So I'm teaching dance this year, and wanted to show off my crochet in some pants I can dance in... TA DA... the Pineapple Leggings. These take some patience to make, but are well worth it in the end!
You will need:
-Stretchy leggings (this will be tough if your leggings are REALLY tight, go for some you get into and out of easily!)
-Size 3 cotton crochet thread (that's the thicker kind)
-A smallish crochet hook like an E or an F... it doesn't have to be specific.
-Sewing pins
-Needle and thread
-Sharp scissors
Start by chaining 2.
Row1: 1 sc in second ch from hook. Turn
Row 2: Ch 3. (2tc, Ch 2, 2tc) in sc of previous row. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 2. 2dc in each of the next 2 tc, 4 dc in ch-2 space, 2 dc in each of the next 2 tc. (12 dc total.) Turn.
Row 4: Ch 3. *1 tc in dc of previous row. Ch 1. Repeat from * across ending with a tc in the final dc. Turn.
Row 5: Ch 1. *1 sc in tc of previous row. Ch 3 and skip ch-1 space of previous row. Repeat from *across ending with 1 sc in the final tc. Turn.
Row 6: Ch 1. *1 sc in ch-3 space of previous row, Ch 3. Repeat from * across ending with 1 sc in the final ch-3 space. Turn.
Repeat Row 6 decreasing in the number of ch-3 spaces in each row until there is 1 ch-3 at the bottom.
Row 7: Ch 1. 1 sc in the final ch-3 space. Turn.
Repeat Row 2-7 four more times (so there are 5 pineapples total).
At the end of the 5th pineapple, make a sc border going up and around the edge of the entire string of 5 pineapples. Then ch1 and turn and make a second row of sc border. Cut and bind off. MAKE TWO OF THESE!
Now grab your leggings. Use your sewing pins to attach the crochet pieces to the outside of the leg starting at the bottom and working up toward the outer hip. Take your needle and thread and hand sew the piece onto the leggings working only through the sc border you made at the end. Take your time on this - use small stitches so there are very little gaps that are not sewn on.
Once the crochet pieces are sewn on - make sure you can still get into the leggings. The crochet doesn't stretch like your leggings do (this is why you want leggings that are not too tight)!
Now turn the leggings inside out, grab your scissors, and cut out the legging fabric that is under your pineapple stitch so you can see through the crochet piece. Don't cut too closely to your sewing! You can always cut off more later, but you don't want to risk cutting that hand sewing that took you so long to complete!
And BOOM! You have some super cool leggings. Go do some yoga, take a dance class, or wear out on the town. This could also look really cool on a shirt with long sleeves - just use less pineapple repeats and get creative with it!
Happy stitching!
