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How to Knit Baby Booties (Free Knitting Pattern)

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March 27, 2021 By amanda 2 Comments

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Learn how to knit baby booties with this free pattern that’s ready for some sun! Feature an ankle strap with buttons, Mary Jane styling and butterfly on heels.

In this article...

  • Design Story and Inspiration for the Butterfly Knit Baby Booties
  • Common Questions about Knitting Baby Booties
  • Yarn Options for the Butterfly Knit Baby Booties
  • Before we begin… let’s get Social!
  • Knitted Baby Booties Pattern Details
  • How to Customize these Adorable Baby Booties
  • More Free Baby Knitting Patterns
  • Get the Ad-Free PDF
  • Baby Booties Knitting Pattern
    • What You’ll Need
    • Stitch Descriptions and Abbreviations:
  • How to Knit Baby Booties
    • Right Bootie
    • Sole
    • Size 0-6 Months Only
    • Size 6-12 Months Only
    • Body
    • All Sizes
    • Top Shaping
    • Ankle Strap
    • Left Bootie
    • Top Shaping/Ankle Strap
    • Butterfly Wings (make 2)
    • Butterfly Body
    • Finishing
  • You Might Enjoy These Other Free Knitting Patterns
  • And a free crochet pattern for a bootie pattern:
    • Sweet Sophisticated Mary Janes

Design Story and Inspiration for the Butterfly Knit Baby Booties

I love making crochet baby booties and I thought it was time that I tried my hand at a knit pair! Baby knits are so sweet and quick to make. These simple booties are my favorite style – Mary Janes!

Instead of just basic baby booties I thought it would be fun to add a spring time accent. Knit up some sweet butterflies, grab some buttons, and you’re good to go!

Common Questions about Knitting Baby Booties

How do you knit baby booties for beginners?

Many baby bootie patterns can be knit on straight knitting needles, making them an easy project for beginners who know basic shaping skills. You will need to increase and decrease for most baby bootie patterns to get the right shape for the foot.

What is the quickest thing to knit for a baby?

I would say – easy baby booties! Yes, you have to make a second after the first, but they are so darn quick! Instead of making a blanket for a baby shower, try a set of booties. They are so adorable they are sure to get rave reviews.

What type of yarn is best for baby booties?

You want a yarn that is gentle next to baby’s skin (no harsh acrylics or wool here!) yet one that can easily be cared for. Cotton is a good choice, and that’s what I used in this free pattern, or a premium acrylic is nice.

Yarn Options for the Butterfly Knit Baby Booties

I used Berroco Modern Cotton for these booties, and it is so soft! It has a huge variety of colors and holds up well to washing.

All of these things are musts in my book when it comes to knitting for babies! Easy care, feels great, lots of colors to choose from. Win-win!

If you’d like to substitute (let’s face it, we all like to shop from our stashes!) you can substitute any worsted weight yarn that gets gauge.

See the Web Story for these Knit Baby Booties!

Before we begin… let’s get Social!

I would love for you to come follow me on
Instagram (get sneak peeks of what’s coming up!)
My Facebook Page (come join the fun!)
Follow me on Pinterest (I pin tons of free patterns to my boards!)
Join my Facebook group (lots of awesome crochet talk there)
Also, you can find me on Ravelry or join more than 16.5K subscribers on YouTube.

Knitted Baby Booties Pattern Details

These cute baby booties are an easy knitting pattern that only uses basic techniques.

These knitted baby booties feature a sole of garter stitch and a body of stockinette stitch.

The butterfly is knit separately with garter stitch wings and a stockinette stitch body and sewn together.

How to Customize these Adorable Baby Booties

If you need a smaller size for a newborn or a preemie, try working with a DK weight yarn and smaller needles. Definitely try out a swatch first!

You can also easily leave off the butterflies if you want a pattern for easy baby booties in a Mary Jane style.

More Free Baby Knitting Patterns

You might like these other free baby knitting patterns, an adorable baby sweater and cardigan!

Go ahead, check them out. I’ll hold your tab for you. 😉

Sleepy Bunny Sweater (Free Knit Baby Sweater Pattern)
Basic Baby Hat Knitting Pattern
Valentine Baby Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Get the Ad-Free PDF

This pattern is completely free and can be viewed in its entirety below, including a complete video tutorial. However, many readers have requested ad-free PDF’s of my patterns so I provide inexpensive options for these.

If you like to crochet on the go or just prefer paper, you can print this PDF and take it with you anywhere.

If you would like to buy the ad-free PDF, you can purchase in my shop here.

Favorite on Ravelry here!

Baby Booties Knitting Pattern

What You’ll Need

Yarn: Berroco Modern Cotton (worsted, weight #4): #1608 Gadwall (MC, 1 skein), #1639 Waterfire (CC, 1 skein)

Needles: US size 6 (4.00 mm); US size 3 (3.25 mm) straight needles

Notions: Tapestry needle, two ½” buttons, matching thread, sewing needle, US size F (3.75 mm) crochet hook.

Skill Level: Easy

Size: 0-6 (6-12) months, 3.5 (4)” sole length Shown in size 0-6 months.

Gauge: 24 sts and 28 rows = 4″ [10 cm] in St st with larger needles

Stitch Descriptions and Abbreviations:

Knit Stitch (k)

Purl Stitch (p)

Make one right (M1R) – Insert RH needle from back to front into bar between sts on the row below, knit into the front loop.

Make one left (M1L) – Insert RH needle from front to back into bar between sts on the row below, knit into the back loop.

How to Knit Baby Booties

Right Bootie

Sole

With larger needles and MC, CO 27 (31) sts.

Row 1: Knit.

Row 2: K1, M1R, k12 (14), M1R, k1, M1L, k12 (14), M1L, k1. (31 (35) sts)

Row 3: Knit.

Row 4: K1, M1R, k13 (15), M1R, k3, M1L, k13 (15), M1L, k1. (35 (39) sts)

Row 5: Knit.

Row 6: K1, M1R, k14 (16), M1R, k5, M1L, k14 (16), M1L, k1. (39 (43) sts)

Row 7: Knit.

Size 0-6 Months Only

Row 8: Knit.

Size 6-12 Months Only

Row 8: K1, M1R, k17, M1R, k7, M1L, k17, M1L, k1. (47 sts)

Body

All Sizes

Beginning with a purl (WS) row, work in St st for 5 (7) rows.

Top Shaping

Row 1 (RS): K9 (13), (ssk) 5 times, k1, (k2tog) 5 times, k9 (13). (29 (37) sts)

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: K8 (9), BO next 13 (19) sts, k8 (9) sts.

Ankle Strap

Rows 1-3: Work in Garter st over last 8 (9) sts.

BO knitwise.

Join yarn to work remaining 8 (9) sts on needle.

CO 10 (11) sts for Ankle Strap. (18 (20) sts)

Work in Garter st for 3 rows.

BO knitwise.

Left Bootie

Work same as Right Bootie to Top Shaping Row 2.

Top Shaping/Ankle Strap

Row 3: K8 (9), BO next 13 (19) sts, slip st on right-hand needle to left-hand needle, CO 10 (11) sts for Ankle Strap.

Purl for 3 rows.

BO purlwise.

Join yarn to work remaining sts on needle.

Work in Garter st for 3 rows.

BO knitwise.

Buy the ad-free PDF of this pattern here!

Butterfly Wings (make 2)

With smaller needles and CC, CO 4 sts.

Row 1: Kfb, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. (6 sts)

Rows 2-4: Rep Row 1. (12 sts)

Row 5: Ssk, k to last 2, k2tog. (10 sts)

Rows 6-7: Rep Row 5. (6 sts)

Row 8: BO 2 sts, k to end. (4 sts)

Row 9: BO 2 sts, k, CO 3 sts. (5 sts)

Row 10: K5, CO 3 sts. (8 sts)

Row 11-13: Rep Row 1. (14 sts)

Rows 14-16: Rep Row 5. (8 sts)

BO knitwise.

Butterfly Body

With smaller needles and MC, CO 1 st.

Row 1: Kfb. (2 sts)

Rows 2-8: Work even in St st.

Row 9: Kfb twice. (4 sts)

Rows 10-13: Work even in St st.

BO knitwise.

Finishing

Using crochet hook, join yarn at end of Ankle Strap. Ch 4, join with a sl st to opposite corner of Ankle Strap. Fasten off.

Sew back and bottom seam.

Weave in all ends.

Sew buttons in place opposite Ankle Strap. Attach butterflies, using photo as guide.

That’s it!

You Might Enjoy These Other Free Knitting Patterns

Knit Raccoon Hat – Free Knitting Pattern
Baby Kitty Costume – Free Knitting Pattern
Polar Bear Sweater – Free Knitting Pattern

And a free crochet pattern for a bootie pattern:

For those of you who both knit and crochet like me!

Sweet Sophisticated Mary Janes

Free Crochet Pattern - Sweet Sophisticated Mary Janes

This baby shoe pattern features Mary Jane styling as well and uses two colors of Red Heart Baby Hugs Light.

Click here for the free crochet pattern

I hope you’ve enjoyed this free knitting pattern for the Butterfly Knit Baby Booties!

Want even more free knit baby booties patterns? Check out this collection of free knit baby booties here!

Happy Knitting!
Amanda

Filed Under: Free Knitting Patterns

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shelley

    February 8, 2022 at 4:23 am

    help! I’m stuck right here.
    ANKLE STRAP

    Rows 1-3: Work in Garter st over last 8 (9) sts.

    BO knitwise.

    Join yarn to work remaining 8 (9) sts on needle.

    CO 10 (11) sts for Ankle Strap. (18 (20) sts)

    Work in Garter st for 3 rows.

    Once I work 8 sts, bo 13, work 8, then work 3 rows garter and one row of bo knitwise, how do I join the yarn to work the live 8 sts left on the other needle? Do I work back to the edge, then back across again, then CO, then work 3 rows of garter st and finally bo knitwise?

    Reply
    • amanda

      February 8, 2022 at 8:50 pm

      Hi! Once you work those first 3 rows in garter st and bind off you can cut your yarn. You will join the yarn to knit the other 8 sts on the needle and then cast on 10 sts for the ankle strap.

      Reply

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