Nom de Plume

Nom de Plume Intarsia Armwarmers and Legwarmers by Teresa Gregorio

What is Being Made

Nom de Plume is a coordinated set of knitted armwarmers and legwarmers designed to keep your limbs warm with a whimsical, feathery aesthetic. The armwarmers measure 12 inches long by 4 inches wide after blocking, while the legwarmers are 16 inches long with a width of 6.5 inches at the top and 4.5 inches at the calf. Both pieces are knit flat and then seamed at the end to create a finished tube construction.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

These garments showcase intarsia colorwork as the primary decorative technique, allowing for bold, multi-colored motifs to be incorporated into the fabric. The pieces are worked from the bottom up and charted from right to left, making them suitable for intermediate knitters who have experience with color work. The flat knitting method followed by seaming provides a clean finish and allows for easier chart reading during the colorwork sections. This construction method is ideal for creating the feathery design elements that give these warmers their distinctive character.

Stitches and Abbreviations Used

• k – knit stitch, the fundamental stitch forming the base fabric
• k2tog – knit two stitches together, used for decreasing
• ssk – slip, slip, knit, an alternative decrease method
• pm – place marker, for tracking pattern sections
• sm – slip marker, for advancing markers without working them
• MC – main color, the primary yarn color in colorwork sections
• RS – right side, indicating which side of the fabric faces outward

Yarn and Materials

The armwarmers are worked in Knit Picks Palette yarn, a 4-ply weight, using one hank each of Black, Suede, Cornmeal, Teal, and Navy. The legwarmers require a slightly larger yardage, utilizing Knit Picks Palette in Cream (2 hanks), Suede (1 hank), Brindle Heather (1 hank), Doe (1 hank), Camel Heather (1 hank), and Bark (1 hank). This multi-color palette creates the intarsia pattern work.

Needles required include 2.25 mm and 2.75 mm sizes. The gauge is 7 stitches per 1 inch when worked on 2.75 mm needles, which is standard for 4-ply weight yarn and helps ensure the finished pieces meet their specified dimensions after blocking.

Skill Level and Pattern Features

Designed for intermediate knitters, this pattern requires proficiency with intarsia colorwork and seaming techniques. The pattern includes detailed charts for both the armwarmers and legwarmers, providing visual guidance for the feathery motifs. Pattern notes clarify the direction of work and chart orientation, making it accessible for knitters ready to expand their colorwork skills beyond simple stranded techniques.