Leggings for a Kitty or Small Dog

There is a wonderful group out there that matches crafters with kitties in need.  The crafters make crochet leggings for injured or paralysed cats.  It's called Leggings for Life.  Check out Willow, the first kitty to receive leggings.

Since I am a knitter and only crochet under duress, I needed a knitted pattern.  A lovely lady from Australia sent me one to use but the leggings were knit flat and ended up too big for my assigned kitty.  Since I avoid sewing up when I can, the result is a new pattern I wrote that is knitted in the round. I also have left the foot of the legging "Open".  Leaving open the bottom allows caregiver to dress kitty easily by sliding on a plastic bag up the leg, slide the legging up over the bag, then pull the plastic bag off through the bottom opening.  Check here to see how Willow's leggings are put on.

Knit Leggings Pattern
Makes one 8-8.5” long legging with the top half in rib and lower half in knit.  Has eyelet rounds at the top, middle and bottom to tie legging on.  Adjust the number of stitches or rows according to the size and length of your cat or dog’s leg. I like the purl rows either side of the eyelet but you can keep in pattern if you prefer.

Materials
4mm needles
Patons Astra – or other light yarn (weight rating 3)

Directions: (updated Oct 15, 2013)

Row
1 – Cast on on 36 stitches, join in the round careful not to twist.
1 - k2 p2 rib
2 -  K2 P2 rib
3 – k2 p2 rib

4 - purl
5 - K2 tog YO, repeat to end for lace holes
6 - purl

7 - 30 – K2 P2 rib in pattern as above

31 - purl
32 - K2 tog YO, repeat to end for lace holes
33 - purl

34 - K4, K2tog * repeat to end (decrease 6 stitches to 30)
35 - knit 10 rows
46 - K4, K2tog * repeat to end (decrease 5 stitches to 25)
47 - Knit 18 more rows (or length needed)

Optional eyelets for open legging bottom
purl
K2 tog YO, repeat to end for lace holes
purl

Knit 2 rows
Cast off

Sew in ends.  Leave bottom of legging open if desired.

Make 3 crochet cords for the top, middle and bottom eyelet rounds long enough to tie a bow. 

Make a second legging.  




2 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing the pattern...just getting ready to stitch some for Leggings for Life!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tank you for sharing. What a cute idea.

    ReplyDelete