Monica Knits

These 12" long, blue legwarmers with a baby cable rib pattern are 12" tall and taper from 5-1/4" wide at the foot to 6" wide at the calf. They have been designed to fit over blue jeans, for hiking in winter. They feature a seed stitch button placket with 8 shell buttons. The button at the top is petal shaped to make it easy to tell top from bottom. This button placket is cosmetic, but the related olive green leg warmers of similar design have full button and buttonhole bands, but fewer buttons. The olive green leg warmers were knitted with a mock baby cable design and these with a true baby cable, which I prefer. Read more for related articles and images.

I was amazed at the texture and shine the Satin yarn developed when knitted in the baby cable pattern. The photo doesn't show the full lustre, but it does show the texture. I wasn't sure how well defined the pattern would be, since the yarn is a dark blue and very soft to the touch. This is why you should occasionally have a friend (even a non-knitter) select yarn for you. My girlfriend and hiking buddy, Shilda, selected this yarn and another, as well as embellishments and introduced me to the advantages of legwarmers for hiking.       Read more .....

Attached I have included stitch patterns shown in projects referenced in this blog. The stitches are organized by type: basics, cables, lace, ribs and trim. Stitch libraries that I like are found in the Favorite Books section.

1. Basics
2. Cables
3. Decreases
4. Increases
5. Lace
6. Ribs
7. Trim

Baby Cap
Design Features: This cap is knitted of acrylic, fingering weight yarn in cream with blue trim and accented with contrasting I-cord.
The body of this two-color cap is knitted flat to the crown, starting with 3/4" of 1 x 1 ribbing in blue and followed by 4-1/2" of mock or baby cable pattern in cream.

Baby Boy Booties
Design Features: These booties are knit of acrylic, fingering weight yarn in cream with blue trim and soles and accented with contrasting I-cord ties. They feature 1x1 rib, baby cable and garter stitches.

The body of the booty is knit flat, then sewn together at the center back. (I knitted these in the round with two circular needles to mimimize the number of seams to be sewn and speed the process. This left only a foot center bottom seam to sew.)