There’s nothing quite as precious as tiny baby feet, and keeping them warm in handmade booties is a true labor of love! This pattern creates charming little knitted booties perfect for newborns up to 3 months, featuring a classic garter stitch sole and upper, with a sweet ribbed instep for a snug fit. The little satin bow adds a perfect finishing touch.
This pattern is designed to be knitted flat and then seamed, making it very beginner-friendly. If you can knit and purl, you can make these!
Skill Level:
Easy
Materials:
- Yarn: DK weight (Light Worsted / #3) baby yarn (approx. 30-50g per pair). The example uses a lovely mint green.
- Needles: 3.5 mm (US 4) straight knitting needles or circular needles (for working flat)
- Tapestry needle (for seaming and weaving in ends)
- Scissors
- Small satin ribbon (about 15-20 cm / 6-8 inches per bootie) for decoration
Abbreviations (US Terms):
- CO: Cast On
- K: Knit
- P: Purl
- st(s): stitch(es)
- RS: Right Side
- WS: Wrong Side
- garter stitch: every row knit
- ribbing: alternating knit and purl stitches (e.g., K1, P1 rib)
Gauge:
24 stitches and 48 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in garter stitch
(Checking your gauge is important for sizing baby items! If your gauge differs, adjust your needle size accordingly.)
Pattern Notes:
- These booties are knit flat as a single piece and then seamed.
- The majority of the slipper is worked in garter stitch (knit every row) for a lovely texture and easy care.
- The ribbed section on the instep provides a gentle stretch and shaping for the top of the foot.
- This pattern is for size 0-3 months. To adjust the size, see the “Sizing Adjustments” section at the end.
Pattern Instructions
Part 1: The Sole and Heel
Using 3.5 mm (US 4) needles and DK weight yarn, CO 36 stitches.
Work in garter stitch (K every row) for 32 rows. (This section will form the sole of the bootie and part of the heel. The piece should measure approximately 6.5 cm / 2.5 inches wide and 6.5 cm / 2.5 inches long.)
Part 2: Shaping the Heel and Beginning the Instep
This section creates the “U” shape for the heel and transitions into the instep.
Row 33 (RS): K 13 sts, bind off 10 sts, K to end of row (13 sts remaining on right needle, 13 sts on left needle). (26 sts total)
Row 34 (WS): K across all 26 stitches.
Row 35 (RS): K across all 26 stitches.
Repeat Row 34 and Row 35 for a total of 6 more rows (Rows 36-41). (You should now have a rectangular piece of garter stitch with a “U” shaped cutout in the center.)
Part 3: The Instep (Ribbed Section)
Now we will create the ribbed texture for the top of the baby’s foot. This section is worked on the central 10 stitches that were bound off earlier, and you’ll pick up stitches to bridge the gap.
Row 42 (WS): K 13 sts (these are the stitches on the left side of the “U”), pick up and knit 10 stitches along the bound-off edge of the “U”, K 13 sts (these are the stitches on the right side of the “U”). (36 sts total)
Now, we will start the ribbing pattern on the central 10 stitches.
Row 43 (RS – Ribbing Set Up): K 13 sts, (K1, P1) 5 times, K 13 sts.
Row 44 (WS): K 13 sts, (P1, K1) 5 times, K 13 sts.
Repeat Row 43 and Row 44 for a total of 10 rows of ribbing (5 repeats of the 2-row pattern). (This ribbed section will be approximately 2 cm / 0.75 inches long and will form the top of the foot.)
Part 4: The Toe
Now we transition back to garter stitch to form the toe.
Row 53 (RS): K across all 36 stitches.
Row 54 (WS): K across all 36 stitches.
Repeat Row 53 and Row 54 for a total of 16 rows (ending on a WS row). (This section will be approximately 3.5 cm / 1.5 inches long and will form the top of the toe.)
Part 5: Finishing
Bind off all 36 stitches loosely.
Assembly:
- Fold and Seam: Lay your knitted piece flat. Fold the piece in half lengthwise, bringing the cast-on edge up to meet the bound-off edge.
- Toe Seam: Using your tapestry needle and a length of yarn, seam the bound-off edges together from the toe upwards for about 1.5 – 2 inches, creating the top of the toe. Use the mattress stitch for an invisible seam, or simply whip stitch.
- Heel Seam: Now, starting from the cast-on edge, seam the side edges of the garter stitch section together to form the heel. This will be the back of the bootie. Continue seaming until you reach the start of the ribbed section.
- Instep Seam: Continue seaming the side edges along the ribbed section, which will form the sides of the bootie over the arch of the foot.
- Add Ribbon (Optional): Thread a small satin ribbon through the purl bumps of the ribbed section (or weave it over and under the knit stitches). Tie a small bow at the center front.
- Weave in Ends: Securely weave in all remaining loose ends.
Repeat for the second bootie!
Video tutorial
Sizing Adjustments (Approximate):
- For 3-6 Months: CO 40 sts. Work 36-40 rows in Part 1. Bind off 12 sts in Part 2, and work 8 rows. Pick up 12 sts in Part 3 and work 12 rows of ribbing. Work 18-20 rows in Part 4.
- For 6-12 Months: CO 44 sts. Work 44-48 rows in Part 1. Bind off 14 sts in Part 2, and work 10 rows. Pick up 14 sts in Part 3 and work 14 rows of ribbing. Work 22-24 rows in Part 4.
Always adjust based on your gauge and desired finished length!
There you have it – a pair of adorable, handmade baby booties! These make wonderful baby shower gifts or a lovely personal project.
Happy knitting!
