Here is a pattern for a classic knitted baby bootie, worked flat and then seamed, which makes the shaping a bit easier for beginners.
WOW! Beautiful Knitted Baby Booties Pattern
This pattern creates lovely, classic baby booties worked flat from the cuff down, then seamed.
Skill Level: Easy Intermediate (requires basic knitting increases and decreases)
Size: 3-6 Months (approx. 3.75 – 4.25 inches sole length)
Note: To adjust size, you can use a different yarn weight and needle size (check gauge), or slightly increase/decrease the number of stitches cast on and rows worked in the leg and foot sections.
Materials:
- Approximately 50-80 yards of DK weight yarn.
- Knitting needles size US 5 (3.75 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge.
- Tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends.
- Scissors
- 2 stitch markers (optional, but helpful)
Gauge:
22 stitches and 30 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch (knit on right side, purl on wrong side).
Checking your gauge is important for the correct size.
Abbreviations:
- CO: Cast on
- BO: Bind off
- K: Knit
- P: Purl
- St(s): Stitch(es)
- RS: Right side of work
- WS: Wrong side of work
- Garter st: Knit every row
- Stockinette st: Knit RS rows, Purl WS rows
- K2tog: Knit two stitches together (decrease)
- SSK: Slip, slip, knit the slipped stitches together (decrease)
- YO: Yarn over (increase)
Pattern Instructions:
Make 2 (for a pair)
These booties are worked flat.
Part 1: The Cuff and Leg
We start at the top edge of the bootie.
Row 1 (RS): CO 36 sts. Row 2 (WS): K all sts (This forms the start of a garter stitch cuff). Row 3 (RS): K all sts. Row 4 (WS): K all sts.
Note: Rows 1-4 create a 4-row garter stitch cuff.
Now switch to Stockinette stitch for the leg.
Rows 5 – 12: Work in Stockinette stitch. (Row 5 K, Row 6 P, Row 7 K, Row 8 P, Row 9 K, Row 10 P, Row 11 K, Row 12 P) (36 sts)
Part 2: Shaping the Heel
We will now work back and forth on a smaller number of stitches to create the heel flap.
Row 13 (RS): K 12 sts. BO the next 12 sts. K the remaining 12 sts. (24 sts remain: 12 on the right needle, 12 on the left needle). Turn your work. Row 14 (WS): P the first 12 sts. Attach a new piece of yarn to the other set of 12 sts and P these 12 sts. (12 sts on each side, with a gap in the middle where you bound off). Row 15 (RS): K 12 sts. Turn. Row 16 (WS): P 12 sts. Turn. Row 17 (RS): K 12 sts. Turn. Row 18 (WS): P 12 sts. Turn.
Now we will shape the heel turn using decreases on one set of 12 stitches.
Row 19 (RS): K 7, K2tog, K 1. Turn. (11 sts) Row 20 (WS): P 4, P2tog, P 1. Turn. (10 sts) Row 21 (RS): K 4, K2tog, K 1. Turn. (9 sts) Row 22 (WS): P 3, P2tog, P 1. Turn. (8 sts) Row 23 (RS): K 3, K2tog, K 1. Turn. (7 sts) Row 24 (WS): P 2, P2tog, P 1. Turn. (6 sts) Row 25 (RS): K 2, K2tog, K 1. Turn. (5 sts) Row 26 (WS): P 1, P2tog, P 1. Turn. (4 sts remain on this needle)
Cut yarn, leaving a tail. Now join yarn to the other set of 12 sts you left live after Row 13.
Repeat Rows 19-26 on this second set of 12 stitches to create the other side of the heel. You will have 4 stitches remaining on your needle. Do not cut yarn after finishing Row 26 on the second side.
Part 3: Working the Foot
Now we will pick up stitches and work across the instep and sole.
Row 27 (RS): K the 4 sts on your needle. Pick up and K 6 sts evenly along the side edge of the first heel flap. Pick up and K 12 sts evenly across the bound-off edge from Row 13. Pick up and K 6 sts evenly along the side edge of the second heel flap. K the 4 sts on your needle. (4 + 6 + 12 + 6 + 4 = 32 sts)
Row 28 (WS): P all sts. (32 sts) Row 29 (RS): K all sts. (32 sts) Row 30 (WS): P all sts. (32 sts)
Part 4: Shaping the Toe
We will use decreases to shape the front of the foot.
Row 31 (RS): K 9, K2tog, K 1, K2tog, K 4, SSK, K 1, SSK, K 9. (28 sts) Row 32 (WS): P all sts. (28 sts) Row 33 (RS): K 8, K2tog, K 1, K2tog, K 2, SSK, K 1, SSK, K 8. (24 sts) Row 34 (WS): P all sts. (24 sts) Row 35 (RS): K 7, K2tog, K 1, K2tog, SSK, K 1, SSK, K 7. (20 sts) Row 36 (WS): P all sts. (20 sts)
Part 5: The Sole
We will work the remaining stitches to form the bottom of the sole, decreasing as we go.
Row 37 (RS): K 1, K2tog, K to last 3 sts, SSK, K 1. (18 sts) Row 38 (WS): P all sts. (18 sts) Row 39 (RS): K 1, K2tog, K to last 3 sts, SSK, K 1. (16 sts) Row 40 (WS): P all sts. (16 sts) Row 41 (RS): K 1, K2tog, K to last 3 sts, SSK, K 1. (14 sts) Row 42 (WS): P all sts. (14 sts) Row 43 (RS): K 1, K2tog, K to last 3 sts, SSK, K 1. (12 sts) Row 44 (WS): P all sts. (12 sts)
BO all 12 sts. FO, leaving a long tail for seaming.
Video tutorial
Assembly:
- Fold the knitted piece in half lengthwise, with the wrong sides facing you, so the cast-on edge and the bind-off edge line up, and the heel section folds in half.
- Using the long tail and a tapestry needle, seam the sole edges together using the mattress stitch or whip stitch for an invisible or neat seam. Start from the toe and work towards the heel.
- Continue seaming up the back of the heel and the leg section towards the cuff.
- Weave in any remaining loose ends securely on the inside of the bootie.
- Turn the bootie right side out.
- Repeat all steps to make the second bootie.
Optional Finishing: Knitted Tie/Cord
Make 2 (one for each bootie)
- Option 1 (Simple I-Cord): CO 3 sts. Knit these 3 sts, but DO NOT slip them off the left needle. Slide the 3 sts to the right end of the left needle. Repeat from * until the cord is the desired length (approx. 8-10 inches). BO sts. FO, leaving tails. Thread through stitches around the ankle/cuff area and knot ends.
- Option 2 (Knitted Strip): CO 4 sts. Work in Garter st (K every row) until the strip is the desired length (approx. 8-10 inches). BO. FO, leaving tails. Thread through stitches around the ankle/cuff area and knot ends.
Sew or tie the knitted cords onto the booties.
