From the description: The concept for these spats was inspired by the editor’s trip to the Alice Springs Beanie Festival in 2006. Woolly socks, jumpers, jeans and shoes may be perfect early on a cold winter morning, but by midafternoon, when the weather is likely to be warm and sunny, you’ll feel overdressed.

These spats, with their ankle frill and calf shaping, they are (way) more than simple legwarmers but they still leave you free to wear your thongs (or even go barefoot if that’s what you prefer). This yarn’s wool/hemp blend also seemed appropriate attire for the beach or the alternative Red Centre lifestyle, although if you wear them there you may wish to save yourself some trouble and dye them a bright colour—or the red dust will do it for you!

Needles and notions:

• 1 set of four 4mm double pointed needles
• 1 larger needle for casting off
• shirring elastic (optional)

Notes: The spats are knitted in the round from the ankle up and increase up the back knit stitch ridge in a forked ‘tree’ formation. The clusters are knitted randomly, or, you can leave them out if you prefer. As you knit, periodically try them on to determine the best length for you. The pattern gives an option for working these as knee-high spats rather than thigh-high; for this smaller version you will need only two balls of yarn for either size.