I don’t know about you but I just love making baby things. Maybe it’s because they work up so quickly. Or maybe because they are so gosh darn cute. Or maybe because we have three boys and the youngest is just leaving the baby stage and I’m missing having a baby in the house. Whatever it is, I’ve been doing a lot of baby items these days. Baby dresses (which I don’t have any use for at home with three boys!), baby onesies, and now baby shoes. I’ve seen so many cute crochet baby booties and wanted to try my hand at designing some of my own. This is my first pair and they have turned out pretty well!
I used Lion Brand 24/7 cotton for these because I love cotton yarns and wanted something as close to their Cotton Ease as I could get. LB Cotton Ease was one of my absolute favorite yarns when I first started designing. It has been discontinued but the website recommended 24/7 Cotton as a suitable substitute so I ordered a couple of skeins online and waited patiently for them to arrive. When they did I couldn’t wait to get started on this pair of shoes and now I have waited for testing and it’s time for me to share the pattern with you! I also can’t wait to create lots of variations of these basic baby booties in different yarns – I have so many ideas for booties now I don’t know how I’m going to get them all done!
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Basic Baby Booties
What You’ll Need
Yarn: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton (100% cotton; 186 yards [170 meters]/100 grams): #98 Ecru (MC 1 ball), #178 Jade (CC, 1 ball)
Hook: US size G/6 (4.0mm)
Notions: Yarn needle, stitch markers
Skill Level: Easy
Size: 0-6 (6-12) months, 3 ½ (4)” sole length
Shown in size 0-6 months.
Gauge: 18 sts and 20 rows = 4” [10 cm] in sc
Notes: Rounds are not joined unless noted. Place stitch marker in first st of each round to keep track. If only one number is given that number applies to both sizes.
Special Techniques Used:
To work an invisible join when joining sc: Cut yarn and pull through center of last st made. (Do NOT fasten off the regular way). Insert hook from right to left in 2nd st to left and pull yarn through. Insert hook from right to left in the middle of the last st made (the one you pulled the yarn through initially) and pull yarn down through the middle of this stitch. [See Video HERE!]
To work an invisible join when joining slip sts: Cut yarn and pull through center of last st made. (Do NOT fasten off the regular way). Insert hook from right to left under both loops of next slip st to the left and pull yarn through. Insert hook from right to left in the center of the last slip st and pull yarn down through center of last slip st. [See Video HERE!]
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PATTERN
SOLE (make 2 of each color)
Ch 8 (10).
Row 1: 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 2 (3), hdc 2, dc 1 (2), 7 dc in last ch. Working on opposite side of ch, dc 1 (2), hdc 2, sc 2 (3) – 20 (24) sts.
Row 2: Work 2 sc in each of next 3 sts, sc 6 (8), 2 sc in each of next 5 sts, sc 6 (8) – 28 (32) sts.
Row 3: *Sc 1, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * two more times, sc 6 (8), repeat from * five times, sc 6 (8) – 36 (40) sts.
Row 4: *Sc 2, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * two more times, sc to end – 39 (43) sts.
Make an invisible join. Weave in ends.
Join Soles
Holding 2 soles together (one of each color) with RS facing out and CC on top, join MC in any stitch, going through both soles. Sl st around edge to join soles. Make invisible join. Weave in ends.
BODY
With MC, join yarn at center heel st.
Round 1: Ch 1, sc in each slip st; join to first sc with slip st – 39 (43) sts.
Round 2: Ch 1, sc 11 (13), *sc2, sc2tog; repeat from * three more times, sc 12 (14); join to first sc with slip st – 35 (39) sts.
Round 3: Ch 1, sc, sc2tog, sc 9 (11), *sc, sc2tog; repeat from * three more times, sc 8 (10), sc2tog, sc; join to first sc with slip st – 29 (33) sts.
Round 4: Ch 1, sc 9 (11), dc3tog, tr5tog, dc3tog, sc 9 (11) – 21 (25) sts.
Make invisible join. Weave in ends.
FINISHING
To create ties:
Leaving a long tail, join CC at center front. Sl st evenly around top of shoe, then use hook to draw tails through in the stitches below as seen in photo above. Tie in a bow and there are no CC ends to hide!
I really hope you’ve enjoyed this free pattern. Be sure to check out my other free patterns – I’m sure you’ll find a project to start today! 🙂
Happy crocheting!
Amanda
Aww adorable! I am planning to make one for my pregnant co- worker. Will this pattern work with 5 mm hook?
Thanks
If you use a larger hook you will get a larger shoe but the pattern will work up the same. The stitches will be looser. I’m not sure what size it would end up – maybe a 12-18 months?
Hi
Thanks so much for the pattern! The booties are so beautiful!
Could you please help? I am a beginner and it seems I am missing a few stitches counting…
Row 4 – soles, is it missing something?
Also, round 2 of the body doesn’t add up for me.
Am I doing anything wrong?
Thanks again.
Winnend
Hi Winnend! Do you have too many or too few stitches? Are you marking the first stitch of each round? Sometimes I find that I have trouble telling which is the first stitch of the round if I don’t mark it. Let me know your stitch counts so I can try to see if we can find the difference. Let me know your numbers for the soles and round 2 of the body.
Hi Amanda, Thanks for replying so soon.
As I am new to this, I do mark each row beginning. Actually, what I do, before commencing, is to facilitate things for myself by writing down each step, line by line, and counting number of stitches I should have at the end of each row. For example:
Round 2: Ch 1,
sc 15, = 15
*sc2, sc2tog; repeat from * three more times, = 8
sc 16; = 16
join to first sc with slip st s. total 39
When I do this for the baby booties body round 2, I get:
Round 2: Ch 1, ,
sc 11 (13), = 13
*sc2, sc2tog; repeat from * three more times = 8
sc 12 (14); = 14
join to first sc with slip st – 35 (39) sts.
I choose the larger size but get a total of only 35 sts …. being a beginner I don’t know what to do…
Thanks
Winnend
Hi Winnend,
For each example you mentioned the *sc2, sc2tog; repeat from * three more times should = 12. You are completing the instructions from the * four times total. When I do that for the baby booties body round 2 I get:
Round 2: Ch 1,
sc 11 (13) = 13
*sc2, sc2tog; repeat from * three more times = 12
sc 12 (14) = 14
join to first sc with slip st – 35 (39)
When I add these numbers I get 39. Does this make sense? Maybe I should word it differently. 🙂
I’m working on videos for all my baby shoes patterns and I know that will help – it’s just hard to find quiet time to film with three small boys in the house – but I will get the videos done soon!
Hi Amanda
You are right, of course. Thanks for your explanations – I see it now.
I appreciate your assistance.
I wish you lots of success.
Winnend
Great! I’m glad we figured it out. 🙂 Keep crocheting – it’s really addictive!
Thank you for this cute basic pattern. FYI these do look a little masculine referring to your comment on your Mary Jane article. Given the right color choices it can go for a boy or a girl. I’m going to make some in black and red for my grandson. Thanks again, God bless.
You’re right Merrie! These could definitely be made for a boy. I think black and red would look great! I made some kind of similar for my first right before he was born. I used brown and light blue and every one of my three boys have worn those booties when they were tiny. Such a great keepsake! Glad you like the pattern. 🙂
My compliments to all you efforts in crochet design, My name is Marsha, or Grandma and mama to neighborhood. I am a stroke surviver twice and still addicted to trying to make booties for all size babies up to 2 yrs.; but I need outside help, shared patterns, free yarn supplies & hooks ( I have found the Susan Bates brand works better for me now than Boyd)
Soy principiante y la verdad no le entiendo al patrón por ejemplo:
Ronda 2: Ch 1,
sc 15, = 15
* sc2, sc2tog; repetir de * tres veces más, = 8
sc 16; = 16
Que significa sc? Y sc2tog? Pb es punto bordado?
Si existe un video se me haría más fácil poderle bacer estos zapatos a mi bebé.
Gracias!
¡Hola! Sc significa ganchillo individual. Sc2tog es una disminución que lleva dos crochets individuales en uno. No sé qué es Pb.
No tengo un video para este patrón, pero otro patrón mío que es muy similar tiene un video completo. Sólo tendrá que trabajar una ronda o dos más de lo que muestra el vídeo.
Te lo agradezco infinitamente!
Excelente fin de semana!!
Hi Amanda,
I love the booties! I am working on finishing my first one and seem to be having trouble getting the tr5tog together without a gap between each tr. Any suggestions?
Thank you,
Mary
Hi Mary! Is the gap between the stitches themselves or at the top? Mine have a gap at the top but the slip sts in the contrasting color hide them well. If it is between the stitches, try a smaller hook on just that part and see if it helps. ?
Hello, I’m new to crocheting/self learner and I’m starting a pair of these for my niece, and then I’ll make a pair for my soon to be first. I’m sorry to say I’m stuck at the very first step: Ch 8 (10). If I’m chaining 8, why should I have 10 chains? Can you help me out? Thank you!
And actually, I just completed row 1, and I’m totally confused about the steps following 7 dc in last stitch. Where exactly do the following stitches go? I ended up with a strange shape after I completed row 1 and wasn’t really sure where to start row 2. If you have a video, that would be very helpful! Thanks!
Hi Christine! The (10) after the 8 is for the larger size. Ignore the numbers in parenthesis to make the smaller size. I don’t have a video for this exact pair but I did make another pair of baby shoes that uses the same pattern but you will have to work a couple of rows after I end on this one (and not add the straps). Check out this video – it will help out a lot! Let me know if you have other questions after watching the video. I’m always glad to help! 🙂
Thank you so much! I’ll let you know if I have any questions 🙂
Hi there! I love this pattern and have just subscribed.
I’ve worked to the point of having finished my first sole and joined it up. I am up to the body: “Ch 1, sc in each slip st; join to first sc with slip st – 39 (43) sts.”
My questions here are:
Do we start with a slip knot on the hook to ch 1?
What does it mean by “sc in each slip stitch”? I don’t know how we go through the slip stitches – is it meant to be “sc in each stitch around”?
From which side (MC or CC) do we insert the hook? I’m thinking must be up from the CC to the MC if we go through both layers of the sole? And
Do we go through both layers of the sole for the first row of the body or just through the CC?
Thank you!
Ange
Hi Angela,
When you join the soles, you use slip stitches to hold them together. When you begin making the body of the shoe after the soles are joined, you work the first round of the body just in those slip stitches – make sure you are working under both loops of these sts. I have a similar pattern that I did on video that might help: Sweetheart Baby Shoes. It uses the same basic pattern as these booties. Hope this helps! 🙂
Hello,
Thank you for this cute pattern. Quick question: can you walk me through how you do the tr5tog? I followed a video tutorial from YouTube, but it left a larger than normal gap at the end of the last stitch. Thanks!
Hi Janet! These are the instructions I used for mine (they are from the Crochet Spot):
tr5tog (treble 5 together) – *yarn over 2 times, insert hook into next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, (yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook) 2 times* repeat from * 5 times, yarn over, pull through all loops on hook
Hopefully this will help with the gap 🙂
Thank you for your speedy response. I really appreciate it. That is how I did the tc5tog. I’ll try to pull the next stitch a little tighter next time. I’m really enjoying all of your patterns. Thanks for sharing them!
Super cute pattern with really easy to follow instructions. You make it easy to create beautiful items. Thanks for sharing your patterns.
Thanks so much for the kind words Sara! 😀
this is a good pattern and you can almost fully understand what is being done. but this would not be good for beginners. reasoning behind that is because MC is magic circle and that is widely used with any person who crochets. when you say MC you should really be saying slipknot. which also would explain all the comments asking you about that particular part of the pattern. its good but needs to be reworded, using the correct terminology.
Hi! Sorry, but MC in this pattern does not mean “magic circle”. If you look in the materials section, there are two colors of yarn and one is the main color (MC) and the other is the contrasting color (cc). So in this case MC is telling you to use the main color of the booties for that portion of the pattern. I did not use the magic circle in this pattern.