Knit baby's booties: free knitting pattern

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As with the heel of a sock, these booties need to curve to fit a very irregular shape – a baby’s foot. To achieve a good fit, we use increases and decreases to push the curvature of the work in the right direction. We’ve chosen a DK yarn and used smaller than recommended needles to achieve a taut, firm fabric suitable for these tiny shoes.

Difficulty level: moderate

Size: To fit a baby aged 0–6 months

Yarn: Rowan Lenpur Linen 50g 571 Blanch x 1

Needles
A: 1 pair of 2.75mm (UK12/US2) needles
B: 1 pair of 3mm (UK11/US n/a) needles

Notions
70cm (271⁄2in) matching ribbon, 5–7mm 1⁄4–3⁄8in) wide

Tension
25sts and 46 rows to 10cm (4in) over g st using 3mm (UK11) needles

Pattern

Booties: make 2

Using 3mm (UK11) needles, cast on 37sts.

Row 1 (WS): K.

Row 2: Inc in next st, k15, inc in next st, k3, inc in next st, k15, inc in last st. (41sts)

Row 3 and all foll alt rows: K.

Row 4: Inc in next st, k17, inc in next st, k3, inc in next st, k17, inc in last st. (45sts)

Row 6: Inc in next st, k19, inc in next st, k3, inc in next st, k19, inc in last st. (49sts)

K 16 rows, ending with a WS row.

Shape for Toe

Row 1 (RS): K17, s1 k1 psso, k11, k2tog, k17. (47sts)

Row 2: K17, s1 k1 psso, k9, k2tog, k17. (45sts)

Row 3: K17, s1 k1 psso, k7, k2tog, k17. (43sts)

Row 4: K17, s1 k1 psso, k5, k2tog, k17. (41sts)

Row 5: K17, s1 k1 psso, k3, k2tog, k17. (39sts)

Row 7: K17, s1 k1 psso, k1, k2tog, k17. (37sts).

Row 8: K17, s1 k2tog psso, k17. (35sts)

Shape for Ankle

Change to 2.75mm (UK12/US2) needles and work as foll:

Next row (RS): K1, *p1, k1, rep from * to end.

Next row: P1, *k1, p1, rep from * to end. Rep last 2 rows twice more.

Eyelet row: K1, *yo, k2tog, rep from * to end.

Next row: P1, *k1, p1, rep from * to end.

Work Edging

Next row: (Casting off) *k2, pass first st over second so that one st remains on right-hand needle as if casting off, place this one st back on left-hand needle, rep from * until one st remains. Fasten off, leaving a long tail of yarn. Join row ends with mattress stitch, using long tail of yarn from cast-off edge. Fold over ribbed edging and catch to main bootie with a long running stitch. Thread ribbon through eyelets and tie in a bow.

Toe shaping

Increases and decreases, at regular points in the rows, shape the toe. They are hidden behind the ridges of the garter stitch, giving the bootie a completely smooth appearance.

Oversewn seams

These booties have an oversewn seam. This will sit completely flat and not form an uncomfortable, bulky seam on the right or wrong side of the work. This type of seam is also called an overcast seam or a whipped stitch seam. With the right sides together, insert the needle from back to front through both layers, working through the centres of the edge stitches (not the pips). Make each stitch in the same way.

This pattern is taken from 'The Knitting Book' by Frederica Patmore & Vikki Haffenden (Dorling Kindersley, £25). Click here to buy

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