Berroco Rosehip Accessory Knitting Pattern

Berroco Rosehip Leg Warmers

What Is Being Made

The Berroco Rosehip is a pair of leg warmers designed by Margaux Hufnagel. This knitted accessory is available in two length options: a short version measuring 12 inches and a long version measuring 24 inches. The leg warmers are engineered with negative ease, meaning they are designed to fit snugly around the calf with an unstretched circumference ranging from 8 to 12 inches, which stretches to 16 to 24 inches when worn. This design creates a fitted, supportive garment suitable for layering over pants or wearing with athletic or casual outfits.

Techniques Used

The Rosehip leg warmers are constructed using several key knitting techniques that contribute to their elegant appearance and functional design:

• Worked in the Round: The leg warmers are knitted seamlessly in the round using double-pointed needles, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a smooth, continuous fabric.
• Bottom-Up Construction: The pattern is worked from the bottom edge upward, allowing knitters to easily adjust the length as needed and try on the garment during the knitting process.
• Seamless Construction: By working in the round from start to finish, the leg warmers are created as one continuous piece without any seams, resulting in a comfortable fit against the skin.
• Lace Patterning: The leg warmers feature a decorative lace stitch pattern that creates visual interest and texture throughout the garment.

Stitches Used

The Rosehip pattern employs a specialized lace stitch pattern that repeats over a multiple of 4 stitches. The pattern stitch alternates between two rounds:

• Round 1: A combination of purl stitches, yarn overs, and knit three together decreases. Specifically, the sequence is (P1, yo, p1) worked into a single stitch, followed by k3tog (knit three stitches together), repeated around the entire circumference.
• Round 2: A simpler round alternating three purl stitches with one knit stitch (* P3, k1; rep from * around), which allows the lace pattern to develop and creates texture.
• Round 3: The pattern reverses, beginning with k3tog followed by (p1, yo, p1) in the next stitch, creating a balanced, symmetrical lace design.

This lace stitch pattern creates an open, decorative texture that is characteristic of lace knitting while maintaining the structural integrity of the leg warmer.

Materials and Gauge

The Berroco Rosehip leg warmers require specific yarns and needles to achieve the intended finished measurements and appearance.

Yarn Requirements: The pattern calls for a combination of two or three Berroco yarns held together throughout the project. For the long version (24 inches), knitters use 2 balls of Berroco Ultra Wool Handpaint in colorway #33304 Pink Lemonade (C1) held together with 1 ball of Berroco Aerial in #3401 Ivory (C2). For the short version (12 inches), the pattern specifies 1 ball of Berroco Ultra Wool in #33161 Matcha (C3) held together with 1 ball of Berroco Aerial in #3441 Lagoon (C2). The use of two strands held together creates a thicker, more textured yarn that produces the appropriate fabric density and drape.

Needles: The pattern requires one set each of double-pointed needles in sizes 7 (4.5 mm) and 8 (5 mm), or needles of the crafter's preference suitable for working small rounds. The smaller needles are used for the ribbed cuff or initial stitches, while the larger needles are used for the main body of the leg warmer.

Gauge: The pattern specifies a gauge of 24 stitches and 20 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in the lace pattern on the larger needles when the fabric is unstretched. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for ensuring that the leg warmers fit properly and have the intended negative ease characteristics. Knitters are advised to check their gauge before beginning the project to account for individual knitting tension variations.

Skill Level

The Rosehip leg warmers are rated as an Intermediate difficulty project. This skill