Thursday, April 10, 2014

In Honor of Earth Day I Present: Tree Leg Warmers

It's no secret I'm an environmentalist. My minor in college was Environmental Sustainability and I feel a strong affinity with the planet that gives human beings everything they need to live. I hate how we're destroying it and removing all things green in favor of these dismal, gray collections of rock we call cities. No, I'm not a primitivist. I just really believe we need more green in our lives.

It's also no secret to my roommates that this project has been sitting in my "unfinished" knitting basket for over two years. You have no idea what a relief it was to finally finish this adorable project I've had on hold for so long. Or maybe you do, fellow knitters.




Although sadly, I didn't make this using any recycled or environmentally friendly materials, I encourage it. Salvage yarn from someone who doesn't need it, use an old sweater you were planning to throw away, and make use of the scraps from this project!




Materials:
One set of US Size 8/5mm double pointed needles
Optional - 16 inch circular needle, US Size 8/5mm (this is easier)
Two skeins of Patons Classic yarn in green and brown
1 Cable needle (or a spare double pointed needle, if you are careful)
1 stitch marker

Gauge:

Abbreviations:
CO = Cast on
K = knit
P = purl
K2T = Knit two stitches together
Inc = Increase by 1 stitch; do this by picking up the stitch below
C2 = create a cable using the next 2 stitches
C4 = create a cable using the next 4 stitches
WYF = With yarn in front

*If you don't know how to do any of these, look up some instructional videos on youtube. There are many, many helpful videos you can use.


Pattern:
With GREEN yarn, CO 66 onto circular needle or double pointed needles
Join in the round and place stitch marker.

K x 10 rounds
(K x 9, K2T) x 10 times for 1 round
K x 5 rounds
P x 1 round
K x 3 rounds
(K x 4, Cable x 2 stitches) x 10 times for 1 round
K x 5 rounds
P x 1 round
K x 3 rounds
(K x 4, Cable x 2 stitches) x 10 times for 1 round
K x 5 rounds

Take BROWN yarn
Alternate K1 BROWN, K1 GREEN for 1 round
Alternate K3 BROWN, K1 GREEN for 1 round (end green yarn)
K x 1 round
(K x 2, Cable x 4 stitches) x 10 times for 1 round
K x 8 rounds
(K x 2, Cable x 4 stitches) x 10 times for 1 round
K x 8 rounds
(K x 2, Cable x 4 stitches) x 10 times for 1 round
K x 8 rounds
(K x 2, Cable x 4 stitches) x 10 times for 1 round
K x 8 rounds
(K x 10, Inc x 1) x 6 times for a total of 66 stitches
K x 5 rounds

Bind off

and voila. huggable, aren't they?