Bonny baby booties
Accessories for babies make great gifts and are quick to knit using small amounts of left-over yarn. These use two shades of DK weight yarn, although you could, of course, knit the whole bootee in the same colour.
The samples here were made using King Cole Merino Blend DK in shades 46 (Aran) and 1989 (Truffle). This is a pure wool, anti-tickle, machine washable yarn ideal for babies. The pattern is suitable for any double knitting weight yarn, and there are many DK baby yarns available in a variety of fibres and colours.
Size
To fit baby aged 0-3 (3-6, 6-12) months
Materials
Approx 16 (18, 20) m / 18 (20, 222) yds double knitting yarn in colour A for cuff
Approx 45 (50, 54) m / 49 (54, 60) yds double knitting yarn in colour B for foot
3.25 mm (UK10, US3) needles, pair (optional)
3.25 mm (UK10, US3) dpns, set of four
3.75 mm (UK9, US5) dpns, set of five
Beg of rnd marker (optional)
Tapestry needle
Tension/Gauge
25 sts and 33 rows to 10cm on 3 ¾ mm needles.
Knitting in the round vs knitting flat
Parts of these bootees are knitted flat and parts are knit in the round, using garter stitch and stocking stitch
Garter stitch
Knit flat – every row knit
Knit round – knit one round, purl one round
Stocking stitch
Knit flat – knit one row, purl one row
Knit round – every round knit
Abbreviations
| Beg | Beginning |
| Col | Colour |
| Dec | Decrease |
| g st | Garter stitch |
| K | Knit |
| K2tog | Knit 2 together |
| M1L | Make 1 left by inserting the needle from front to back under the loop that lies between the next 2 stitches and knitting it through the back loop |
| M1R | Make 1 right by inserting the needle from back to front under the loop that lies between the next 2 stitches and knitting it through the front loop |
| P | Purl |
| PUK | Pick up and knit |
| rnd | Round |
| ssk | Slip, slip, knit. Slip next 2 sts knitwise one at a time. Pass the same 2 sts back to the left hand needle together, then knit them together through the back loops |
| st st | Stocking (stockinette) stitch |
| st(s) | Stitch(es) |
BOOTIES
Cuff (garter stitch knit flat then in the round)
Using 3 ¼ mm needles and col A cast on 24 (26, 28). You can use straight needles or two of your DPNs.
Knit four rows.
Increase row: K1, M1R, knit to last st, M1L, K1. 26 (28, 30) sts
Knit three rows.
Repeat increase row. 28 (30, 32) sts
Knit three rows
Arrange your stitches on three DPNs and with the wrong side facing join to work in the round. Beg with a purl row, work 4 rnds in g st.
Break col A.
Right bootee only
Slip the last 7 (7, 8) sts from the previous rnd to the left hand needle. This is your new beg of rnd.
Left bootee only
Slip the first 7 (7, 8) sts from the left to the right hand needle. This is your new beg of rnd.
Cont for both bootees (st st in the round)
Join col B and work 8 (9, 10) rnds in st st.
Change to 3 ¾ mm needles and work 2 rnds st st.
Instep (st st knit flat)
Knit 19 (20, 22) Turn. Purl 10 (10, 12).
Working on these 10 (10, 12) sts only, work 6 rows in st st.
Dec row: K1, ssk, K to last 2 sts, K2tog, K1. 8 (8, 10) sts
Purl one row
Repeat dec row. 6 (6, 8) sts
Foot (st st in the round)
Note: A fifth DPN might be useful for this section.
With RS facing PUK 7 sts along side of instep, then PUK 1 st from the gap between the instep and the rest of the knitting. Knit round to other side of instep.
PUK 1 st from the gap between the instep and the rest of the knitting, then PUK 7 sts from the side of the instep. Knit to the end of the round. 40 (42, 44) sts
Work 2 (3, 4) rnds in st st
Sole (g st in the round)
Rnd 1: Purl
Rnd 2: K2, ssk, K12 (13, 14), ssk, K4, K2tog, K12 (13, 14), K2tog, K2. 36 (38, 40) sts
Rnd 3: Purl
Rnd 4: K2, ssk, K10 (11, 12), ssk, K4, K2tog, K10 (11, 12), K2tog, K2. 32 (34, 36) sts
Rnd 5: Purl
Rnd 6: K2, ssk, K8 (9, 10), ssk, K4, K2tog, K8 (9, 10), K2tog, K2. 28 (30, 32) sts
To finish
It is recommended to finish the bootee by grafting the live sts. There is an excellent video by Roxanne Richardson on how to graft garter stitch here. Instructions for grafting garter stitch in the round start at 11 mins 49 secs.
Alternatively:
Turn the bootee inside out and use a three-needle cast off to the join the edges of the sole
Cast off all sts and seam the edges together
Weave in all ends and block.
If you would like to download a printable version of this pattern, click here.
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Bonny Baby Booties © 2022. All rights reserved.
An original design by Sue Howarth t/a Woolly Good Stuff.
This pattern is for unlimited personal use. Please do not reproduce or sell the pattern, or sell items that are made from the pattern without the prior permission of Sue Howarth. Items made as gifts or for sale for charity are allowed. Please direct all pattern queries to Sue Howarth.
