Little Girls' Knit Legwarmers {A Pattern}
So, little Miss Penelope started ballet last Fall. She really loves it. She looks forward to going to class every.single.week. and every Sunday as we are looking at the calendar and preparing for the upcoming week's schedule she asks, 'I have bah-yay 'morrow?' in her cutest little sing-songy voice. She even has her very first recital this June set onstage at a local theater...I don't know whether to laugh or cry about that! :-)
As we are slowly moving into Spring here in the midwest (painstakingly slow I might add) and the temps are hovering at a very brisk and windy 30 or 40 degrees, I thought I would knit Penelope some warm little legwarmers to wear over her tights as she goes to and from ballet class.
I love this legwarmer pattern I created because I really love the ribbing I decided to add to both top and bottom. Besides giving the legwarmers a bit of contrast in the stitchwork, the ribbing adds a nice elasticity to the ends for ease in getting them on and off of her foot as well as keeping them up on her legs.
{First Position}
I chose Bernat Softee Chunky yarn for this project because I liked the chunky look this yarn gives without being overly thick and stiff in such a tiny legwarmer. It really is the perfect chunky yarn for a children's knit.
The color is True Grey...I thought it would be a good neutral color that would be wearable when she moves up to the next ballet class and they have to wear a different color leotard (which I think is going to be black).
Here's Penny's 'Marilyn Monroe' look...this girl loves to pose!
This is a fairly easy project, you need to know how to knit and purl as well as use circular knitting needles again! Also, each legwarmer took me about 3 hours to do...not bad if you've got something good to watch on tv!
Little Girls' Knit Legwarmers
You'll need:
16 inch US size 5 circular knitting needles
Yarn of your choice
Stitch marker
Stitch counter (not necessary but nice!)
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Cast on 34 stitches.
Knit 10 rows of 1 x 1 ribbing (knit one, purl one)
Next you will knit one row and purl one row for the next 50 rows.
The last 10 rows you will do 1 x 1 ribbing again (knit one, purl one)
Cast off loosely in knit stitch
Use your scissors to cut off an 8-10 inch tail. Then with your tapestry needle, weave in the end of your yarn for a few stitches before cutting off your tail completely.
Each legwarmer measure about 10 inches in length so I would say these should fit anywhere from 18 months to 4T depending on if you want to fold the tops down or not!
Here are what my 16 inch US size 5 circular knitting needles look like, I found mine at Michaels. You definitely will need 16 inch needles for this as the more average 29 inch circular needles you find will be too long a cord for such a small-sized project.
Well, I think it's safe to say that she likes them...a lot!
Time for some piqués, pliés, and arabesques :-)
Happy Knitting!!
XOXO,
posted by Maggie @ 3/31/2011
56 Comments:
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ok, i cannot knit, but your daughter is ADORABLE!
What a great idea! And your little model is just toooo cute! :)
Could your lil' girl get any cuter?!! ...and the leg warmers are cool too. :)
She is SO cute! Love the grey legwarmers. I'd totally wear them.
Can't wait to forward this to my sister so she can get busy knitting! THanks for sharing- so cute!
Ummmmmmmmmm..................she could not be any cuter!!! Those leg warmers are awesome!!!
Oh my gosh, your daughter is soooo freakin cute!!!
How cute is she!!! Your bringing back memories of when my sweet little girl took ballet. Enjoy! It goes fast.
Love the legwarmers a well.
I'm new to the knitting, do you cast on 34 stitches and join or do you add one cast on stitch then join? Thanks, I'll be starting these as soon as I'm finished with the neverending baby blanket that Vouge said would take 4 hours!! I think I'm on hour 96.....
Have you ever done a picture tutorial of knitting and perling? I can knit (basic), but never was taught the perl part of the deal. I have made cotton washclothes, a scarf for my cat (which he LOVED), and crocheted kitties for my little girls. If you have, that would be great - my girls would luv these legwarmers. Try Penny out on the make-up mania I let my girls loose on recently - super cute - as seen on my blog today. www.wom-mom.com
I so wish I could knit because those are absolutely adorable! I was just thinking about picking up some cheap knee high socks to make some leg warmers for my girls.
Oh, and Penny is absolutely a doll! I bet ballet class has to be a hoot with all those little ones dancing around!
Thanks ladies!!
@Val- you cast on 34 stitches first, then knit those stitches, when you start the next row (in purl) you will join the stitches there! Let me know if that makes sense!!
XOXO,
Maggie
So I don't knit or have an adorable girl to put adorable leg warmers on... but I hear ya on the weather! lol We're up in BC and it snowed LAST week! Seriously!??!? Might just have to take up knitting.... :P
soooo cuuuute! I wanted Nicole to do ballet but soccer, baseball, and swimming are more her style. It's just swimming right now, she's three and one is plenty, but she is such a little she-jock. If she didn't look so much like me I'd think she was switched out in the hospital! Gym class was a 'laugh so I don't cry' type of event for me. Lets just say, I can't hit a volleyball and decide where to hit it at the same time. And that I'm never the only one laughing.
There must be something in the water because I've had a post in drafts all week (okay fine, nearly two weeks now) with a similar pattern, but crochet. faux-ribbing on top and bottom, samers. Except mine is for baby size! Just have to take pictures, which apparently is taking for-ev-er.
My cousin's little girl started ballet this year and she loves it too! Your daughter is really cute and it looks like she loves it too. (Just as long as they don't make her do what my cousin's daughter had to do: they required all the kids (from 3-7) wear false eyelashes and foundation. Why? I don't know....)
So cute! I can't wait till my daughter is old enough to try dance.
This is the Cutest thing ever!! Love it!!
I've been looking for an easy pattern to make legwarmers for my little 3 year old ballet dancer. Perfect. thank you!
That is so cute. Now I wish I was able to have a girl! All I know is how to produce boys.
Hi! I thought that this was such a cute pattern so I gave it a try, with a little difference... But I linked back to you so I thought I'd let you know!
Thanks for the inspiration and a great pattern too!
http://mommamadeit.blogspot.com/2011/05/knit-leggings-for-delaney.html
How cute is your little girl!!!!??? :)
I wish I could stitch! :)
Cecilia
http://crearescout.wordpress.com
I just cast on 34 stitches on a size 5 16 inch circular needle with a chunky yarn and there is no way I can join it to work in a circle. Wonder what I am doing wrong
i ended up having to use double pointed needles..16" circulars were too long for mine, too! also, when you say you knit stockinette stitch, it makes a smooth, then bump on mine...did you knit allk nit stitch since it was in the round??
thanks so much for the help! such cute little legwarmers!!
Hmm, that is weird! I am not sure why the 16 inch circulars are not working...maybe my stitches are really loose? And Amanda, the stockinette stitch is knit one row, purl one row so you will have a smooth row and then a bumpy row right after it. When I come up to my stitch marker, which signifies the end of the row and the beginning of the next when working in the round, I change to purl (or knit stitch) depending on what I had just done...does that make sense?
Cute and your daughter is adorable!
Just curious, how many balls of yarn did you use? Is one enough or should I purchase more than one?
A friend of mine sent me this blog link since we were shopping at the yarn store together today...and I was reading and noticing that your little girl's name is PENNY!!!! OMG that's my name too! :-):-):-)
I've never in my whole life met anyone younger than me who shared my name. I'm 33. She's adorable and she has THE COOLEST NAME EVER!!!!!
I have started trying to knit these cute leg warmers for my 4 yr old and being a beginner knitter I am not very knit-savvy. I am using a 16 inch size 6 circular needle and the stitches don't reach around the length of the circular needle, in order to join them. What am I doing wrong?? If I cast on more stitches, won't the leg warmers be too large? Thanks!
Hi Shel!
I think you are doing everything right...when you work with circulars you continually have to push your new stitches (on the right needle) around the circle to the tip of the left needle. It is hardest when you get to the end of a line as you do feel like you are stretching it a bit but it really does work out in the end! There will be times when the stitches are spread out all along the needle but that is totally normal too.
Good Morning Maggie, These are exactly what I am looking for in an adult size. My granddaughter loves them and I need to made some for her for Christmas. Ever done them in adult size? Any guesses on how many stitches to start with? Thanks, Mary
My daughter is going to love these for gymnastics! How many skeins did you use? Thanks for sharing this adorable pattern with us!
Hi Trishia! It only took one skein for the two!
I absolutely love these! They are super cute. Would it be hard to make them in a bigger size like for an adult?
my twins are in ballet and LOVE it, but say their legs get cold!! these are perfect and never thought about making some =0) thanks for the idea
For knitting in the round when too many or too few stitches are required and they don't fit your needle. Try two sets of circular needles. Cast on all of your stitches on one set of needles, then slide half, approximately, of your stitches onto a second circular needle that is the same or similar size. Use one set of needles to knit their own half
of your stitches, then switch to the other set to knit their half of the stitches. It isn't nearly as complicated as it sounds! Try it, you'll like it!
I adore these little leg warmers but since I do not knit I was most inspired by the photo of your daughter's legs. I pinned it some time ago. I used it as inspirations for this post and linked back to you. Wanted to stop by and say thanks!
http://taidyeoriginal.blogspot.com/2012/02/little-ballerina-feetsies-pinned.html
I bought the exact same Bernat yarn in this pattern and 16" circular needles - 16" is definitely too long. I was not able to "join in the round." Instead I just just did the pattern and sewed it up after knitting.
Do you ever take orders from people (like me) who cant knit but would love a pair of those adorable legwarmers? I came across a picture of them on pinterest and they are adorable, you did an amazing job! i would love to get a pair for my niece..i looked all over online and couldnt find one pair that was as cute as the ones you made! i would love to order a pair if that is something you do
I made the legwarmers. I used 24" needles in the magic loop method. Worked perfectly! You can check them out here: strandfamilyadventures.blogspot.com
By the way my little girl is named Penelope too.
I'm knitting these up right now! I'm using light yarn in baby pink on 3.25 double point needles! It is taking forever. Wish I'd gone with the size you said, but so far I love them! So much I'm going to do them again in black!! Thank you so much for sharing!!
Hi! I'm making these too. I'm only about 6 months into my knitting career, but my little niece and my twin (her mommy) have been requesting "Punky Brewster" Legwarmers:) While they won't be multi-colored and all, I think she'll love them! Thank you!
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So cute! Did this just take one skein of yarn?
Also, can you tell me the number of the mm and the US crochet hook size of the yarn because my Michael's didn't sell the yarn you suggested. I want to be sure I substitute with the correct weight of yarn so mine don't end up to thick or too thin. Thanks!
I just linked over here from Pinterest because I thought these leg warmers would be so cute to make for my little 4 year old ballerina...... who happens to be named PENELOPE! Thanks for the pattern!
How much yarn did you use for the 2?
Looks like a great pattern. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Kim!
I'm sorry but I don't remember the yarn weight I used for these...It was just an average weight though, nothing fancy thick or thin! I know that is not the best answer but hopefully it was somewhat helpful?
Awesome Sarah! Penelope's rock! :-)
Hi Tricia!
I used one skein for the pair!
Super cute -- both your little ballerina and the leg warmers. I want to make these for my 5 and 9 year old. Any tips on sizing for those ages? Love your blog and your creativity. Makes me wonder what I've been doing with my time. :)
I am going to try these on 9" circular needles (US size 6).
Can you translate the patyern into a crochet pattern?
Sorry, I don't know how to crochet!
I cast on no. of stiches required but can't seem to be able to join the stitches. I am using size 5 16" circular needle.
What is my problem? Please help. Thank you.
I bought 16 round needles today for this project but when I cast on 34 they don't meet and there is no way to make them. What am I doing wrong?
When you work with circulars you continually have to push your new stitches (on the right needle) around the circle to the tip of the left needle. It feels hardest at the beginning because you have nothing to work with but the row you just looped on. Just remember that circular needles are very flexible in the center so although it feels like it won't work it really will, you just have to work a little harder when you first start!
How would you adjust this to fit an adult?
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