I have an inner ballerina inside me. Do you? Although I never practiced ballet, the elegance and feminine beauty of the art has always entranced me. Lately balletcore style has become a trend, so our inner ballerinas can enjoy this fashion! My top balletcore pick is a pair of chunky knit leg warmers. Cozy leg warmers keep your bare legs warm, and can also look stylish over your favorite skinny jeans. They can add that extra warmth you need when going out, and can also look chic over leggings at yoga or dance practice. How would you like to knit your own pair of leg warmers for a ballet core aesthetic?

If you’re looking for an easy knitting pattern that a beginner knitter can handle, you’ve come to the right place. My free knit leg warmers pattern has a simple repetitive 4-row pattern that works up quickly with Super Bulky weight yarn. You will need to use circular knitting needles, but using a 16″ length will ensure that the entire leg warmer fits around. Keep reading for the free knitting pattern for this perfect winter addition to your wardrobe…

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How to Knit Leg Warmers for Beginners

These easy leg warmers may be a great project for beginners learning to knit in the round. You will work on small circular needles, 16″ length, with a rib stitch pattern for 4 rows on the bottom and top, then a simple repetitive pattern for the main section of the leg warmer.

You will need the following supplies to make your own leg warmers:

Supplies

• Size 11 (8 mm) circular needles 16″ length total, with approx. 3.5″ needle size
• 2 skeins of Lion Brand Thick & Quick size 6 yarn (106 yds per skein) to make two leg warmers (or similar bulky yarn about 125 yds)
  • Color : Fisherman
• scissors
• tapestry needle
• Stitch Marker (SM) to keep track of rounds

Knitting Abbreviations

BO – bind off

CO – cast on

K – knit stitch                                              

P – purl stitch   

sl – slip stitch from left needle to right without working it

sm – stitch marker

sts – stitches

Rep – repeat

RS – Right Side

WS – Wrong Side

PATTERN INFORMATION

I enjoy naming my crochet and knit patterns after local New England places of interest.

The “Littleton Leg Warmers” are named after the town of Littleton, Massachusetts. Littleton is a small New England farm town located very close to Concord. Its’ rich colonial history showcases ties to the minuteman militia and native American traditions. I wouldn’t be surprised if the town’s early inhabitants knitted warmers similar to these for cold New England winters. Considering modern style, these leg warmers also fit in perfectly with the trendy balletcore aesthetic!

 The easy leg warmer knitting pattern for women is provided below.

• but you can also get the ad-free, printable pdf KNIT LEG WARMER PATTERN in the ETSY SHOP!  The pdf has helpful photos included.

Before we begin on this pattern, are you a beginner knitter? You may be interested in taking my knitting class first, to master the basics …

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FREE LEG WARMER KNITTING PATTERN

Gauge: 4″ (10cm) square = 9 sts by 17.5 rows in slipped rib pattern.

How to knit leg warmers with circular needles

When knitting in the round using a circular needle, the stitches are joined to make a circle.  This happens right after you cast on the initial stitches, as you begin the first Round.  (You will be working in ‘rounds‘ instead of back-and-forth ‘rows’). Rather than stitching on needles back and forth, alternating between Right Side (RS) and Wrong Side (WS) facing you, the RS will always face you as continuously stitch around.

Once you cast on the 28 stitches on your circular needles, you will join the stitches in the round. Use a stitch marker (SM) to keep track of each round. After casting on, it will be a matter of working a ribbed cuff, followed by a simple repetitive 4-row pattern for the main section of the leg warmer, followed by a finishing ribbed cuff.

Each leg warmer can be worked in as little as 1.5 hours or less. You can knock out a pair of these leg warmers any rainy afternoon or slow weekend.

How to make Knit Leg Warmers

NOTES: First, you will create the leg warmer ‘tube’ by casting on, joining for round 1, and working the indicated 4 rounds in the rib cuff pattern.

Next, you will work the repetitive 4-round pattern for the body of the leg warmer.

Lastly, you will work 4 rows for the finishing rib cuff and then bind off.

The Right Side (RS) will always face you as you work in the round.  

Instructions are as follows for the chunky leg warmer free knitting pattern …

Knit Leg Warmer Pattern

With size 11 circular needles, CO 28 sts with size 6 yarn. The circular needle size must be 16″ length, with approx. 3.5″ needle size.

{Joining in the Round}

Place a stitch marker (SM) after the last stitch you casted on.  This will help you to count each round going forward.  In each subsequent round, simply slide the SM to the other needle. (I just used a piece of contrasting yarn as my stitch marker)

At this point, your ‘right-hand’ needle holds the last st casted on, while the ‘left-hand’ needle holds the first st casted on.

Next, being careful that the stitches on your circular needle are not twisted, join the last st casted on with the first st in round by knitting the first st. 

(a photo of this initial join is provided in the pdf file on Etsy)

Rib Stitch Cuff

Rounds 1-4: *K2, P2; rep from * to end of round.

Main Section of Leg Warmer – Slipped Rib Pattern

The ‘slipped rib’ pattern is similar to stockinette stitch pattern. However, you are slipping one of the stitches from the left needle to the right in a purlwise fashion (as if to purl) or in a knitwise fashion (as if to knit) instead of working it. Make sure to always keep the working yarn in the back, even when slipping a stitch purlwise.

Round 1: *Sl 1 purlwise, k3; rep from * to end of round.

Round 2: *Sl 1 knitwise, k3; rep from * to end of round.

Round 3: K2, *sl 1 purlwise, k3; rep from * until last 2 sts, sl 1 purlwise, k1.

Round 4: K2, *sl 1 knitwise, k3; rep from * until last 2 sts, sl 1 knitwise, k1.

Rounds 5-48: Rep Rounds 1-4 of slipped rib pattern.

Rib Stitch Cuff

Rounds 1-4: *K2, P2; rep from * to end of round.

Remove SM.

Bind off in rib pattern (k2, p2).

Weave in ends.

The FINISHED SIZE of the leg warmer will be approximately 12″ circumference by 12.5″ length.

Repeat the steps above to make a 2nd leg warmer.

Important Tips for Knitting your Leg Warmer

Some things to keep in mind as you knit the leg warmer are:

• Make sure your stitches are not twisted when you first join in the round after casting on stitches.
• Use a Stitch Marker (SM) to keep track of each round
• The Right Side (RS) is always facing you as you knit each round.
• Thicker yarns work best with these needles, but feel free to double up thinner yarns.
• Feel free to add more slipped rib rounds to the main section in the pattern if you would like long leg warmers for a taller fit. (this may require more yarn)
• If you want a wider or smaller circumference, you can adjust the number of stitches to cast on. Experiment with different sizes by casting on a multiple of 4 stitches.

How to wear your stylish leg warmers

To wear your finished leg warmers, just pull them over the bottom of your legs and let them rest around your calves. Feel free to pull them up closer to your knee, or let them slouch lower on your calves.  Wear the warmers over leggings, skinny jeans, or even bare legs. They are a stylish accessory for the cold days of winter, adding another layer of warmth for your legs. Wool yarn may be the best choice for this project if you really want the warmth.

You could also pull the leg warmers way down to make boot cuffs to go over short boots.

You can see that the Slipped Rib Pattern created ‘raised’ knit stitches around the leg warmer. This adds some interest and texture to the leg warmers. Keeping with the trendy ballet core style, feel free to wear these warmers to bring out your inner ballet dancer!

I hope you enjoyed this FREE knitting pattern to make leg warmers.  Once you get rounds 1-4 down of the slipped rib pattern, the project will become repetitive and simple.  I know you can handle the knitting in the round if you are a beginner.  This is a great way to practice those skills, as the pattern isn’t too complicated. 

Don’t forget that the chunky leg warmer knitting pattern is also available in an ad-free pdf pattern.  Grab the LEG WARMER PATTERN in my Etsy shop.

Love warmer patterns? Check out these other warmer knitting patterns …

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