I have been wanting to make a pair of leg warmers for my daughter for so long, and I’m happy to say that they are finally complete! She loves to dance and I wanted to make some cozy super soft leg warmers to keep her ankles nice and toasty. I’m so happy with the result, and I hope you like them too because I posted the pattern for free!
Please note that some of the links on this page are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you purchase through these links. I use all of the products listed on this page and recommend them because they are companies that I have found helpful and trustworthy. Please let me know if you have any questions about anything I have recommended!
Leg Warmers Knitting Pattern
Here is what you will need to make these soft and cozy leg warmers:
- US 10 (6.0 mm) straight knitting needles.
- 1 Ball (100 grams) of Knit Picks Mighty Stitch yarn in Mint. This is just enough yarn for two leg warmers, so if you make them longer you will need an extra ball of yarn.
- Scissors
- Yarn Needle
Gauge
4 Stitches, 5.5 Rows = 1″ in stockinette stitch
Measurements:
4″ Wide X 14″ Long
Abbreviations:
K: Knit
P: Purl
YO: Yarn Over
K2TogTBL: Knit Two Together Through the Back Loop
K2Tog: Knit Two Together
YFRN: Yarn Forward Around Needle
Pattern
Cast on 50 Stitches.
Row 1 (right side): K2, *P2, K2; repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2: P2, *K2, P2; repeat from * to end of row.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 three more times (total of 8 rows) to create ribbing.
Row 9: K2, *P1, YO, K2TogTBL, P1, K2; repeat from * to end of row.
Row 10: P2, *K1, P2; repeat from * to end of row.
Row 11: K2, *P1, K2Tog, YFRN, P1, K2; repeat from * to end of row.
Row 12: P2, *K1, P2; repeat from * to end of row.
Repeat rows 9 through 12 until your work measures approximately 12 inches.
Finish off the leg warmers the way you started by repeating rows 1 and 2 four times to make 8 rows of 2X2 Ribbing.
Cast off.
Repeat the above steps for the second leg warmer.
Finishing
Fold and sew up the back seam.
36 Responses
Lovely, thank you for sharing with us.
I found this pattern several months
Ago. I have made 5 already for grandkids. They absolutely adore them. I really loved the pattern stitch. Was so easy once l got going
On it. I have had. About 25 pins on it. Hope all enjoy making them as much as I have. Regards Carol
Exactly what I was looking for ! Thank you
Beautiful pattern! I’m going to make them shorter and make fingerless gloves of them. Thanks for the patter. 🙂
I love them. Im working on mine now. I have changed the pattern to be worked on a circular needle as i dont like to seam. I hope to finish them today. Im going to make wrist warmers and a scarf as well. These are going to help so much with an auto immune problem i have with changes in temperature. Thank you so very much for sharing the pattern.
You’re welcome Dee, I’m so glad that this pattern will help you keep comfortable 🙂
Hello Dee … will you share your adapted pattern for circular needles? These will be great for my 8-year old granddaughter who loves going “seamless”.
LeeLee … do you have this pattern for circular needles?
Sorry, not at the moment
Hi Dee,
Would you mind sharing your re-written pattern for using circular needles? I hate seaming, too, and would love to make these for my daughters to wear this winter to ballet class.
Many thanks,
Hello Dee, would you be able to post the pattern for the wrist warmers and scarf? I am making these for my 11yr old daughter and I now they would love the whole set!
Hi Dee,
Could you send me the pattern for circular needles?
Are these adult or child size? And what weight is the yarn please? (UK knitter)
They would comfortable fit an older child (8 and up) and adult.
Thank you so much for this pattern. These are beautiful 🙂
Thank you for this !
Please tell me how and where they are 4″ wide.nance wants to know
Hi Nancy, the finished leg warmers are 4 inches wide at the middle going across (once the seam is sewn up).
Please tell me how and where they are 4″ wide.nance wants to know I love the pattern but before I begin knitting I would like to know the width of finished product
I do not understand the Guage is it one stitch equals an inch? Thank you
Sorry that was a typo, thanks for pointing it out! I will update the pattern.
4 Stitches and 5.5 Rows = 1 Inch in stockinette stitch.
I’m pretty new to knitting and have a couple questions about this pattern. I wanted to make them twice as wide to fit around my calves, so would I cast on 100 stitches or 102 stitches to make up for the ribbing? I cast on 100 to experiment and I have to begin each row with knitting in order to get the correct result.
Also, when doing a yarn over around needle (YFRN), does that include a purl stitch or not? I can’t seem to figure it out. Thank you in advance for your help!
Hi Ellie, You need a multpile of 6 +2 to make these bigger. I would cast on 98 or if you want them even bigger then 104 would work.
Here is a good video tutorial for the YFRN stitch: http://newstitchaday.com/yfrn-yarn-forward-round-needle/
Can I add more stitches to make an adult size
Hi Sarah, yes you can. You just need a multiple of 6 + 2
What size needle should be used?
US 10 (6.0 mm) straight knitting needles.
If you at any time have this pattern using DP needles, I would also love to have it, as well as wrist warmers. Can’t wait to try these; they look lovely!
Id like to ur newsletter if u do one
I just finished making a pair of these for my granddaughter. I used smaller needles, modified the length and converted to ‘in the round’.
(Unfortunately, even if you use the US10 needles, you cannot use circular, must be DPs).
Basically:
CO 48 sts.
I made 10 rows of K1, P1 rib (although I find it easier to P1, K1 on DPs)
Pattern:
Row 1: *P1, YO, K2TogTBL, P, K2; repeat from * to end of row
Row 2: *P1, K2; repeat from * to end of row
Row 3: *P1, K2Tog, YFRN, P1, K2; repeat from * to end of row.
Row 4: *P1, K2; repeat from * to end of row
repeat pattern rows until your work (from beginning of rib measures 2″ shorter than your ankle to knee measurement)
10 rows of K1, P1 rib
Cast/Bind off
Hope this helps all of you who have been asking for ‘in the round’.
Forgive me. It’s a K2, P2 (or P2, K2) rib. My mistake, but I can’t figure out how to edit my original comment.
Thanks Barb for this!
Love these! Made them on a size 8 needle to achieve a slightly tighter knit. Seamed them with mattress stitch. Will definitely be making more as gifts!
Glad to hear Jennifer! All the best, Alnaar!
You have inspired me to knit something other than toques, hats and blankets with this pattern. I love knitting cables and anything lacy and you delivered your pattern just in time for me to make a change in my knitting repertoire. My youngest neice’s daughter is a dancer and I have just finished the leg warmers in a beautiful mint coloured yarn I had in my stash. She will love these.
Thank you so much for the pattern.
You’re so welcome Mara! I’m glad to hear that! Its easy to stick with what we know, but so rewarding to try something new 🙂