top of your heels or boots. Go ‘green’ and recycle those old sweaters into fashionable leg warmers.
Take an old sweater apart and wind the yarn into a ball. Locate the knot on the bottom edge of the sweater. If you cannot find the knot, simply cut a thread along the bottom of the sweater. Pull the thread to begin the unraveling process. You will lose a short portion of the yarn by doing this but not enough to make a difference. Continue to pull the yarn to unravel the sweater. Wind the yarn into a ball as you go. This makes it easier to work with when crocheting the leg warmers.
Determine the circumference of the leg warmer by measuring the distance around the center of your knee. Measurements will vary depending on age and leg size. The length of the beginning chain is the same as the circumference around the knee. The pattern is written for an average size adult leg with a 15 inch knee circumference. Adult leg warmers are 15 inches long. Adjust the leg warmers to fit loosely around the ankle by measuring Crochet the leg warmers using a size H/8/5mm crochet hook or hook to gauge.
Instructions:
Row 1 – Chain 42 stitches. Slipstitch the last stitch to the first chain stitch making sure not to twist the chain.
Row 2 – Chain 1 stitch. Single crochet in each stitch around. Slipstitch the last stitch to the first stitch in the row.
Row 3 – Chain 3 stitches. Double crochet in the next stitch and in each stitch around. Slipstitch the last stitch to the chain 3 at the beginning of the row.
Row 4 through 6 – Chain 3 stitches. Double crochet around the front post of the next double crochet stitch in the row below. Double crochet around the back post of the next double crochet. Repeat this process around the circumference of the leg warmer. Slipstitch the last stitch to the chain 3 at the beginning of the row.
Row 7 and 8 – Chain 3 stitches. Double crochet around the front post of the next double crochet in the row below. Double crochet around the back post of the next two double crochet stitches. Double crochet around the front post of the next two double crochet stitches. Alternate double crocheting around the next two back posts then the next two front posts around the circumference of the leg warmer. Slip stitch the last stitch to the chain 3 at the beginning of the row.
Row 9 and 10 – Chain 3 stitches. Double crochet around the back post of the next double crochet in the row below. Double crochet around the front post of the next two double crochet stitches. Double crochet around the back post of the next two double crochet stitches. Alternate double crocheting around the next two front posts then the next two back posts around the circumference of the leg warmer. Slipstitch the last stitch to the chain 3 at the beginning of the row.
Row 11 through 28 – Repeat the pattern from Rows 7 through 10.
Row 29 – Chain 3 stitches. Double crochet in the next stitch. Double crochet the next two stitches together. Double crochet in the next four stitches. Double crochet the next two stitches together. Repeat the pattern around. Slipstitch the last stitch to the first stitch in the row.
Row 30 through 32 – Repeat instructions for Row 4 through 6. Cut thread and finish.
Tips:
Add a strap to the bottom of the leg warmer to hook it in front of the heel on your shoes. Make the strap five stitches wide and six inches long. Complete the last row of stitching. Chain 8 stitches. Slipstitch the chain to the first stitch in the row. This creates a loop to use for a button. Stitch a button to the opposite side of the leg warmer. Pull the strap under your boot and attach the loop to the button.