Monica Knits

These leg warmers were designed for cool weather and winter walking and are knitted with acrylic yarn for quick laundering. They feature feature 1 x 1 ribbing at the ankle and calf, a seed stitch buttonhole placket, vertical buttonholes, shell buttons and a stocking stitch body. These are knitted flat, but are tapered in shape and can either be buttoned closed or sewn closed, depending on preference. The ankle cuff is loose so that it can be worn over shoes or hiking boots to keep out snow.
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Materials

1. Patons Beehive Astra worsted weight, acrylic yarn, olive green (2782), 2 x 50 gm
2. Woolly Nylon or Elastic elastic sewing thread
3. Ten shell buttons, 7/8" diameter
4. Gross grain ribbon or interfacing for button support
5. Floss (DMC 898) for buttonholes and sewing on buttons.
6. Darning Needle
7. Size 4 (3.5 mm) needles, or size to obtain gauge

Gauge, measured with stocking stitch
2" = 10 sts
2" = 14 rows

Instructions
These are knitted from the ankle upwards and the buttonhole band is knitted on afterwards. Because of the buttonhole bands, there are left and right leg warmers. The buttonhole band has a self-facing for aesthetic and structural purposes. To make it easier to pickup stitches for the buttonhole band, a chain stitch selvedge is knitted for the body, excluding the ribbing rows.

Body

1. Cast on 50 sts for the cuff.
2. Work 1 x 1 ribbing for 1"
3. Increase 1 st (M1 increase) one stitch in from either end for each of the next 2 rows, 54 sts.
4. Work even until the piece measures 5" from the beginning, then increase 1 st at each end for the next 2 rows, 58 st. (Again the increase is in the 2nd stitch in from the end of the needle).
5. When the piece measures 8" from the beginning increase as before, 62 sts
6. Work even until the piece measures 10" from the beginning.
7. Work 1 x 1 ribbing for 1"

Related Links
Stitch Patterns , for 1 x 1 rib instructions, M1 increase, seed stitch
Seed Stitch
Vertical Buttonhole Method 1 (details for this leg warmer)
Vertical Buttonholes and Buttonband (alternate method of constructing vertical buttonholes, shown on baby cable leg warmers)