Looking for a free crochet leg warmer pattern? Here are 22 of them: easy ribbed pairs for your first try, chunky and slouchy leg warmers, bright striped and ombre pairs, cabled and lacy styles, and sweet little leg warmers for toddlers and babies. Every one has the full written pattern free on the page, with no sign-up. Leg warmers are just a tube with a stretchy cuff, so most pairs take a weekend or less.
For each pattern I've noted the yarn, the hook, the sizes and how it's built, so you can match one to your skill level and your stash. A lot of these designers also sell an ad-free PDF. That's optional: the version linked here is free to read on the page.
How crochet leg warmers are made. Most leg warmers start with a ribbed cuff. You work a short strip of single crochet in the back loops, row after row, until it's long enough to wrap around your ankle. Then you join it into a ring and work the leg in rounds along one edge of the cuff. The other common method skips the cuff: you chain a ring and work the whole tube in rounds, using front and back post double crochet for stretch. If you can make a crochet boot cuff, you can make leg warmers. They're just longer.
Easy ribbed leg warmers for beginners
Start here if this is your first pair. These patterns use basic stitches, and most give a simple way to fit them to your own calf.
Easy Crochet Leg Warmers — B.Hooked Crochet. About as simple as it gets. Chain 35, join, and work double crochet in every stitch, round after round, for 21 rounds. Medium #4 yarn on a 6.5mm hook, so the fabric stays soft and drapey. The finished pair is 10 1/2 inches long, which also works as a boot topper. There's a video, too.
Summer Nights Leg Warmers — Lovable Loops. A ribbed cuff (10 sc in back loops, worked for 45 rows), then a soft body in Lion Brand Feels Like Butta on a 5mm hook. One size fits most teens and adults, with notes on making them wider or longer.
Ribbed Leg Warmers — Melody's Makings. The widest size range here, from baby all the way to adult 3XL. Each size has its own starting chain, from 26 up to 50. Round 1 is double crochet, and then you work front and back post double crochet ribbing to the top. DK yarn on a 5mm (H) hook.
Willow Easy Leg Warmers — Ned & Mimi. A pretty knit-look rib made with an hdc and slip stitch combination, worked side to side and seamed. Worsted tweed yarn, in baby, toddler, child (3 to 5) and adult sizes. One pattern covers the whole family.
Leg Warmers for Beginners — Create and Crochet. A chunky pair in Bernat Wavelength (bulky #5) on a 5.5mm (I) hook. The cuff is just 4 back-loop sc worked in rows, and then round one is 32 dc into the side of the cuff. The custom-fit tips (take your calf measurement and subtract 3 inches) are really helpful.
Chunky Ribbed Leg Warmers — Life + Yarn. Worked flat and then seamed: a foundation row of 50 hdc, then 35 rows of front and back post dc ribbing. Bulky yarn on a 6mm hook makes a thick, stretchy pair that holds its shape.
Chunky and slouchy leg warmers
These are the cozy, scrunched-down leg warmers you see over boots and leggings. Thicker yarn and bigger hooks make them fast.
Slouchy One-Skein Leg Warmers — Sigoni Macaroni. Just one skein of worsted yarn for the pair, on a 5mm hook. Chain 47 and work 45 dc in the round, add a post-stitch rib, then switch to a textured stitch for a relaxed, slouchy fit.
Slouchy Legwarmers — Croyden Crochet. A lighter slouch in sport-weight Knit Picks Brava on a 4mm hook (about 1 1/2 skeins for a pair). The cuff is a chain of 13 worked in back-loop sc, and the leg uses a pretty group stitch.
Sugar Rush Leg Warmers — Once Upon a Cheerio. Mint, white and pink stripes, like candy. A back-loop sc cuff (10 sc wide), then 39 hdc per round. It moves up through three hook sizes (4mm, 5mm and 7mm), so the leg widens into a slouchy top. Great for dance class.
Mountain Leg Warmers — Blue Star Crochet (shared on Underground Crafter). A thick rice-stitch rib in Paintbox Simply Chunky (3 balls) on a 6mm hook. A sc cuff, then 40 dc per round with post stitches. It fits a calf up to 15 1/2 inches. The designer posted this free pattern as a guest post on Underground Crafter.
Colorful and striped leg warmers
Great for scraps, and for anyone who wants their winter outfits a little brighter.
Rainbow Love Legwarmers — Fiber Flux. Seven bands of Red Heart Super Saver in rainbow order, on a J (6mm) hook. Chain 28, join, and alternate dc and front post dc rounds. Bright, fun and very quick.
Ombre Leg Warmers — The Purple Poncho. The yarn does all the color work: one Caron Cakes makes the pair. Chain 36, join, and work 36 hdc per round on a 5mm (H) hook. The finished pair is 14 inches long.
Peppermint Candy Leg Warmers — Stitches n Scraps. Red and cream candy stripes, just right for the holidays. The pattern is carefully sized: three ankle sizes (7 to 12 inches), plus a choice of a straight, tapered or wide calf. Worsted yarn on a 5mm (H) hook.
Cabled, lacy and textured leg warmers
Ready for something with more texture? These make a lovely gift.
Cabled Legwarmers — All About Ami. Front post treble cables in Lion Brand Heartland on a 4.5mm hook. The band is 11 hdc worked in the third loop for a knit-like rib, then 40 dc per round. The same page has a short boot-cuff version.
Boston Legwarmers — Two Brothers Blankets. A textured classic in about 510 yards of worsted Heartland on a 5mm (H) hook. The cuff starts with 15 foundation sc and the body with 48. One size (14-inch calf), with notes on adjusting.
The Bauble Leg Warmers — I Need It Crochet. Little bobble "baubles" over a ribbed cuff, in Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable (a self-striping worsted) on a 5mm hook. Sizes XS to L, and the sample pair is 15 inches long.
Reversible Lily's Leg Warmers — The Lavender Chair. V-stitches, crossed dc and puffs, with a pretty pattern on both sides, so you can wear them either way out. A back-loop sc cuff, then 39 (42, 45) sc to start the leg, in three sizes.
Spike Stitch Leg Warmers — CAAB Crochet. Spike stitches make a bold texture with very little effort. The band is 10 stitches wide, then the body starts with 46 sc and alternates sc-and-chain rounds with spike rounds. Uses 5.5mm and 6mm hooks.
Kids' and baby leg warmers
Tiny leg warmers keep little knees warm while crawling, and they make a very quick gift. Several of the patterns above (Melody's Makings and Ned & Mimi) also come in kids' sizes.
Simple Shells Toddler Legwarmers — Chaleur Life (shared on My Hobby Is Crochet). Chain 30, join, work a round of hdc, then do rounds of 5-dc shells. Worsted yarn on a 5.5mm (I) hook. They fit about 9 months to 3 years (6 inches long). Designer Jessica Spencer shared this as a guest post.
Infant Leg Warmers — Alli Crafts. A tiny pair for 3 to 6 months, with a note on sizing up to 9 months. Chain 19, join, then sc rounds, finished with a front post dc rib. A 5mm (H) hook.
Lovestruck Leggies — Banana Moon Studio. Stacked hearts climb the leg. Fingering-weight superwash yarn on a 3.75mm (F) hook, in girls' sizes 4, 6, 8 and 10. A sweet Valentine's Day gift.
Scalloped Leg Warmers — Repeat Crafter Me. Made for a toddler's gymnastics class, with scalloped edges at the top and bottom. Chain 18, join, then (sc, ch 1, sc) cluster rounds in Vanna's Choice on an H hook. Sized for about 18 to 24 months, and very quick.
Tips for leg warmers that stay up
- Measure the calf and the ankle. Make the cuff about 1 to 2 inches smaller than your ankle so it grips, and the top a little smaller than the widest part of your calf.
- Use ribbing at the top, too. A few rounds of front and back post double crochet, or a back-loop sc band, at the top stops them from sliding down.
- Pick yarn with some stretch. Acrylic and wool blends bounce back. Pure cotton stretches out and slides down, so save it for summer dance pairs.
- Make both legs at once. Work them in the same sitting, or count your rounds, so the pair comes out the same length.
- Try one on before the second. It's much easier to change the length or width now than after you've finished both.
Frequently asked questions
How much yarn do I need for crochet leg warmers?
An adult pair usually takes 250 to 500 yards of worsted or bulky yarn, depending on length. One cake of Caron Cakes or one big skein of worsted is often enough. Toddler and baby pairs need only 60 to 150 yards, so they're perfect for leftovers.
What's the easiest crochet leg warmer pattern for a beginner?
The B.Hooked Easy Crochet Leg Warmers are just a chain ring and double crochet rounds, with a video to follow. The Create and Crochet beginner pair is a close second. It teaches the back-loop sc cuff that most other patterns use.
How long should leg warmers be?
Ankle-to-knee leg warmers are usually 14 to 18 inches long for an adult. A 10 to 12-inch pair sits nicely over the top of a boot. For a slouchy look, add 2 to 4 inches so they bunch at the ankle.
Are leg warmers and boot cuffs the same thing?
Not quite. Boot cuffs are short bands (about 4 to 6 inches) that peek out over the top of a boot. Leg warmers cover the whole lower leg from ankle to knee. If you only want the look at the top of your boots, see our free crochet boot cuff patterns.
More cozy winter crochet
Leg warmers go perfectly with the rest of a winter outfit. Wear them over a pair of crochet socks or cozy crochet slippers, and add crochet mittens or fingerless gloves. For your head, try a crochet balaclava, a winter beanie or an ear warmer headband. A tiny pair of baby leg warmers also makes a sweet cheap stocking stuffer, or a gift to go with our baby Christmas outfits.
