Thimbleanna

Baby Booties

30 Comments / Knitting / December 20, 2013

Hey Kids — we’re in the home stretch — how’s it going out there???

It’s all good here in ThimbleannaLand.  I’m done with work for the year WOOHOO!!!  I should be cleaning and wrapping as we speak, but instead, I’m procrastinating here on the computer.  I guess you have to sneak in a little downtime don’t you?

One of my little Christmas gifts has been gifted, so I can show it to you.  I have a friend at work who will be a new, first-time Grandma in 2014 and she’s beside herself with excitement.  I thought it would be fun to make her a little pair of baby booties for Christmas.  I found this free pattern on the Bernat website (most likely via Pinterest, but I can’t remember).  My friend won’t know the baby’s gender for a few more weeks, so I chose a multi-color Koigu yarn — totally not what the pattern called for, but it seemed like a versatile pattern that should work for lots of different yarns.

Thimbleanna: Baby Booties

After my middle of the night knitting marathon (why do I always think these little projects will be quicker than they really are?) I put the little booties in a clear cupcake box and tied them up with a tinsel bow.  Perfect for a quick gift!  (Ooooh, and I just noticed in these pictures, the striping pattern worked out the same for both booties — that was totally an accident — I couldn’t have done that if I tried!  I LOVE it what that happens!)

Thimbleanna: Baby Booties

This pattern called for the booties to be knit flat and then seam them along the bottom and up the back.  If you know me though, you know I loathe sewing on knits (which is odd since I love to sew so much.)  When the knitting is done, I want the project to be done.  So, I spent a little extra time (and ripping out which is why this ended up being a middle-of-the-night project) adapting the pattern for knitting in the round.  Normally garter stitch is knit, knit, knit, but when knit in the round you have to alternate between knit and purl rows.

Thimbleanna: Baby Booties

There were a few other changes too, so, in case you’re like me and would like to try these booties in the round, here’s the adapted Bernat pattern:

Circular Knit Bernat Baby Booties

Note: Please refer to the original Bernat pattern for gauge and sizing information for these booties. Number of stitches are for small (medium, large) booties, according to the original pattern. I knit the largest size using size 4 needles with my koigu yarn, which probably resulted in small to medium sized booties.

Using whichever circular knitting method you prefer (dpns or magic loop method), cast on 14(18,22) stitches. Turn work and knit 13(17,21) stitches into the bottoms of the just cast on stitches. You should now be back at the beginning of the cast on row of stitches — at the beginning tail of yarn. Your first stitch of row 1 will be knit into your first cast on stitch.

1st, 3rd and 5th rows: Knit.
2nd row: P1. ybwd. P12 (16,20). ybwd. P1. ybwd. P12(16,20). ybwd. P1. 31 (39,47) sts.
4th row: P1. ybwd. P14 (18,22). ybwd. P1. ybwd. P14(18,22). ybwd. P1. 35 (43,51) sts.
6th row: P1. ybwd. P16 (20,24). ybwd. P1. ybwd. P16(20,24). ybwd. P1. 39 (47,55) sts.
Rows 7,9,11,13,15,and 17: Knit.
Rows 8,10,12,14,16 and 18: Purl.

Shape toe:
Note: Depending on the circular knitting method you are using, stitches may have to be shifted around on the needles to knit the toe section.
1st row: K15 (19,23). K2tog. K5. Sl1. K1. psso. Sl1. yf. Turn.
2nd row: K2tog. K5. Sl1. K1. psso. yf. Sl1P. Turn.
3rd row: K2tog. K5. Sl1. K1. psso. Sl1. yf. Turn.
4th row: As 2nd row.
5th row: K2tog. K5. Sl1. K1. psso. Sl1. Turn.
6th row: P2togtbl. P5. P2tog. Sl1P. Turn.
7th and 8th rows: As 5th and 6th rows once more.
9th row: K2tog. K5. Sl1. K1. psso. Knit to end of row. 21 (29,37) sts.
10th row: Purl. Continue in garter st (alternating Knit and Purl rows) for 2 (2½, 2½) ins [5 (6, 6) cm], ending
with a Purl row. Cast off and weave in beginning and ending tails.

Enjoy those cute little booties!!!

Have a GREAT weekend — I hope you’re doing something fun and festive!!!
XOXO,
Anna

30 thoughts on “Baby Booties”

  3. Jan

    Those little booties are so cute! Thanks for sharing the pattern. I’m sure I take the prize ~ my projects, etc., always take so much more time than I figured! I had at least two posts planned for before the holidays, yet here I sit, barreling west on I-40, just past Bucksnort, TN (no kidding) on our way to Dallas. Each year is going to be different ~ if nothing else, I am an eternal optimist!
    Have a lovely Christmas, Anna! See you on the other side!

  7. Isabelle

    Lovely as usual!

    I’m not doing terribly festive things tonight – off to Kirsten’s for the second night running to be firm with Louisa all night when she keeps waking up! Kirsten and Jon are exhausted so I’ve taken Louisa’s cot downstairs and am patting her on the tummy and telling her to go to sleep (every hour on the hour, last night). I hope she starts getting the idea soon… .

    Still sure you want to be a Granny?

  13. Miriam

    Very cute booties Anna!!

    Thank you for the pattern link. I haven’t mastered knitting in the round yet, so I try the original pattern!

  14. Mary ann

    I am off too for the year!!! And tomorrow lots of family and sweet small granddaughters arrive for a week or so. I am so excited. These are so very cute Anna, wish I knit better!

  15. Bonnie

    These are CUTE CUTE CUTE Anna. Thanks for the link and the adaption. I’ll love making these up and not having to seam them. They are darling.

    Did you use Koigu sock yarn or another weight of Koigu (maybe they only make one). I’ve only ever knit with Koigu sock but these will be on my to do list.
    Merry Christmas…I’ve been on a sock break all day today so now I’m back to knitting.

  16. brigita

    so so so cute. when i finish all these &#$% @#$% ^%&!@ quilts we’ve started i’ll make some booties for the unborn grandchildren hope chest. you put the rest of us to shame my friend.

  18. Jody

    I thought you were going to tell us that the baby booties were for YOUR grandbaby. (I know one day you’ll be posting that!) These are the cutest booties EVER! They look like they will stay on little feet since there is a nice tall cuff. You’re such a fabulous knitter — getting the colors just right in the right places.

  19. Miss Jean

    A-D-0-R-A-B-L-E!!!!!!!! I so wish I could knit. My mom attempted to teach me one time years ago. She is ambidextrous and knits left handed. I’m a righty. Let’s just say for family peace, we dropped the whole knitting thing! My goal for this year is to pick up crocheting, however!

    Have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

  21. Elaine/MuddlingThrough

    Anna, you are such a sweetie! How incredibly warm-hearted and generous of you to share your improved instructions. You’re going to keep it up and I’ll have to learn to knit! That’s a big LOL.

  23. Judy

    Those are too cute!! I do like knitting in the round thanks for the adaption. I love the adorable packaging job you did, that alone makes it all the more special and congrats to the new grandma.

  26. karen

    Oh snap there sister those are ADORABLE and I bet the grandma to be was over the moon with excitement upon you gifting those to her. You are just so sweet. If I could knit I would try those for another grandma to be – my sister – #2 for her. But alas I don’t knit so I will make her a quilt instead :).
    Merry Christmas Dear Friend – enjoy your holiday and vaca from work. May it involve lots of fun times and some personal creative time as well :)

  27. Janine

    Dear Anna,
    I hope you are doing well. I love this litte booties. It would be a great gift, for my two new Born Little nices. But I´am not that good in knitting.
    I wish you and your Family a very merry Christmas time
    Janine

  29. Karen S.

    Cute booties! Merry Christmas to you and yours, Anna! I have enjoyed reading your blog! Happy New Year too!

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