Hope everyone who is affected by the winter storm is fine. The “bomb cyclone” that caused an extreme and rapid temperature drop last week was so terrible and life-threatening. No, I wasn’t affected (thank god) but if I would have, this pair of cable knit leg warmers will be in very good use to at least keep my legs warm even if I am at indoor. Please grab the free knitting pattern to knit them for yourself or for your loved ones.
I knitted this pair of leg warmers a while ago and I wore them during my winter vacation in Japan. I received lots of compliments from passersby asking where I bought this stylish ombre effect cable knit leg warmers from. I chuckled and feel proud of myself to have designed and knitted them.
Cable Knit Leg Warmers – Free Knitting Pattern
scroll ⬇️ to get the free pattern & tutorial
It doesn’t take very long to complete this pair of leg warmers, at least they are so much faster than a pullover knit project. A ball of Lion Brand Scarfie is all the yarn you need, you will need to match the ombre tone for both pieces of the leg warmers but the effort is rewarding after they are done. If you find it troublesome, you can always use other equivalent yarn to knit.
The leg warmers are knitted in the round with 5.5mm circular needle, you do not need to do any seaming after completed the knitting part. However, there is some important note in the pattern that you need to pay attention at, especially when there is a cable stitch at between the last stitch of the previous round and first stitch on next round. No worry, I have that explained clearly and if you still have difficulty in understanding, please let me know.
Cable Knit Leg Warmers
Knitting Pattern
Difficulty: Intermediate
Download and print separately:
Knit Diagram & Measurement Chart
Construction: Work in Round
Size: 10.5″ circumference x 15.5″ length
Materials And Tools:
1. Yarn: Lion Brand Scarfie Yarn, 78% Acrylic, 22% Wool (approx. 312 yards/285m per 150g ball)
- Yarn Color: Denim/Navy, Balls needed: 1 ball
2. Needles: 16″ (or shorter) Circular needles U.S. 9 (5.5mm)
3. Cable needle (size should be smaller than the circular needle)
4. Stitch Markers
5. Tapestry needle
6. Elastic cord, 3 yards.
Note: Yarn amounts given are based on average requirements and are approximated. If you are using Scarfie yarn, match the ombre tone to the second piece of the leg warmers. You might need to cut away some yarn length before begin to knit the second piece in order for them to match approximately.
Tension Gauge:
Stockinette Stitch: 14 sts and 20 rows = 4″ (10cm) using U.S. 9 (5.5mm) needles
2 x 2 Ribbing Stitch: 21 sts and 24 row = 4″ (10cm) using U.S. 9 (5.5mm) needles
Take time to make a gauge swatch to check your tension. Wash and block your swatch before measuring. Use larger or smaller needles if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
Abbreviations
C4F = Cable 4 Front. Slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and leave at front of work. K2, then k2 from cable needle
cont = Continue
k = Knit
P = Purl
RS = Right Side
st(s) = Stitch(es)
T3B = Twist 3 Back. Slip next st onto cable needle and leave at back of work. K2, then p1 from cable needle
T3F = Twist 3 Front. Slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and leave at front of work. P1, then k2 from cable needle
KNIT PATTERN (Make 2)
Using 16″(or shorter) Circular needles U.S. 9 (5.5mm) and Scarfie yarn, 2×2 tabular cast on 56 sts (Watch the video on how to do 2×2 tabular cast-on in a round). End the 2 x 2 with 1 purl stitch. Insert a stitch marker at the beg of round.
Round 1 – 3 (RS): p1, (k2,p2) to end, end with p1
Round 4: [p1, T3F, T3B, p1] 7 times
Round 5: [p2, k4, p2] 7 times
Round 6: [p2, C4F, p2] 7 times
Round 7-9: [p2, k4, p2] 7 times
Round 10: [p2, C4F, p2] 7 times
Round 11: [p2, k4, p2] 7 times
Round 12: [p1, T3B, T3F, p1] 7 times
Round 13-24 (12 rounds altogether): p1, (k2,p2) to end, end with p1
Round 25: [T3B, p2, T3F] 7 times
Round 26*: [k2, p4, k2] 6 times, k2, p4, cont with cable stitch of round 27 on the last 2 stitches
Round 27: [C4F, p4] 7 times
Round 28-30: [k4, p4] 7 times
Round 31: [C4F, p4] 7 times
Round 32**: [k4, p4] 7 times, k2,
Round 33: [T3F, p2,T3B] 7 times
Round 34-45 (12 rounds altogether): p1, (k2,p2) to end, end with p1
Round 46: [p1, T3F, T3B, p1] 7 times
Round 47: [p2, k4, p2] 7 times
Round 48: [p2, C4F, p2] 7 times
Round 49-51: [p2, k4, p2] 7 times
Round 52: [p2, C4F, p2] 7 times
Round 53: [p2, k4, p2] 7 times
Round 54: [p1, T3B, T3F, p1] 7 times
Round 55-57 (3 rounds altogether): p1, (k2,p2) to end, end with p1
Round 58: [T3B, p2, T3F] 7 times
Round 59*: [k2, p4, k2] 6 times, k2, p4, continue with cable stitch of round 27 on the last 2 stitches
Round 60: [C4F, p4] 7 times
Round 61-63: [k4, p4] 7 times
Round 64: [C4F, p4] 7 times
Round 65**: [k4, p4] 7 times, k2,
Round 66: [T3F, p2,T3B] 7 times
Round 67-69 (3 rounds altogether): p1, (k2,p2) to end, end with p1
Round 70: [p1, T3F, T3B, p1] 7 times
Round 71: [p2, k4, p2] 7 times
Round 72: [p2, C4F, p2] 7 times
Round 73-75: [p2, k4, p2] 7 times
Round 76: [p2, C4F, p2] 7 times
Round 77: [p2, k4, p2] 7 times
Round 78: [p1, T3B, T3F, p1] 7 times
Round 79-81 (3 rounds altogether): p1, (k2,p2) to end, end with p1
Round 82: [T3B, p2, T3F] 7 times
Round 83*: [k2, p4, k2] 6 times, k2, p4, continue with cable stitch of round 27 on the last 2 stitches
Round 84: [C4F, p4] 7 times
Round 85-87: [k4, p4] 7 times
Round 88: [C4F, p4] 7 times
Round 89**: [k4, p4] 7 times, k2,
Round 90: [T3F, p2,T3B] 7 times
Round 91-92 (2 rounds altogether): p1, (k2,p2) to end, end with p1
Tubular bind off the 2×2 rib.
Note:
*The first stitch of the round has shifted 2 stitches to the left to accommodate the cable stitch of the next round
** The first stitch of the round is shifted back to its original place as it was in round 1
BLOCKING
Block the cable knit leg warmers to obtain the correct size.
TO FINISH OFF
Choose which side of the leg warmers you want to be the top, sew a few rows of elastic cords to the wrong side of the leg warmers. The elastic cord helps to hold the leg warmers firmly on your leg. It is optional, you can leave out the elastic cord if you prefer.
Pattern Diagram & Panel Chart (Click Picture for a larger chart, open in new tab/window.)
Instructions with pictures to assist in knitting Cable Knit Leg Warmers
Tubular cast on and after a few rounds of cable patterns to make the first cable block.
The second cable block is a shift of 4 sts. of the first cable block, thus the “twist” of the latter is between 2 cable “twist” of the former.
2 x 2 Tubular bind off with tapestry needle.
Match the ombre tone of the second piece to as close to the first piece. You might need to cut away some yarn in order to get the correct color to begin the knitting of the second piece.
Block and shape the leg warmers before wearing.
Add elastic code to the top side of the leg warmers if you wish to.
Stylish and easy matching leg warmers for every cold-day wear.
Perfect to go with boots, sexy to go with heels, casual to go with flats and sneakers.
Keep Warm, Stay Healthy, Be Happy!
Hi Jen,
I have the same question. I mapped it out and I think you start the 2×2 with 1 purl stitch then 2×2, that will leave you with 1 stitch at the end which should be a purl. This way the rib will come out with 1 purl at the beginning of the round and end of the round. I see your post was Dec 5th. If this is what you already figured out please let me know.
It’s not clear to me how you end up with 1 purl at the end of the tubular cast on process. There are 56 stitches if you do a 2×2 rib, you end with 2 purls, not 1. I just moved my stitch marker back one so that I end and will now start with 1 purl?
Hi Jen,
I have the same question. I mapped it out and I think you start the 2×2 with 1 purl stitch then 2×2, that will leave you with 1 stitch at the end which should be a purl. This way the rib will come out with 1 purl at the beginning of the round and end of the round. I see your post was Dec 5th. If this is what you already figured out please let me know.
Hi! I am starting this pattern and doing a tubular cast on for the first time. Can you clarify if I should begin with 56 stitches or half, 28? I’m sure it’ll be obvious once I get the hang of it. Thanks, they’re gorgeous!
Obviously it 56 stitches as given in the pattern. Btw, what made you think to half it?
The tutorials I’ve watched/read for 2×2 tubular cast-on, including this link, all say to begin casting on half of the total stitches and then double them. Your pattern is not clear as to whether to begin with 56 stitches, which would double to 112 using this technique, or if you cast on half to reach 56 total stitches. Again, I’m new to the cast-on method, and would like to know what result to expect.
In the video tutorial I have included above, it started off with 24 cast-on and ended with 24 stitches of 2×2, no halving needed. Provided you are referring to the other cast-on tutorial that needs to half the cast on, then please follow your tutorial to halve it. The end result for a full round of this Cable Knit Leg Warmers is 56 stitches as shown in the diagram. Hope this is clear to you. Happy knitting.
Hi! These are beautiful and I’d like to make a pair! I’d like to do them with a smaller needle (size 7), but will need to increase the pattern repeats. Can you add one pattern repeat or do you have to do two?
Thanks!
Hi Madsci, you will need to make a test gauge (bigger than 4″ x 4″ ) to check your knitting tension, measure and mark your test gauge 4″ x 4″ and count the amount of stitch and rows in it. Do some calculations of the number of stitches and rows you need to achieve the final dimension of the leg warmer, from there you will know how many repeats you will need to add to the pattern. Hope this helps.
I love these but wish they were crochet!
I love the cabling but my leg warmers are way too long as written. I dont see the long ribbing of Round 13-24 (12 rounds) in the top picture, the pattern doesn’t match the original work. 91 rounds is way too long at this gauge unless you want over the knee leg warmers and the scarfie color shift to repeat from A – B – A.
The pattern is correct as it is my original design and I wrote this pattern based on what I have knitted. Please note that the long ribbing is at the top of the leg warmers in the picture thus the pattern matches the original work. Perhaps your tension is a little too loose to produce a longer leg warmer, please check your gauge again before continuing your knitting as I feel bad for you to undo what you have done after completed the whole project.
So cute! love the ombre effect too. And over the boot looks great. Thank you for the pattern.