Jess gets crafty: Simple bootie pattern

Simple booties

by Jessica Felton

Introduction

Baby booties are what I always make up for friends and family who are soon to have a little baby come into their lives. However, when I was first pregnant I didn't get around to making any booties for my own little boy and by the time that I had a few minutes spare to do a little crochet for him he was already 7 months old! So these turned out to be roughly size 3-6 months (my little boy was pretty small back then) and now I always make them up this size as it is always better to have a slightly larger size bootie for a baby than something too small.

So when I designed these little booties I wanted to keep it simple so that they would suit a little boy (though if made up in another colour they look just as sweet on a little girl) and after a few failed bootie attempts I think I have come up with a pattern that is simple to make up and a good sturdy shape for little baby feet.

Each bootie is worked in one continuous piece leaving you only 2 ends to work in on each – perfect if you, like me, hate trying to hide loose yarn ends. They are very simple to make and I can whip up a complete pair in under 2 hours so they also make a great last minute baby gift.

Finished size:

9cm long

4.5cm wide

To fit:

3-6 months

Materials needed:

30g DK wool

3.5mm crochet hook

Tapestry needle

2 matching buttons

Terms used:

yo – yarn over

ch - chain
sc - single crochet
dc - double crochet

dcd – double crochet decrease
sl st - slip stitch

Gauge:

21 stitches and 22 rows = 10cm square in single crochet

Row 1:

Ch 13, sc in 2^nd ch from hook, 11 sc across

4sc in first back loop

sc in each of next 10 back loops, 2 sc in last back loop, sl st to join to first sc worked (28 st)

Row 2:

Ch 1, work first sc into the same stitch as sl st (you may want to insert a stitch marker in this stitch so you know where to sl st into at the end of the round)

11 sc, 2 sc into each of next 4 sc, 11 sc, 3 sc into last st,

sl st to join to first sc worked (34 st)

Row 3:

Ch 1, work first sc into the same stitch as sl st.

11 sc, *2 sc into next sc, 1 sc into next sc* x 4.

12 sc, 2 sc into each of next 2 sts, sl st to join to first sc worked (40 st)

Row 4:

Ch 1, work first sc into the same stitch as sl st.

11 sc, *2 sc into next sc, 1 sc into next 2 sc* x 4.

13 sc, 2 sc into each of next 3 sts, sl st to join to first sc worked (40 st)

Row 5:

Ch 1, work first sc into the same stitch as sl st.

Sc in each st around, sl st to join to first sc worked. (47 st)

Row 6:

Ch 1, into the back loop only work first sc into the same stitch as sl st.

Continuing to work only into the back loop, sc into each st around.

Sl st to join to first sc worked (47 st)

Bottom of bootie sole

Side view of bootie sole

Row 7:

Ch 1, work first sc into the same stitch as sl st.

Sc in each st around, sl st to join to first sc worked. (47 st)

Row 8:

Ch 1, work first sc into the same stitch as sl st.

Sc in each st around, sl st to join to first sc worked. (47 st)

Row 9:

Ch 1, work first sc into the same stitch as sl st.

Work another 11 sc and now you are ready to start decreasing to form the front of the bootie.

When working double crochet decreases to get a neater finish work as follows:

Yo hook, insert into first st, yo and pull through (3 loops on hook) yo, pull through first 2 loops (2 loops on hook). Yo, insert into second st, yo and pull through (4 loops on hook) yo, pull through first 2 loops (3 loops on hook).

Start working your first dc decrease over the next 2 sc, yo and pull through remaining 3 loops on hook.

First double crochet decrease worked

Now continue to work around the front of the bootie as follows:

Dc in next 2 sts, *dcd, dc in next 2 sts*x3

Sc into each st around the rest of the bootie, sl st to join to first sc worked.

(43 st)

Row 10:

Ch 1, work first sc into the same stitch as sl st.

11 sc, *dcd, dc in next st* x 4

Sc into each st around the rest of the bootie, sl st to join to first sc worked.

(39 st)

Row 11:

Ch 1, work first sc into the same stitch as sl st.

11 sc, *dcd * x 4

Sc into each st around the rest of the bootie, sl st to join to first sc worked.

(35 st)

Front view of bootie

Row 12:

Mark the sl st that you worked to join the previous row

DON’T work a chain

Sl st into next 6 sts

Now start working the strap as follows:

*3 sc, ch 1, turn* x 10

Work 3 more chains and sl st into sc furthest from the hook

Button hole worked

Sl st down the side of the strap

Continue to sl st around the rest of the bootie until you reach the sl st that you marked at the beginning of this row.

Pull out the loop left on the hook without fastening off and cut it so you have a long end.

To finish off the bootie neatly so you can’t see the join you need to thread this long end through the ‘v’s of the previous slip stitch and then thread the end back through the stitch it came from.