"Make-It Monday" Week 2

Happy Labor Day all! It's sort of sad to see summer on it's way out...but, my truly favorite time of year is here! So, how can I be sad about that?! 

FALLing into large leaf piles, carving pumpkins and drinking crisp apple cider...but, more than not...dressing the part! 

I love to layer...with jackets, scarves, leg warmers, long sweaters and MORE! 

Greens, golds, oranges and reds...all mixed up with a lovely scent of cinnamon and strudel! 

Hot cocoa, melting marshmallows and loads of freshly whipped cream...

How can you get more FALLish, than that?!

With all that in mind...I decided it was time to start getting ready for playing outside in the cooler weather, with some gorgeous gold yarn and a newly designed pattern for 

'Over the knee legwarmers'!

Ready?!...Let's "Make-IT Monday"!

Pick out your favorite color yarn...mine happens to be a bright, bold gold today! For me, it's a color I love to wear with almost everything I have...

especially blue jeans and cowgirl boots!

But then, I'm a little more than just a country girl at heart...I actually live it! Which, for me...makes Hand-Made more of a lifestyle choice than most. 

With your yarn in hand...let's get our new pattern underway...

Go ahead and get your hook ready...I'm using a US/K/10.5 or 6.5mm hook today, along with

#156-Sungold/'I Love This Yarn'/from Hobby Lobby...100% acrylic; med. wt. 4 ply yarn

You will definitely need 2 skeins (approx. 450-500yds.) to make the set of leggings.

These will fit an average adult leg...I tried them on my daughter too...you can adjust them to fit, smaller or larger as you go!

Start with chaining 60 stitches, and add 1 more for a turning chain...

1.Now, turn your hook, and sc back into the second chain from your hook, and continue to sc across to the end...you will have 60 sc stitches. Now, ch 1 and turn.

2. When you start this row, you'll want to sc in the front loop stitch ONLY and sc in each back st. across to the end of this row...60 sc sts., chain 1 and turn.

3. In the next row, sc in each of the back loop stitch ONLY, and across to the end...60 sc sts., ch 1 and turn. (This gives you your beginning foundation to your legging, which will give you somewhat of a ribbed appearance as you go.)

4. sc (single crochet) in the front loop ONLY in the next 20 sts; hdc (half double crochet) in the next 40 sts, in the front loop ONLY! ch 2, turn...

*If you've never done a hdc before, here's a quick little tutorial to help you out with that!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=i6PRr58euF4

5. hdc in back loop stitches ONLY across the first 40 sts, and sc in the next 20 sts....(back loops only) to the end, ch 1 and turn.

6. repeat row 4

7. repeat row 5

8. - ? rows 

(as wide as you need to make it to fit your leg!) keep alternating your pattern as you go!

 You will begin to see your ribbing adding up as you alternate your every two rows, from your shorter (sc) sts. that are forming your ankle area, to your longer (hdc) sts. in the latter part of your legging pattern that's working up the leg and over the knee now.

And when you get your desired width that you need to stitch it together, to form the legging...you'll tie off your last st. on your final row...and leave a really long tail (about 3 times the length of your finish legging now, and cut to length...so, you can sew it closed.)

Take your time and sew it up (INSIDE OUT! It should not be ribbed on the side you are sewing on now)...being careful to keep it even as you go...you should have about 60 sts. when it's all sewed up. Tie off at the top, when you get it all sewed up and weave in your end, so it doesn't show or unravel.

Now, start with your yarn again (same color or change to a new color now!) We're creating the cuff of the over the knee legging here...

Slip stitch in your last chain made for this first row of sc sts. around...try to keep 1 sc st to each opening as you go around...don't turn the legging right side out yet...keep working from the flat side here, not the ribbed side. (It'll look nicer, when done!)

Sc around...and sl st to the first chain you made when you started that row...ch 1 and turn. 

Now, sc back around...same amount of sts. from previous row and sl st to first sc from that row. (HOWEVER, DON'T TURN NOW!) You will now be crocheting in the round, as you go up here. 

At the end of this round, you'll ch 2 before starting the next round. 

We are going to be adding a cabled ribbing now to our top edge...with FPDC and BPDC, by alternating every other st.

(Here's a good little tutorial to help you out with these fun little stitches, if you've never done it before!) 

http://youtu.be/5dxkIU2MMCQ

Each round you make, should be the same amount of stitches as you build up...and you will sl st to the first chain made from the previous round, and ch 2 before beginning again.

And...once you have about 5 rounds made...you'll ch 1 and sc in each st. around to make the last round before tieing off. Once done...weave in your end tail, and your legging is complete!

As you can see...it goes from your ankle, to over your knee! It's wonderfully adjustable....as you can see here...

Before I added the ribbed cuff on top...it fit my 7 year old's leg perfectly! 

Now...you can stitch up another one...so, you'll have a PRETTY PAIR of OVER-THE-KNEE-LEG WARMERS, to add to your FALL accessory collection this year!

Hope you enjoy making a pair for yourself, or as a gift of Handmade to someone you love!

I'd love to see yours...send me your pics! You're welcome to keep up to our day to day happenings on my facebook page...

http://www.facebook.com/get-hooked-with-tammy/

please, come and join us...for even more fun with yarn...where yarn and color is fiber-licious!