Ruth's "Perfect" Baby Booties?

"Perfect" Baby Booties?

by Ruth Bennett

After looking for the "PERFECT" baby bootie pattern online, I found many that came close, but none seemed to be perfect for me...

So, I did what most knitters probably do & don't tell anyone: I took the best features from each pattern I found, tweaked the math to suit the way my brain works & wrote my own pattern.

I can only hope you will find this perfect for you.

Newborn to 3 months: 90 yards of sport or DK weight yarn on size 3 needles

3-6 months: 90 yards of worsted weight yarn on size 4 straight needles

Gauge: Worsted weight/stockinette/#4 needles: 5 sts/in

-Tapestry needles

-Scissors

-Two stitch markers (optional) #

Sole of Bootie:

Using Long Tail Cast On, CO 26 sts (or...you could use a provisional cast on & graft later...)

Row 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9: Sl 1 st knitwise, knit to end.

Row 2: Sl 1 st knitwise, k 1, m 1, k 11, (place marker)# m 1, k 1, m 1, k 1, m1, (place marker)#, k 11, m 1, k 1. (31 sts)

Row 4: Sl 1 st knitwise, k 2, m1, k 11, (move marker)# m 1, k 2, m 1, k 3, m 1, (move marker)#, k 11, m 1, k 2. (36sts)

Row 6: Sl 1 st knitwise, k 2, m1, k 11, (move marker) #, m 1, k 4, m1, k 4, m 1, (move marker) #, k 11, m 1, k 3. (41 sts)

Row 8: Sl 1 st knitwise, k 3, m1, k 11, (move marker)# m1, k 5, m 1, k6, m1, (move marker)#, k 11, m1 , k4. (46 sts)

Row 10: Sl 1 st knitwise, k 4, m 1, k 11, (move marker) #, m 1, k 7, m 1, k 7, m 1, (move marker) #, k 11, m 1, k 5. (51 sts)

Row 11: Sl 1 st knitwise, knit to end (remove markers)#.

Row 12, 14, 16, 18: Sl 1 st purlwise, purl to end of row.

Row 13, 15, 17: Sl 1 st knitwise, knit to end of row.

Shape Toe/Top of Foot: (Short Rows)

Row 19: Sl 1 st knitwise, k 28, ssk, turn.

Row 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34: Sl 1 st purlwise, p 7, p 2 tog, turn.

Row 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33: Sl 1 st knitwise, k 7, ssk, turn.

Row 35: Sl 1 st knitwise, k 4, m 1, knit to end of the row. (36 sts)

Row 36: Sl 1 st purlwise, purl to end of the row.

Row 37: Sl 1 st knitwise, (YO, k 2 tog, k 1)* to last 2 sts, YO, k 2. (37 sts)

(This makes 12 eyelets for a "shoestring!")

Row 38: Sl 1 st purlwise, purl to end of the row.

Cuff:

Row 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55: Sl 1 st knitwise, (K2, p 2 rib)* to end of row.

Row 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56: Sl 1 st knitwise, p 1, (K 2, p2 rib)* to last 5 sts, K 2, P3.

BO in pattern. Leave a 26 " tail.

Turn to WS. Use tail to sew up selvedge edge. Turn RS out & shape toe with fingers.

(I suggest you use Backstitch for Stockinette rows & CO, mattress stitch for garter stitch rows...)

Thread a ribbon or 3 s I-cord through your eyelets to make your "shoelace."

Variations:

-Instead of a ribbed cuff, feel free to tweak the math (to make an odd or even stitch count) and make a cuff with 18 rows of Garter Stitch, Seed Stitch, various other ribbings, simple cables, or whatever stitch pleases you.

-You can also change the look of the bootie using different materials as the "shoelace."

-You can also use bulky weight yarn, 100% wool yarn & size 10.5 needles...felt them down to size. Too cute!