...warmers

 

 

 

warmer    n.    something that generates, conserves or maintains heat.  

 

There are hand warmers, bun warmers, bottle warmers, food warmers, plate warmers, and bed warmers.  

 

 This month, however, we're going to talk about Leg Warmers.  Leg warmers, so popular in the 90’s, are finding favour in fashion again. They can be long, stretching up from ankles to knees, or even over the knees.    You might fold them over boot cuffs or cover ankle boots with them.  My favourite leg warmers could more aptly be called ankle warmers because I like shorter ones that hug around the lower leg best. 

 This month I’m offering my “Mock Cable Leg Warmers” pattern.  For less experienced knitters this is a great pattern.  The finished project looks like true cables, yet the pattern stitch doesn’t actually involve true cabling.

 

Though the pattern is knit flat, without any increases or decreases, it is knit from the top down.  A cast-on edge is more flexible and therefore more suitable to the calf or knee end of the leg warmer.  The process of binding off stitches is less elastic so it is better to have that end of the leg warmer around the ankle. 

With Valentine’s Day around the corner why not show a little love to your legs!    

scarf   n.   a length or square of fabric worn around the head or neck

January ... brrrrr! Winter is fully upon us now and where I live it's COLD! I was going through my pile of scarves looking for something to wrap around my neck and shoulders to take the chill off. All of my scarves were long and narrow and no matter how many times I looped them around it just wasn't what I was looking for.

Off to my yarn stash to knit just the right scarf to wrap myself in cozy goodness. The result is this month's project: a Triangle Scarf. Knit with fine yarn on large needles this scarf is large, soft and warm without being bulky. And hopefully it's a little stylish, too.

For my scarf, I used Vanna's Glamour, a lightweight acrylic yarn with a thin metallic thread. Most lightweight (size 2) yarns are animal fibres (wool, angora, alpaca, etc.) which may irritate your neck and chin. I tend to shy away from these because I am sensitive to animal fibres, but sometimes a yarn just screams out to me and I give in to a wool yarn. But I have a trick for being able to wear wool. Once my project is finished, I hand wash it in Soak, then rinse it in water mixed with hair conditioner (just like you use on your head in the shower). The conditioner smoothes the hair fibres and reduces the itch-factor.

If you are looking for a cozy scarf pattern, why not try my Triangle Scarf – an easy, quick p[roject to start of the New Year.