Londonderry Leg Warmers Knitting Pattern

Londonderry Leg Warmers Knitting Pattern

What Is Being Made

The Londonderry Leg Warmers are a pair of quick-to-knit legwarmers designed to add warmth and style to your wardrobe. This pattern produces two matching legwarmers with a finished circumference of 9 inches (23 cm) that will stretch to fit a range of sizes, and a finished length of 14 inches (35.5 cm). The one-size design makes these legwarmers versatile and accessible for most knitters.

Techniques and Construction

The Londonderry Leg Warmers are constructed using straightforward knitting techniques suitable for knitters of all skill levels. Each legwarmer begins with casting on 32 stitches and working in stockinette stitch until the piece reaches the desired length of approximately 14 inches from the cast-on edge. Once the knitting is complete, the sides of each piece are seamed together to form the tubular legwarmer shape, and all yarn ends are woven in for a finished appearance.

Stitches Used

This pattern relies primarily on stockinette stitch (St st), which is created by knitting on the right side and purling on the wrong side. Stockinette stitch produces a smooth, classic fabric with a distinctive V-pattern texture on the front and horizontal bumps on the back. This fundamental stitch is ideal for beginners and creates an elegant drape that works beautifully for legwarmers.

Materials and Yarn

The Londonderry Leg Warmers pattern calls for Lion Brand Homespun Yarn in the Plum colorway, requiring just 1 ball per pair of legwarmers. Homespun is a uniquely-textured bulky weight yarn composed of 98% acrylic and 2% polyester, packaged in 6 oz/170g skeins with 185 yards (167 meters) of yardage. This yarn is specifically designed to work up quickly and easily, making it an excellent choice for fast projects.

The pattern specifies Lion Brand Knitting Needles in Size 10 (6 mm) and a Large-Eye Blunt Needle Set of 6 for finishing and weaving in ends. The gauge is 14 stitches and 20 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch, which is important to check before beginning to ensure your finished legwarmers match the intended dimensions.

Skill Level and Pattern Details

Rated as Easy, the Londonderry Leg Warmers pattern is ideal for beginners and experienced knitters alike. The straightforward construction and minimal shaping make this a perfect project for learning or practicing fundamental knitting skills. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF (Pattern Number 90642AD) from Lion Brand Yarn and includes clear abbreviations and references for all knitting terminology used throughout the instructions.