Knitting baby booties is a skill that anyone can acquire and enjoy. Simply follow these important instructions and procedures and you will soon have fun knitting your first pair of baby booties.
The size selected in this particular style of baby booties is for a newborn. The materials needed include one ball or skein of Plymouth Encore Worsted seventy-five percent acrylic and twenty-five percent wool worsted weight yarns. You will also need size six straight and double-pointed needles, size eight needles, a yarn needle, a stitch holder, a stitch marker, one small piece of waste yarn, a sewing needle and some all-purpose thread.
Begin this project by checking your gauge. It will save you time in case a different gauge is needed. Seventeen stitches and twenty-seven rows equals four inches in stockinette stitches with larger needles. Eighteen stitches and twenty-six rows equal four inches with medium needles.
For the cuff of the booties, use the size six needles. Cast on twenty-three stitches and knit three rows. With your size eight needles, do thirteen rows of stockinette stitches ending with a right side row.
Shaping the ankle requires three rows. For the first row, purl three stitches, then purl two stitches together four times. For the eyelet row, knit two stitches; then yarn over, knit two stitches together and repeat the yarn over and knit two together procedure until the last stitch. Now knit one stitch. For row three purl two stitches together and purl to the last two stitches. Purl two stitches together.
To divide the instep, do two rows. On row one, knit twelve stitches and mark this row. Now do row two by purling seven stitches and turn. Slip the remaining stitches to the holder.
Continue working even in stockinette stitching on seven stitches until the instep is one inch above the marker. You should end with a purl row. Now you can cut the yarn and slip stitches to the holder. With right sides facing, join the yarn at the back edge. Proceed by knitting five stitches from the holder then pick up and knit seven stitches evenly along the right edge of the instep. Pick up and knit seven stitches evenly along the left side of the instep. Now knit the remaining five stitches on the holder. Follow by knitting five rows.
shaping the sole takes five rows. Do row one by knitting two stitches and slip stitch knitwise. Knit eight stitches then knit two stitches together. Continue by knitting three stitches, slip stitch knitwise, and knit eight stitches. For row two, continue knitting. On row three knit two stitches, and slip stitch knitwise. Now knit six stitches and knit two together. Knit three stitches and slip stitch knitwise. Then knit six stitches and knit two stitches together. Now knit two stitches . Continue knitting on row four. For row five knit two stitches and slip stitch knitwise. Knit four stitches and knit two together. Now knit three and slip stitch knitwise. Knit four stitches and knit two together. Now knit two stitches. At this point, bind off purlwise.
The last few steps involve sewing the back and foot seams. Cut and fold in half a thirty-six inch piece of yarn. Make a twisted cord and tie the ends. Thread the cord through the eyelet row and tie it in a bow at the front of the bootie.
This concludes the instructions needed for knitting baby booties. Take your time and enjoy this relaxing knitting experience.
