Leggings are not only a warming wardrobe item. They can become an accessory that brings a touch of femininity and grace, because with the right combination with other items, the chosen image will become homely, cozy and cute.
Having included independently knitted leggings in the list of mandatory elements of her wardrobe, with each subsequent work performed, the needlewoman tries to complicate the cut and pattern of the canvas, giving her products a fashionable and individual character. To do this, the elastic used as a test pattern when knitting the first sample is modified and turns into a set of harnesses and other elements.
To add a tourniquet to the canvas, it must be put in place of the front loops, while the wrong ones remain unchanged to maintain the elasticity of the elastic.
The loops are calculated in such a way that the upper edge of the product tightly wraps around the gastrocnemius muscle. To do this, the girth of the leg is measured in the appropriate place and multiplied by the number of loops in one centimeter. The last value is calculated after a set of a sample, tied with the same bundles as the main web. To do this, the sample is placed on a ruler and smoothed with the palm of your hand, slightly stretching. Then the number of loops dialed is divided by the resulting centimeters.
To knit a sample, you should not dial less than 30 loops, and their total number should be a multiple of the number of loops in the pattern repeat.
The lapel is an element rarely used when knitting leggings, since it is suitable only for thin legs, while it will ugly emphasize bulky calves. However, if included in the product, the lapel will make it more complex and multi-layered. It is performed with an ordinary rubber band, since the bundles themselves increase the thickness of the web. The length of the lapel is about 5 cm, but after the transition of the canvas to the main part, the first 4 cm, invisible to the eye, are also made with an elastic band. Such a move will reduce the thickness of the product and reduce the time it takes to knit.
A combination of several elements looks the most rich. For example, a complex plait and crossed facial loops or paired mirror-symmetrical plaits. One of the latter is the following pattern. The number of loops dialed is a multiple of 10. The rapport consists of 8 front loops, which will form a tourniquet in the future, and 2 purl loops. To work, you need to have an auxiliary knitting needle at hand, the role of which can be successfully performed by a hook.
Having knitted the first 2 rows according to the pattern, in the 3rd they begin to make a tourniquet. To do this, the 1st and 2nd loops are removed on the auxiliary knitting needle located behind, the 3rd and 4th are knitted, then the first two are returned back and also knitted. The 5th and 6th loops are moved to the auxiliary knitting needle, which is in front of the fabric, the 7th and 8th are knitted, and then the two previous ones returned back. Next are the two purl loops. The next seven rows are made according to the pattern, without the formation of bundles. In the 9th row, the scheme is repeated anew.
For such complex patterns to form an even edge, it is recommended to end with an elastic band, and its length should be comparable to the narrow part of the ankle. Due to their bulkiness, the leggings, tied from bundles, retain heat even in cold weather, and when worn on smooth synthetic tights, due to their rigid structure, they do not slip so much and do not create folds as those made with an elastic band.
