My dance studio was shut for about seven months during the COVID lockdowns. However I did manage to make these cute dance kneepads. While they’re a little odd, at the very least I think the other dancers will be grateful that I won’t be using my smelly roller derby gaskets anymore.

This pattern uses a 3.5 mm hook and 8 ply wool.

I designed these knee pads for myself and my knobbly knees. Everyone is different so if you would like to make some you’ll probably need to vary the pattern a bit to suit your body shape.

Round 1: Crochet a chain that can go around your thigh at the point where you want the kneepad to end. The circumference of my thigh is 43 cm at that point, which is about 80 chain stitches. Slip stitch into the start of the chain to form a ring.

Rounds 2 – 16: sc in each stitch (80 stitches) (15 rounds)

Round 17: sc in the first 10 stitches, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (74 stitches)

Rounds 18 – 22: sc in each stitch (74 stitches) (5 rounds)

Round 23: sc in the first 10 stitches, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (68 stitches)

Rounds 24 – 43: sc in each stitch (68 stitches) (20 rounds)

Round 44: sc in the first 10 stitches, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (63 stitches)

Rounds 45 – 49: sc in each stitch (63 stitches) (5 rounds)

Round 50: sc in the first 10 stitches, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (58 stitches)

Rounds 51 – 60: sc in each stitch (58 stitches) (10 rounds)

Now you need to crochet the knee caps, using the below patterns.

Cut some elastic to a suitable length to hold the kneepad comfortably on your thigh. Fold the top couple of rounds on the thigh inwards with the elastic inside and sew into place.

Cut some wadding to the correct size to fit under the knee caps (I used four layers of thin wadding). Sew the knee caps onto the kneepads, enclosing the wadding.