Top your list with a resolution to initiate all children, M and F, into the mysteries and fascinations of knitting - Elizabeth Zimmermann, Knitter's Almanac
EZ gives very good suggestions for your child's first knitting project (a garter-stitch potholder) and then suggests that while your young knitter is working away that you knit him or her a pair of "longies" as a reward. These can be fitted to be as tight as leggings, or they can be looser, like lounge pants. Either way, they will be deliciously warm. They are knit in the round, which EZ considers a crucial point for both comfort and durability. Seams "pop inconveniently, especially in a garment which has to have feet constantly thrust into it."
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| That face! |
These leggings were designed to fit my daughter, who is 43" tall and wears a size 5. Her waist measurement is 21.5" and it is 25" from the floor to her belly button. She is long-waisted and slender. If those descriptors don't match the child you wish to knit leggings for, get out your calculator and and measuring tape and figure out the size difference between my child's measurements and yours, and then add or subtract stitches or rows from my pattern to get a custom fit. Or, of course, you could buy Knitter's Almanac, where EZ gives a full explanation of how to knit "longies" for any size, infant to adult. My pattern is informed by hers but not exactly the same.
(This has not been test-knit and may contain errors.)
Cozy Cozy
US 8 DPN (for the waist you will either need a 5th DPN, or a US 8 circular needle)
Worsted weight yarn, less than 660 yards. I bought 3 skeins of yarn because I wanted to do stripes and I have a good bit left from each color. I probably used around 500 yards.
CO 44 st
Knit 14 rounds in 2x2 ribbing.
Knit 48 rounds in stockinette.
*K2 inc1, knit to end of the round, inc1.
Knit 5 rounds in stockinette. Repeat from * 10 times,
increasing by 22 st.
Knit 4 rounds in stockinette.
Repeat for the other leg.
Sew together 18 stitches from each leg using Kitchener stitch.
Knit 1 round, picking up and knitting 4 stitches over each
end of the crotch. (104 st)
*K26 past the middle of the back, wrap and turn.
Slip first st, P51, wrap and turn.
Slip first st, K49, wrap and turn.
Slip first st, P47, wrap and turn.
Slip first st, knit 1 round, knitting the wrapped stitches like this. (See note)
Knit 2 rounds.
K23 past the middle of the back, wrap and turn.
Slip first st, purl 45 st, wrap and turn.
Slip first st, knit 43 st, wrap and turn.
Slip first st, purl 41 st, wrap and turn.
Slip first st, knit 1 round, knitting wrapped st as before.
Knit 2 rounds. *
Repeat from * to *.
Knit 43 rounds in stockinette.
Knit 16 rounds in 2x2 ribbing.
Cast off loosely in pattern. Weave in all ends.
If desired, use a sewing machine to sew elastic to the inside of the waistband.
Note: This is not a vital element, but the final result is smoother than if you simply knit the wrapped stitches.
Name: Cozy Cozy
Design: mine-ish, with the helpful advice of Elizabeth Zimmermann
Materials: Berroco Vintage Storm, Berroco Vintage Cast Iron and what is probably Cascade 220 Christmas Red
Finished: Sept 12, 2017
Fancy that! Finished with September before the month is even half over! These were a fairly quick knit; less knitting than a sweater. I think I may collect my worsted scraps for a while and make a pair of crazy striped pants for Munchkin or Twinkle.
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| Ring-around-the-rosie. I obviously spent a great deal of time coordinating their outfits. P.S. Twinkle is wearing two pairs of pajama pants, per his favorite things. |
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