How to Make Fluffy Leg Warmers

Leg warmers are making a fashion comeback as a whole new generation discovers the health benefits of keeping one's lower legs warm while at the gym or exercising at home. Warm lower legs are much less likely to develop painful shin splints and experience "charley horse" muscle spasms.
Fortunately, leg warmers are quite easy to knit, and even easier to sew. Whether you decide to break out the knitting needles or sewing machine, the instructions below will have a pair of nice fluffy leg warmers hugging your calves in no time.

Things You'll Need

• Fluffy warm fabric
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Thread
• Pins
• 1/2-inch wide elastic
• Fluffy yarn
• Knitting needles
• Iron
• Ironing board
• 1/8-inch wide elastic (optional)

Instructions

Sewing Instructions

1. Measure your legs. Your leg warmers will, when "un-scrunched" need to go from just below your knee to your ankle with a little extra for a slightly scrunched look. Whether you're sewing or knitting, you need to know how long your lower leg is, and how big around your calves are at the widest spot.

2. Add a few extra inches to your measurement: 3 inches for hem and elastic sleeve at each end; 2 inches to help with the slight scrunching; and 1 inch for seam allowance.

3. Buy your fabric. Everyone's definition of "fluffy" is different, but look for fleece, sweatshirt fleece, short fake fur, velour, terrycloth, or any fabric that is soft and fuzzy.

4. Cut two rectangles that meet the above measurement requirements.

5. Pin the long sides right side of the fabric together and sew. Press open the seam.

6. Keep the leg warmer still wrong-side out and fold the fabric at one end over 1/4-inch and press.

7. Fold the fabric over again 3/4-inch. Press the fabric. Sew as close to the folded edge as you can, leaving 1 to 2 inches unsewn.

8. Run elastic through the "sleeve" you've just sewn. Sew the ends together and hand-stitch the sleeve opening shut.

9. Repeat the sewing of the hem (steps 6-8) on the other end.

Knitting Instructions

1. Pick out a fluffy yarn. Check your needles and yarn gauge to determine how many skeins you will need for two leg warmers that follow the above measurement calculations. Again, everyone's definition of "fluffy" is different, but look for chenille, angora, thick baby yarn, cashmere, or natural fiber blends.

2. Knit the leg warmers. Whether you use round needles, double-pointed needles or straight needles, knit the first and last 2 or 3 inches in rib stitch (knit 3, purl 3).

3. Weave 1/8-inch wide elastic around the top and bottom.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to wash and dry your fabric before you begin sewing. For the body of the knitted leg warmers, feel free to be creative in your choice of stitches: basketweave, popcorn stitch, even a lace stitch if your yarn is fine enough. Just because leg warmers are useful doesn't mean they can't be pretty.