Knitted booties for beginners free pattern

These booties are simple to knit, comfortable to wear and will suit both boys and girls. You will need to measure only the length of the foot to make the booties. We will be knitting booties for 8 cm foot. The booties are knitted with 2 needles in garter stitch.

To start with, let’s look at the parts of the booties.

As you can see on the photographs, the parts are colour-coded:

• orange – the leg (the calf part above the ankle);
• blue – the toe;
• green – the side part;
• brown – the sole of the foot;
• yellow – the back part of the bootie, which includes the side part and the back part of the leg.

This type of booties is usually knitted with a seam in the back. We will be use a more elegant and beautiful way of seamless knitting. It will be appreciated by the knitters who do not like sewing.

Calculations

Multiply the length of the foot by gauge (number of rows in 1 cm). The result is the number of rows you will need to knit the sole of the foot. Let’s name it L. In our case:

L = 8 x 4,3 = 34,4 = 34,4.

Divide L by 2 and round off the result to the nearest even number. This is N.

N = 34,4 : 2 = 17,2 = 17.

If N is even, then:

The number of stitches to cast on equals N divided by 2 and multiplied by 3

The number of rows to knit the toe is equals N

If N is odd, then:

The number of stitches to cast on equals (N+1) divided by 2 and multiplied by 3. In our case: (17+1) : 2 x 3 = 27.

The number of rows to knit the toe is equals N-1. In our case: 17 - 1 = 16.

The width of the middle part equals the height of the heel, usually it is 2-3 cm. In our case it is 12 rows.

Important: we should make all selvage stitches in the form of braid. For this we make the selvage stitch in the end of row using granny's purling method, but in start we just slip the stitch.

The height of the leg (the calf part above the ankle) is determined by the model. We knit 3 cm that is 12 rows. Then we knit some eyelets for laces.

Row 13: knit.

Row 14: purl.

Row 15: slip the selvedge stitch, * knit 2 together in back loop, reverse yarn over *, repeat from * before selvage stitch 1 knit.

Row 16: purl (granny's purling method) all stitches (purl the yarn overs in back loop).

To knit the toe divide the stitches into 3 equal parts and continue knitting only the middle part: 9 stitches, selvedges included. Knit 16 rows according to the calculations. As you can see on the photo, the side stitches can be moved to separate needles or stitch holders. The most convenient way would be to continue knitting with two needles without touching the side stitches.

In 33 Row we need picking up stitches from the sides of the toe. Pick up the stitches from the left side first: insert the needle under both sides of the selvedge from front to back.

Then purl this stitch using granny's purling method.

In this way we pick up 8 stitches of the side part of the toe. We see a neat “braid” on the front side where we picked up the stitches.

Knit the stitches of the side part.

Turn work. Knit the stitches of the side and central parts using normal method and knit the picked up stitches using granny's knitting method. Now you need to pick up the stitches from the other side of the toe. Insert the needle under both sides of the selvedge from back to front and knit this stitch using granny's knitting method.

Pick up and knit 8 stitches from the right side of the toe getting a neat “braid” on the front side. Knit the rest stitches. Now we should have 43 stitches on the needles.

Knit the side part of the bootie: 12 rows of garter stitch.

Start the sole of the foot in the next right side row. We will be working with only 9 stitch of the middle part (17 stitches on the side parts each), joining the stitches of the side part. To do this, slip the first stitch of the row, turn the  9th stitch and knit it together with the next side stitch using granny’s knitting method.

In the next right side rows knit the last stitch of the middle and the next side together in granny’s knitting method without turning the last stitch.

Wrong side rows: purl the 9th stitch and the next side stitch in granny’s purling method. This way we will get neat braids along the sides of the sole. Knit 34 rows of the sole adding 17 stitches from each side. There are 9 stitches on the needle.

Now, we have to knit the back part of booties, at the same time adding the selvedge stitches on the sides. Slip the first stitch onto the right needle. Knit the next row and slip the last stitch onto the right needle. Insert the left needle under both sides of th the selvedge from back to front.

Return the 9th stitch to the left needle and knit the selvedge and the 9th stitch together using granny’s knitting method.

Wrong side: knit all to the last stitch, slip the 9th stitch off the left needle, onto the right needle. But two loops knit together in another way: insert the left needle into edge stitch under both loops from front to back.

Return the 9th stitch to the left needle and purl both stitches using granny’s purling method.

Continue adding 6 stitches of the middle part from the right and left sides. Make eyelets for the cord: knit 1 row, purl 1 row.

Next right side row: knit 1 (granny’s method), reverse yarn over, *knit 2 stitch together (granny’s knitting method), reverse yarn over*.

Wrong side row: purl (granny’s purling method) all stitches (purl the yarn overs in back loop).

Right side row: knit all (granny’s knitting method).

Continue knitting in garter stitch adding stitches from the sides until you have 9 stitches total. Bind off all stitches.

Now work single crochets on the top edge of the bootie. The first bootie is ready. Repeat pattern for the second bootie. Put the laces through the eyelets.

You can decorate the booties any way you like. We used crocheted chain cords decorated with tassels. The cord is 40 cm long.

Video tutorial: how to knit booties for beginners

In this video tutorial we show in details how to knit booties for beginners. Our youtube channel is in Russian, but the material understandable and without words and we hope it will be very helpful for you.

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