Pot Warmers & Leg Holders

I have had the hardest time falling asleep this week.  And I'm not talking about midnight or 1am.  I've been up till 4, 6, 7am before falling asleep.  Such a drag!  But, I've made some important half-alert discoveries. 

For instance, last night I analyzed the implement of leg warmers.  I thought back to the dance classes of my childhood and had no recollection of cold ankles or even dancing outside in cold weather. And if a dancer were to dance outside in cold weather, wouldn't her whole body need an extra layer, not just her lower legs? 

I then flashed back to 5th grade and the vague recollection of a leg-warmers- over-jeans trend.  Now in that case, leg warmers were an accessory, an expression of personal style and good taste. Right?  Anyone?  So, is this what leg warmers are to dancers, just an accessory?  Hmmm, no, that couldn't be, as they would surely have been named something other than "leg warmers."  They would have needed a snappier name like Kickies or something.  Or Lady Legs.  Ya, good one.

No, no, there's got to be something more to it.  Hmmm... legs, ankles.  Oh yes, ankles!  Skinny jeans! (Hang in there.) Skinny jeans only look okay on a small sampling of female forms.  I've got it!  Leg warmers balance out the figure.  Make a dancer's hips look smaller.  Just like flared jeans do vs. skinny jeans.  Some smart lady from way-back-when just named them "leg warmers" so dancers of all shapes and sizes could save face.  "Oh, these old things, they just keep my legs warm."  Such a nice lady.  I wonder what her name was...

And so my evenings have gone.  One important discovery after another. 

It's getting about time to pull out the potholders.  Every pretty, vintage potholder that makes its way home with me tends to end up on my funky junky Christmas tree (check these out). Makes me laugh to see them hanging there in the mix, "Hee, hee, there are potholders on my Christmas tree!"  I even like them there when I'm well-rested and sane.  It's true. 

Okay, I'm off for a Friday date.  Make sure you stop by on Monday -- I've got something REALLY BIG planned.

Comments

[Nicole]

Hilarious. I would wear leg warmers all the time if people called them "lady legs".

I currently don't wear them. I was a dancer in my youth and did wear them. I think it had something to do with being in MN... it was cold, thusly, cold legs. Although I did have a snappy pair of candy cane striped ones I would wear with jeans. Ohhhhh, the memories.

[amyehodge]

I adore those vintage potholders and bet they look great on the tree--especially that little green scottie dog. Awesome! You're making me actually want to put my tree up this year (been skipping it a lot lately).

[Mika]

I actually think dancers wear/wore them to keep their calf muscles warm to prevent charlie horses while dancing. Something about blood flow as compared to the rest of the body, which escapes my not so scientific mind at the moment.

But vintage potholders...ahhh. I have a few on my buffet that I just ADORE!

[Marianna]

Oh it would be so wonderful if leg warmers would be "in" again!

[Miss Sassy]

My mother-in-law, a former ballet instructor, wears leg warmers all the time to keep warm. I loved the fad of wearing them when I was a pre-teen. *sigh*

[molly]

All right, all right, all right... If you MUST know... legwarmers (for me) are quite functional. I have danced seriously for 20 years and I wear legwarmers for the first half hour or so of a class or rehearsal, longer if the room is really cold. Mika is right, it is to keep vulnerable muscles warm, although more to avoid injury than avoid a cramp. The legwarmers I wear though are not a hip minimizer. They are very finely knit and go from ankle to the very tops of the thighs, if they were any longer, they'd be pants, which aren't allowed in many professional studios.
As for the 80's legwarmer fashion craze, I guess I'd be blameing that one on Flashdance.

[Tina]

Funny, I was just looking at my leg warmers this morning. It's getting cold in Boston! However, mine are fairly new and are not bulky like the ones from back in the day. I am not ashamed to wear them. I will certainly check back on Monday, because I'm eager to read your BIG NEWS! Cool to see that you are one of the INSPIRED, WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS!

[Tina]

I never gave that much thought to leg warmers. I've seen some really cute ones over jeans...within the last couple years.

[geek+nerd]

I'll chime in with the other dancers commenting...I know that for my purposes, I've got tendonitis in my ankle, which is aggravated by the cold, so legwarmers help with that, and I have quite a few ballet buddies that have shin-splints and that's why they wear legwarmers. Thought you might like some more dancer "insider info" :)

[Niesz Vintage Home]

Haha Thanks for the fun flashback.
Yes, leg warmers were very big my senior year on drill team and dance line.
It was partly due to fashion trend, but also because we were forced to practice outside in the cold. brrrr

Cute pot holders! I have a mini collection myself.
Kimberly :)

[Stacie.Make.Do.]

Why don't we make leg warmers out of potholders?

[Natalie]

OKay, you need sleep! I recognize all the signs. Only insomnia can bring on leg warmer theory, and yet you are so sweet and engaging that it's still a good read...

[Heather Bailey]

Oh THAT would be cool, Stacie. A new trend for sure.

[Katie]

This was too funny! Thanks for the giggles.

(I can't wait to see what Monday will bring!)

[Ravenhill]

You sure know how to keep us waiting in suspense! It is always so fun to see what you come up with, whether it be a funny theory about leg warmers,your colorful potholders, or your scruptious fabrics!

[Chara Michele]

I actually wear leg warmers under my jeans all winter, it really does help keep you warm:) Oh and I do take ballet & dance, and leg warmers while they do keep you warm also help to keep your leg muscles warmed up which is good for leg injuries or just preventing leg injuries:)

[Shannon B.]

LOL well that's a cute theory at least! Leg Warmers are meant to keep the calves and ankles from cramping up in cold weather. My dance days have been over for a good 5 years but I still have to wear leg warmers to prevent cramps in my calves and feet when the weather gets cool.

[andrea larsen]

Seriously! I have been having the SAME problem. And to keep me company through all the sleeplessness I have been reading ALL of anna maria's blog.(very stalker like--but can you blame me?) Thanks for introducing us. :) I have really been missing out. It seems fabric designing is where it's at! I wish I liked me funky junky christmas tree. As it's all I've ever had. But this year I'm planning something fabulous. We'll see. Hopefully it works out as planned. Thanks for the laughs.

[Heather Bailey]

You guys crack me up.

I knew there had to be some scientific reason to do with muscles, but my half-asleep self wandered off... You know I wasn't serious, right? I'm glad to hear there are so many dancers out there! I'd love to take a tap class again someday; I like the jazzy racket that tap shoes make.

Leg warmers do make you look skinnier though, like those uber-hip (possibly too trendy), super tall, ugg boots do. They look super comfy, by the way. Are they? Anyone have a pair of those?

[ashley]

Mika is right. I've grown up surrounded by Dancers and the ones that "real" dancers wear extend all the way up to the thigh. If my source is correct they were designed so that dancers in rehearsals who walked back and fourth fro where ever to their rehearsal spot, could pull on their coat over all their dance attire and be on their way. who knows though?

[Megan]

LOL!!! I SOOOO remember the leg warmers over jeans era. *sigh* good times.

You tease! can't wait for MOnday!

[Marianna]

UGGS are the best and yes possibly too trendy but none the less I wouldn't trade mine in for anything and best of all when you wear them they are very leg warmer like!

[Catherine]

Love the pincushions!

Just a thought, did anyone download the pattern and think it didnt look right? Its too small?
I tried adjusting the scaling to make the seams 1/4 inch, but it didnt work. Any bright ideas on what to do?

Catherine.
www.catherinesplace.com.au

[Jen / domestika]

Move over "Shabby Chic" -- I am prepared to believe that your fabulous "Funky Junky" style is the next big thing!

[Georgia]

Oooh, Monday sounds exciting! It's already Monday here, so I'll take a guess as to what it's going to be about...your hair doo-dah's? Am I right? I'll have to wait and see.... :-)

[Carrie]

Artist Insomnia, I too suffer from it! Too many ideas swirling in your head to go to sleep! Looking forward to checking back tomorrow....