When I was a little girl I longed to be a ballerina. I would have loved to take ballet, but unfortunately A. We couldn’t afford it, and B. I’m thinking my hippy-ish Mom would not have been into the idea. She was more the type to take me camping and teach me how to tie knots, so as not to reinforace gender stereotypes. Unfortunately for her, I turned out pretty darned girly (maybe this was my rebellion?) I do complain all the time though about gender stereotyping, especially as I see it in my students, so maybe her efforts were not in vain.
So anyway, since I wasn’t a ballerina, and even though it was the 80s, I never had a pair of legwarmers of my own. (Neon? check. Leggings? Check. Hair barettes covered in shoelaces and balloons? Check. Hypercolor shirt? No, but oh how I wanted one…) The suggestion was raised (on my post about my boots being too large) of a pair of legwarmers. Then Sockknitters anonymous on Ravelry, of which I am a member, declared that legwarmers counted as “almost socks” for the December KAL. I took those two things to be a sign, and I am now making these.
These are the simple legwarmers from Last minute knitted gifts, knit with 1 strand of cascade 220, 1 of Madil kid seta (I’m using GGH Kid melange.) The Cascade 220 (above) is actually a dark gray, not black the way it looks. I wanted a heathered gray, but I couldn’t find any locally, so I used a lighter shade of mohair to make it look heathered. This works pretty well (or well enough anyway.) The two yarns combined make a really soft fabric, and I’m happy to note that I have no problems with mohair when it is combined with something else. Of course, 1×1 rib for 26″ X 2 isn’t quick (2-4 hours? Really book? I think not.) Anyway, here is hoping that I wear these when they are finished (photos soon, it got dark really early here today!)
Right now I’m only knitting things on DPNs (these, the sleeves of Vaila, and my socks.) I hope I don’t get too tired of them!
Green apples - Stitchywitch Creates 
Sounds like a great project. I never had a pair of legwarmers either and it may be time!
I made these for my wedding (outside in Dec) using the same yarn combo. You are going to love them. They get a bit boring but pop in a movie and you are golden.
2-4 for one maybe….
I had all the above, and think I even STILL have a hypercolor shirt. Now-a-days they make them for the bookcovers my kids use in school.
When I tell them I had a shirt and skirt in it…they cant believe it.
LOL
gl
Legwarmers!! I’m seriously thinking of knitting a pair this winter as well, they just seem so comfy and cozy.
I always wanted a hypercolour t shirt, and never had one either. But I did rock a pretty awesome side ponytail. Oh yeah.
In the 80s I was in Catholic school wearing legwarmers with my uniform skirt. Seeing yours makes me think I could possibly get interested in them again (especially as a backup way to keep warm at the office).
If you get tired of dpns, you could always go Magic Loop…
Looking forward to seeing how they turn out. My sister only knits legwarmers and she wears them all the time….two more chilren of the eighties 🙂
This post really cracked me up. Oh, those hair barettes! I had them all; so great. I was allowed to be a ballerina, but hated it, and quit well before I got any leg-warmers. It’s funny the forms children’s rebellion takes; I’m very liberal from a very conservative family, but I never thought about what my kinds might end up choosing as rebellion.
These sound like they’ll turn out really fun!
I loved legwarmers in the 80’s. I was a teenager, and already really tall, and all of my pants were too short. Legwarmers were my salvation. Now, though…nope, can’t do it! I’ll enjoy seeing yours, though.
I’m making the same legwarmers right now! It’s taking me forever, but I think I’m going to love the finished project! Only 1.25 legwarmers to go…
I am so excited to see the legwarmers! I’ve been looking at those for a long while, wondering why everyone puts that second yarn in.. does it really enhance the softness?
Oooh…I didn’t realize SKA considered legwarmers almost socks…must go through my stash and knit this along with you!