So, little Miss Penelope started ballet last Fall. She really loves it. She looks forward to going to class every.single.week. and every Sunday as we are looking at the calendar and preparing for the upcoming week’s schedule she asks, ‘I have bah-yay ‘morrow?’ in her cutest little sing-songy voice. She even has her very first recital this June set onstage at a local theater…I don’t know whether to laugh or cry about that! 🙂
The color is True Grey…I thought it would be a good neutral color that would be wearable when she moves up to the next ballet class and they have to wear a different color leotard (which I think is going to be black).
The Running Mama says
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The Running Mama says
ok, i cannot knit, but your daughter is ADORABLE!
Grandma G says
What a great idea! And your little model is just toooo cute! 🙂
Leda says
Could your lil’ girl get any cuter?!! …and the leg warmers are cool too. 🙂
Emily says
She is SO cute! Love the grey legwarmers. I’d totally wear them.
ificould says
Can’t wait to forward this to my sister so she can get busy knitting! THanks for sharing- so cute!
Ashley says
Ummmmmmmmmm………………she could not be any cuter!!! Those leg warmers are awesome!!!
salonjuleen says
Oh my gosh, your daughter is soooo freakin cute!!!
BillieBee (billiemick) says
How cute is she!!! Your bringing back memories of when my sweet little girl took ballet. Enjoy! It goes fast.
Love the legwarmers a well.
Val says
I’m new to the knitting, do you cast on 34 stitches and join or do you add one cast on stitch then join? Thanks, I’ll be starting these as soon as I’m finished with the neverending baby blanket that Vouge said would take 4 hours!! I think I’m on hour 96…..
WOM-MOMS says
Have you ever done a picture tutorial of knitting and perling? I can knit (basic), but never was taught the perl part of the deal. I have made cotton washclothes, a scarf for my cat (which he LOVED), and crocheted kitties for my little girls. If you have, that would be great – my girls would luv these legwarmers. Try Penny out on the make-up mania I let my girls loose on recently – super cute – as seen on my blog today. http://www.wom-mom.com
Jenny says
I so wish I could knit because those are absolutely adorable! I was just thinking about picking up some cheap knee high socks to make some leg warmers for my girls.
Oh, and Penny is absolutely a doll! I bet ballet class has to be a hoot with all those little ones dancing around!
Maggie says
Thanks ladies!!
@Val- you cast on 34 stitches first, then knit those stitches, when you start the next row (in purl) you will join the stitches there! Let me know if that makes sense!!
XOXO,
Maggie
Heather at Dragonfly Designs says
So I don’t knit or have an adorable girl to put adorable leg warmers on… but I hear ya on the weather! lol We’re up in BC and it snowed LAST week! Seriously!??!? Might just have to take up knitting…. 😛
Laura @ ON{thelaundry}LINE says
soooo cuuuute! I wanted Nicole to do ballet but soccer, baseball, and swimming are more her style. It’s just swimming right now, she’s three and one is plenty, but she is such a little she-jock. If she didn’t look so much like me I’d think she was switched out in the hospital! Gym class was a ‘laugh so I don’t cry’ type of event for me. Lets just say, I can’t hit a volleyball and decide where to hit it at the same time. And that I’m never the only one laughing.
There must be something in the water because I’ve had a post in drafts all week (okay fine, nearly two weeks now) with a similar pattern, but crochet. faux-ribbing on top and bottom, samers. Except mine is for baby size! Just have to take pictures, which apparently is taking for-ev-er.
Kelly says
My cousin’s little girl started ballet this year and she loves it too! Your daughter is really cute and it looks like she loves it too. (Just as long as they don’t make her do what my cousin’s daughter had to do: they required all the kids (from 3-7) wear false eyelashes and foundation. Why? I don’t know….)
Cece's Mommy says
So cute! I can’t wait till my daughter is old enough to try dance.
Tamara says
This is the Cutest thing ever!! Love it!!
eatmoresmores says
I’ve been looking for an easy pattern to make legwarmers for my little 3 year old ballet dancer. Perfect. thank you!
Knit and Purl Mama says
That is so cute. Now I wish I was able to have a girl! All I know is how to produce boys.
Emilee says
Hi! I thought that this was such a cute pattern so I gave it a try, with a little difference… But I linked back to you so I thought I’d let you know!
Thanks for the inspiration and a great pattern too!
http://mommamadeit.blogspot.com/2011/05/knit-leggings-for-delaney.html
crearescout says
How cute is your little girl!!!!??? 🙂
I wish I could stitch! 🙂
Cecilia
http://crearescout.wordpress.com
Sandra Wilson says
I just cast on 34 stitches on a size 5 16 inch circular needle with a chunky yarn and there is no way I can join it to work in a circle. Wonder what I am doing wrong
amanda o. says
i ended up having to use double pointed needles..16″ circulars were too long for mine, too! also, when you say you knit stockinette stitch, it makes a smooth, then bump on mine…did you knit allk nit stitch since it was in the round??
thanks so much for the help! such cute little legwarmers!!
Maggie says
Hmm, that is weird! I am not sure why the 16 inch circulars are not working…maybe my stitches are really loose? And Amanda, the stockinette stitch is knit one row, purl one row so you will have a smooth row and then a bumpy row right after it. When I come up to my stitch marker, which signifies the end of the row and the beginning of the next when working in the round, I change to purl (or knit stitch) depending on what I had just done…does that make sense?
Catherine says
Cute and your daughter is adorable!
Just curious, how many balls of yarn did you use? Is one enough or should I purchase more than one?
Penny says
A friend of mine sent me this blog link since we were shopping at the yarn store together today…and I was reading and noticing that your little girl’s name is PENNY!!!! OMG that’s my name too! :-):-):-)
I’ve never in my whole life met anyone younger than me who shared my name. I’m 33. She’s adorable and she has THE COOLEST NAME EVER!!!!!
Shel says
I have started trying to knit these cute leg warmers for my 4 yr old and being a beginner knitter I am not very knit-savvy. I am using a 16 inch size 6 circular needle and the stitches don’t reach around the length of the circular needle, in order to join them. What am I doing wrong?? If I cast on more stitches, won’t the leg warmers be too large? Thanks!
Anonymous says
For knitting in the round when too many or too few stitches are required and they don’t fit your needle. Try two sets of circular needles. Cast on all of your stitches on one set of needles, then slide half, approximately, of your stitches onto a second circular needle that is the same or similar size. Use one set of needles to knit their own half
of your stitches, then switch to the other set to knit their half of the stitches. It isn’t nearly as complicated as it sounds! Try it, you’ll like it!
Maggie says
Hi Shel!
I think you are doing everything right…when you work with circulars you continually have to push your new stitches (on the right needle) around the circle to the tip of the left needle. It is hardest when you get to the end of a line as you do feel like you are stretching it a bit but it really does work out in the end! There will be times when the stitches are spread out all along the needle but that is totally normal too.
Anonymous says
Good Morning Maggie, These are exactly what I am looking for in an adult size. My granddaughter loves them and I need to made some for her for Christmas. Ever done them in adult size? Any guesses on how many stitches to start with? Thanks, Mary
Trishia says
My daughter is going to love these for gymnastics! How many skeins did you use? Thanks for sharing this adorable pattern with us!
Maggie says
Hi Trishia! It only took one skein for the two!
martan92 says
I absolutely love these! They are super cute. Would it be hard to make them in a bigger size like for an adult?
Me says
I’m wondering how to size these up for adults as well! Any advice?
mommy of Five says
my twins are in ballet and LOVE it, but say their legs get cold!! these are perfect and never thought about making some =0) thanks for the idea
taidyeoriginal says
I adore these little leg warmers but since I do not knit I was most inspired by the photo of your daughter’s legs. I pinned it some time ago. I used it as inspirations for this post and linked back to you. Wanted to stop by and say thanks!
http://taidyeoriginal.blogspot.com/2012/02/little-ballerina-feetsies-pinned.html
Anonymous says
I bought the exact same Bernat yarn in this pattern and 16″ circular needles – 16″ is definitely too long. I was not able to “join in the round.” Instead I just just did the pattern and sewed it up after knitting.
Lana says
Do you ever take orders from people (like me) who cant knit but would love a pair of those adorable legwarmers? I came across a picture of them on pinterest and they are adorable, you did an amazing job! i would love to get a pair for my niece..i looked all over online and couldnt find one pair that was as cute as the ones you made! i would love to order a pair if that is something you do
Strand Family says
I made the legwarmers. I used 24″ needles in the magic loop method. Worked perfectly! You can check them out here: strandfamilyadventures.blogspot.com
By the way my little girl is named Penelope too.
wellorganizedchaos says
I’m knitting these up right now! I’m using light yarn in baby pink on 3.25 double point needles! It is taking forever. Wish I’d gone with the size you said, but so far I love them! So much I’m going to do them again in black!! Thank you so much for sharing!!
Licorice1977 says
Hi! I’m making these too. I’m only about 6 months into my knitting career, but my little niece and my twin (her mommy) have been requesting “Punky Brewster” Legwarmers:) While they won’t be multi-colored and all, I think she’ll love them! Thank you!
Kim Young says
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Kim Young says
So cute! Did this just take one skein of yarn?
Also, can you tell me the number of the mm and the US crochet hook size of the yarn because my Michael’s didn’t sell the yarn you suggested. I want to be sure I substitute with the correct weight of yarn so mine don’t end up to thick or too thin. Thanks!
Maggie says
Hi Kim!
I’m sorry but I don’t remember the yarn weight I used for these…It was just an average weight though, nothing fancy thick or thin! I know that is not the best answer but hopefully it was somewhat helpful?
Sarah says
I just linked over here from Pinterest because I thought these leg warmers would be so cute to make for my little 4 year old ballerina…… who happens to be named PENELOPE! Thanks for the pattern!
Maggie says
Awesome Sarah! Penelope’s rock! 🙂
Tricia says
How much yarn did you use for the 2?
Looks like a great pattern. Thanks for sharing!
Maggie says
Hi Tricia!
I used one skein for the pair!
Anonymous says
Super cute — both your little ballerina and the leg warmers. I want to make these for my 5 and 9 year old. Any tips on sizing for those ages? Love your blog and your creativity. Makes me wonder what I’ve been doing with my time. 🙂
Tiffany says
I am going to try these on 9″ circular needles (US size 6).
Anonymous says
Can you translate the patyern into a crochet pattern?
Maggie says
Sorry, I don’t know how to crochet!
Anonymous says
I cast on no. of stiches required but can’t seem to be able to join the stitches. I am using size 5 16″ circular needle.
What is my problem? Please help. Thank you.
Cindy says
I bought 16 round needles today for this project but when I cast on 34 they don’t meet and there is no way to make them. What am I doing wrong?
Maggie says
When you work with circulars you continually have to push your new stitches (on the right needle) around the circle to the tip of the left needle. It feels hardest at the beginning because you have nothing to work with but the row you just looped on. Just remember that circular needles are very flexible in the center so although it feels like it won’t work it really will, you just have to work a little harder when you first start!
Tara says
How would you adjust this to fit an adult?
Joann says
I have a budding ballet granddaughter and these are just what I want to make for her. Thank You so much for sharing. Have a great 2014.
joan smith says
You said that you purl one row and knit one row for 50 rows. that does not
look like stocking stitich it looks like a garter stitch. Am i correct or not
Maggie says
Hi Joann,
You need to K 1 row and Purl 1 row for this particular pattern. That is what a stockinette stitch is. Happy Knitting!
Candace says
Hi, I was so exited to find this pattern! And have successfully completed the first 10, and then the middle 50 and am now onto the last 10 rows…. I was not able to join the round either so I used the circulars I had but just didn’t join the round, and will sew it together when I am done. I am having a issue with the last 10 rows though…. Do I need to pay attention to the right and wrong side as I am knitting this? I did the 10 rows and it looked nothing like the bottom I have done. So I took it out and it happened again! Im not sure if I am doing something wrong with knitting on the wrong side maybe?/ Any help would be awesome! Thanks
Maggie says
Hi Candace!
I am not sure what is going on?! As long as you knit1, purl1 you should have the same outcome at the top as you do on the bottom where you started. It I wish I could sit down with you and see what you are doing wrong or what is going on! So sorry the end is begin weird on you!
Lyn Peucker says
I bought wool today to knit these leg warmersfor our 3 yr old grandaughter. She afores ballet and l am sure they will keep her legs wsrm in the very chilly winter in Victoria in Australia. Thank you for sharing.
Candace: did you begin the bottom band with a plain knitting row on the right side as you did on the top band? Hope tjis helps.
Chantel says
Are the needle sizes 6mm or US 6?
Maggie says
they are 16 inch US size 5 circular knitting needles!
Chantel says
Thanks for the reply.
I was obviously not thinking clearly when I posted my original question. I did mean US 5.
I just thought the leg warmers looked very chunky for such small needles but i guess it’s the yarn used.
Thanks again.