Go to any dance class, in any studio, in any city and you’ll see dancers wearing leg warmers. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and can be worn in a variety of ways as well. Some pairs are seen hugging the ankles, all scrunched up together. Others can be observed being worn ramrod straight up the leg, covering calves and knees.

As you may have guessed, leg warmers keep the dancer’s joints warm, which helps prevent injuries. If you don’t own a pair of leg warmers I would recommend you get some. You can buy a pair online at your favorite site or at http://www.saratogadance.com/.  But there’s really nothing better than having a hand-made pair of leg warmers.

Not everyone who knows me is aware that I love to knit and crochet. I started doing both when I was very young. While in college I worked in a yarn shop and most of my paychecks ended up being used to buy yarn.  I’ve made all kinds of projects over the years such as hats mittens, socks, sweaters, and I even crocheted my wedding gown!

I haven’t always found the time to work on those projects but after my mom passed away last year I began again. My mother was the person who taught me how to knit and crochet. It was one of the things, along with dance, that we did together when I was growing up. She always had a project she was working on in her hands. Sadly she left many of those unfinished. Along with bins full of yarn, I found at her house dozens of finely crafted projects in need of some attention, and in various states of completion. I’ve finished several of her half completed hats and socks. Working on her projects has helped me keep my mom close to me.

Recently I decided to combine my passions and create leg warmers for gifts. I didn’t have a pattern for them, so I searched online where I did find a variety of free patterns. The big drawback with the ones I found was that many patterns called for specialty yarns, which make very bulky leg warmers.  I didn’t want that and since I couldn’t find a pattern I liked, I made up my own. As a reference I used a pair of hand-knitted leg warmers I received as a gift a few years ago.

There was a lot of trial and error working this way but after starting over a couple of times, I finally got the pattern to my satisfaction. I’m currently working on a third pair, the first two were gifts to some dear dance friends, but this third one is for me!

If you are someone that likes to knit and dance or know someone that does, please feel free to use or share my pattern. Follow Ballet Ankle Warmers Pattern with instructions. If you need some yarn for this project, let me know. I know where I might be able to find some.

 

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Ballet and knitting have a lot in common. There is a rhythm to the making along with the choreographed movement of the needles.