Get a Leg Up - Knitting Retro Legwarmers

Woohoo! Move over Jamie Lee and Jane Fonda! Legwarmers are back baby!!!

Retro 80s Leg Warmers. Ahhhh... the 80s when Smash Hits and Mix Tapes equalled after school entertainment.

Actually, they never really left us! For those of us who twirled around in ballet or jazz classes as kids and now spend our winters shivering in chilly offices or cruising in vintage cars with no floor heating, we totally get the magic of double socks and a trusty pair of leg warmers. They're like a warm and cozy hug for your calves.

My three girls (aged between 28 and 10 years) all know the benefits of a warm squishy set of warmers for the legs. I wear a pair under my desk in through the cold Riverina winter (no snow but often minus Celsius between May and August). 

Miss 10 suggested I add some to the online shop. I was kinda skeptical but it seems that I'm preaching to the choir, so if you want a pair check out the store or let me know and we'll get you sorted.

If you are a knitter, or a crocheter, I can't share original the pattern with you because of copyright laws in Australia but I can tell you they are essentially just a rectangle and seaming it up. Knitting your own set of retro legwarmers is easy enough, you just have to fiddle a bit with gauge to make sure they'll fit your legs.

This is a basic pattern I came up with to fit Miss 10.

Legwarmer Recipe

You'll need:

Approximately 120grams of 8ply (DK/Light Worsted) Yarn

A pair of 4mm (US 6 or No.8s in old money terms)

A pair of scissors and a wool needle for seaming

Method (Make 2):

Cast on 50 stitches (I use a cable cast on but you can use whatever manner you please).

Work in pattern of K2, P2 (double rib) until length desired.

Cast off.

Fold in half and seam together (using mattress stitch or your preferred method).

For Miss 10 the preferred length is about 25cm.

For longer legwarmers just knit them longer (you'll extra yarn).

For adult size or a more slouchy fit try casting on 60 or 70 stitches.

As they say in all those 1980s cooking shows …."here's a pair I prepared earlier" for those of you who prefer a ready made pair.

Retro Funshine 80s Style Leg Warmers

Buy Now

But seriously, if you're a knitter or have the inclination to learn go for it and whip up a pair.

If it doesn't work you can just unravel it and knit something else.

Have a great weekend everyone,

Megs.