If Straight Ain't Great

No, I'm still talking about legwarmers, what did you think I was talking about?

Maybe you said to yourself, "That talk about stretchy ribbing is all very well, but I still want more room at the top of mine."

OK, here is one way to do it. (There are probably dozens of other ways to approach this, undoubtedly many more elegant than this, but it's one way.)

Cast on 8 more stitches than you want to end up with at the ankle. (If you want to end up with 48 sts, cast on 56).

Work the 2 x 2 rib for half of your desired length.

Set up by placing a marker at the beginning of the round (if you don't already have one there), then k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, place another marker and finish the round in pattern. There should by 10 stitches between those markers.



Pretend the red marker is the beginning of a round.

First decrease round: Slip the marker, k1, ssk, p1, k2, p1, k2tog, k1, slip marker and complete round. There are now 8 stitches between the markers.




Work five rounds even in pattern, which means: when you come to a knit stitch, knit it; when you come to a purl stitch, purl it.

Second decrease round: Slip marker, k1, ssk, p2, k2tog, k1, slip marker and complete round. (6 sts between markers).





Work five rounds even in pattern.

Third decrease round: Slip marker, k1, ssk, k2tog, k1, slip marker and complete round (4 sts between markers).



Work five rounds even in pattern.

Fourth decrease round: Slip marker,k2tog, ssk, slip marker and complete round (2 sts between markers).





From here on, work in k2, p2 rib until you reach your desired length.

Here's what the whole section looks like. Note that for shorter legs you could work just 4 even rounds between the decrease rounds. For really long legs you could go up to 6 even rounds.




Now that's enough, perhaps more than enough, on that subject. New topic: "I have never knit a _____, and probably never will." Discuss among yourselves.