Summer Knitting Project: Legwarmers and Shrug

Let me start by saying, yes, I know that it's spring and getting warmer, not colder.  Call me crazy, but I like to start my projects for the year early.  That way, I have plenty of time to procrastinate and still finish on time.  I have already started the blanket I'm knitting for my nephew, who won't be born until September.  With that in mind, I decided it was a good time to give you the pattern for the ballet legwarmers and shrug I made for my daughter.  This should give you plenty of time to choose your yarn and actually have them completed before it's cool enough for the little ballerina in your life to need them.  I made these for my daughter when she was 7.  You may need to adjust the size of the pattern to fit your ballerina.  As usual, I'll include links to how-to's for the techniques used in case there are any you're unfamiliar with.



Materials:

• 2 balls of size 4-medium weight acrylic yarn (I used Red Heart Shimmer in purple, bought at Hobby Lobby.)
• straight knitting needles (I used size 8.)
• elastic or stretch cord (I used Cousin .8mm stretch cord, bought at Wal-Mart.)
• tapestry needle

The shrug is the easier piece, so I'll start there.  Cast on 54 stitches, or how many you need to fit around your ballerina's bicep.   Knit 1, purl 1 for 16 rows, or 2 inches.  Then stockinette stitch however many rows you need to reach across your ballerina's shoulders.  I knit 20 inches of stockinette stitch.  Beginning on a right side row, knit 1 purl 1 for another 16 rows, or 2 inches.  Cast off.  You should have a rectangle with ribbing at each end.  Fold the shrug inside out lengthwise.  Using a length of yarn and your tapestry needle, join each end to form sleeves.  Be sure to leave enough of a gap between the sleeves to span your ballerina's shoulders.  Here is the finished product.

Now for the legwarmers.  They are a little more involved, so I'll list the instructions row by row.  I suggest using a row counter to keep track of where you are in the project.  Also, I'm listing instructions for the right leg.  To make the left leg, simply swap knit and purl in the instructions.  For example, on row 17 when the right leg says to knit 1, bind off 21 stitches, knit to end, you will instead purl 1, bind off 21 stitches, purl to end.  Finally, if you change the size of your legwarmers, you will need to adjust the directions according to how many stitches you added or omitted.  

Cast on 44 rows, or however many you need to fit around the arch of your ballerina's foot.  
Rows 1-16: knit 1 (k1), then purl 1 (p1)
Row 17: k1, cast off 21 stitches, knit to end (If you do not want your legwarmers to have stirrups, simply begin your stockinette stitch with row 17.)
Row 18: p22, cast on 21 stitches, p1
Rows 19-38: stockinette stitch
Row 39: k1, k7, make one stitch (m1), k7, m1, k7, m1, knit to end
Rows 40-44: stockinette stitch
Row 45: k1, k7, m1, k7, m1, k7, m1, knit to end
Rows 46-50: stockinette stitch
Row 51: k1, k7, m1, k7, m1, k7, m1, knit to end
Rows 52-56: stockinette stitch
Row 57: k1, k7, m1, k7, m1, k7, m1, knit to end
Rows 58-62: stockinette stitch
Row 63: k1, k7, m1, k7, m1, k7, m1, knit to end
Rows 64-68: stockinette stitch
Row 69: k1, k7, m1, k7, m1, k7, m1, knit to end
Rows 70-74: stockinette stitch
Row 75: k1, k7, m1, k7, m1, k7, m1, knit to end
Rows 76-110: stockinette stitch
Rows 111-125: k1, p1
Bind off.  Using your tapestry needle and a very long length of yarn, join the sides of the legwarmer.  Using your tapestry needle and the elastic/stretch cord, weave the cord through the k1, p1 ribbing around the knee.  I made 4 rows of cord . These are to help hold the legwarmers in place and prevent them from slipping down while dancing.  Depending on the yarn you use & how well they fit your ballerina, you may or may not need to put the cord in your legwarmers.  Here is the finished product, back and front.

Happy knitting!  By the way, I'll post about the blanket I'm knitting for my nephew once he arrives.  I don't want to spoil the surprise for my sister.

Karissa

DIY Stylish Neck Scarf

I hope everyone had a good Black Friday yesterday.  That's the one day of the year when I don't think you could pay me to go shopping.  I'd rather sit at home and make Christmas gifts.  Here is one I made in just a few weeks.  This knitting project is quick, easy, and oh-so stylish!  It's a short scarf held around your neck with two pom-pom buttons.  Because it's only 2 1/2 feet long, there's no extra length to drag around or get tangled up in.  That makes it perfect for youngsters.  It's style makes it perfect for adults.  I used size 8 needles and three 95 yd balls of Peaches & Creme Tropical Sea yarn.  I didn't follow any pattern; it's just a stockinette stitch rectangle with two button holes at one end.  I did say this was easy, didn't I?  Just in case you don't know how to complete any of the steps, I'm including links to YouTube videos demonstrating the techniques.

1. Cast on 50 stitches and knit a row of knit, then a row of purl (stockinette stitch).  Repeat for about 2 feet, or until you feel the scarf is the length you want for the button holes.

2. When you are ready for your button holes, on a purl row, purl 12 stitches.  Next bind off 5 stitches.  Continue purling 16 stitches, then bind off another 5 stitches.  There should be 12 stitches left to purl to the end of the row.

3. The next row is a knit row.  Just as the previous row, knit 12 stitches.  This time cast on 5 stitches.  Knit 16 more stitches, then cast on 5 stitches.  Again, there should be 12 stitches left to knit to the end of the row.

4. Continue to stockinette stitch several more rows until you feel the scarf is long enough.  Bind off all the stitches and knot your yarn.  Trim all tails.  

5. Now it's time to make the pom-poms.  If you have a pom-pom maker or have the opportunity to buy one (they're inexpensive), I recommend it.  I don't have one, and didn't want to wait until I had time to go buy one, so I made my pom-poms by hand.  It's not difficult, just tedious.  First, I cut seventy-five 1 inch pieces of yarn.  This is the tedious part.

6. Cut one more piece of yarn that is several inches long.  Gather all your 1 inch pieces and pile them up so that they are in a neat pile.  Tie your longer piece around the pile as tightly as possible.

7. Fluff the pom-pom so that it fills in like a ball.  Use the long strings hanging to attach the pom-pom to your scarf.  Repeat steps 5-7 to make the second pom-pom.

Now you have a warm and fashionable scarf to keep you or a loved one warm this winter.  As for the one I made, it will be a Christmas gift this year, made to match a toboggan I made last winter.  Perhaps the recipient's mother will be good enough to post a pic of the matching set after Christmas.  (Hint. Hint.)  What warm and fashionable yarn crafts do you have to share?

Karissa