Winter Leg Huggers

I have always loved legwarmers. From my student days trudging through the snow to the lecture halls to more recently giving the dogs a run in nearby snow covered fields, they add an extra layer of warmth and a splash of individuality. These knee-high legwarmers are inspired by the textures of frost-encrusted stems and branches, and the fissures, knarls and knots of bark which become the dominant features of trees in winter.

The pattern is an 8-stitch repeat – 4-stitch rope cables alternate with right twist columns separated by single purl stitches – giving a very stretchy fabric and making it easy to adapt to larger calf sizes by adding extra repeats. Three sets of increases are integrated into the pattern on the back of the leg for calf shaping. Cabling more frequently, rather than ribbing, at the ankle and top, gives the required elasticity to hug your legs and maintains the overall coherent look of the pattern.