Looking for a knit boot cuff pattern with plenty of texture that works up quickly? Try out this simple basket weave free knitting pattern.
I adore tall boots and love the layered look of boot cuffs. They really add to an outfit and the best thing is – they are quick to knit!
Design Story and Inspiration for the Basket Weave Knit Boot Cuffs
I’m really enjoying adding more knitting patterns to my site and I’ve been challenging myself to design things I’ve never done before. It’s colder than usual here (as evidenced by the fact that we have the most snow we’ve seen in 6 years!), so I decided to whip up a pair of basic boot cuffs to wear with my tall boots.
These are super easy to knit if you can knit and purl. It is simply combinations of these two stitches, with very minimal increasing and decreasing. If you are a beginner knitter and know how to knit, purl, k2tog and kfb you can easily make these!
You can use double pointed needles, but I chose one circular needle and the magic loop method (which has become my favorite way of knitting in the round!).
Yarn Choices for these Easy Knit Boot Cuffs
DIY boot cuffs are great because you only need 1 skein of yarn to create these. I chose a bulky yarn for mine, Color Made Easy by Lion Brand. This is my go-to bulky yarn.
I love the way it works up in both crochet and knit, it comes in a wide variety of colors, and it’s super easy to care for. All winners in my book!
If you want to substitute yarn for this boot cuff knitting pattern (hey, I know we all have stash yarn we are dying to use up!), you can use any bulky (#5) yarn that gets gauge.
Common Questions about Boot Cuffs
Boot cuffs are meant to be seen only at the top of the boot. So they are not very long, usually somewhere in the range of 4-8″ long. They can be knit from any stitch pattern, from the simple garter stitch or stockinette stitch to more complex cabled boot cuff knit with a cable needle. The most important thing is that the circumference of the boot cuff fits around the leg. They are made very similarly to leg warmers, but they are shorter.
Boot cuffs are meant to look like you are wearing textured socks under your boots. They achieve this look without adding a lot of bulk to the foot area. Boot cuffs are great if your boots won’t allow you to wear a chunky sock comfortably.
The best way to wear them is to style them so that the top few inches (anywhere from 1-3″) peeks out of the tops of your boots. That way, it will look like you are wearing a pair of chunky socks under your boots.
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Easy Knitted Boot Cuffs Pattern Details
These cuffs are knit in the round, so you will either need double point needles or a circular needle (or two, if you prefer that method!).
The cuffs begin with a k2p2 rib, then 2 sts are added for the basket weave pattern.
Finally, 2 sts are decreased before working the top k2p2 rib.
How to Customize Your Boot Cuff Knitting Pattern
You can easily make these longer or shorter by working the basket weave pattern more or less times. You can also adjust the ribbing length if desired.
If you want to adjust the circumference, you will need to ensure that your rib can be divided by four (so that the k2p2 rib works) and then the actual basket weave stitch pattern is a multiple of four plus two (so you will need to add 2 sts to your rib as written in the pattern).
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Easy Basket Weave Knit Boot Cuffs
What You’ll Need
Yarn: Lion Brand Color Made Easy, 1 skein Pomegranate
Knitting Needle: Sizes 10 (6.0mm) and 10.5 (6.5mm) dpn’s or circulars
Notions: Yarn needle, scissors
Gauge: 20 sts and 24 rows = 4″ (10cm) in basket weave pattern
Finished Size: 13″ circumference, to fit calf size of approximately 14-18″. See note above for customizing this pattern to fit a different calf size. Boot cuff as written is 4.5″ tall, which can easily be adjusted by working more rounds of the basket weave pattern.
Stitch Descriptions and Abbreviations
Knit Stitch (k)
Purl Stitch (p)
Basket Weave Stitch Pattern
Round 1: *K1, p1; repeat from * to end.
Round 2: K2, *k1, p3; repeat from * to end.
Round 3: P2, *k1, p3; repeat from * to end.
Round 4: *K1, p1; repeat from * to end.
Round 5: *K1, p3; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k1, p1.
Round 6: Repeat round 5.
Repeat rounds 1-6 for pattern.
Easy Basket Weave Boot Cuffs Knitting Pattern
With smaller needles, cast on 64 sts.
Work in k2p2 rib for 4 rounds.
Increase 2 sts evenly on next round of k2p2 rib (I worked a kfb into two knit sts to achieve this).
Change to larger needles.
Work basket weave stitch pattern for 18 rounds (3 full pattern repeats), or as many times as desired.
Work round 1 of basket weave stitch pattern, decreasing 2 sts (I k2tog at beginning of round and then did another k2tog when I was about halfway around and was working a knit stitch).
Change to smaller needles.
Work in k2p2 rib for four rounds.
Bind off in rib, making sure not to bind off too tightly.
Weave in ends.
More Free and Fun Knitting Patterns
Today we learned how to knit some simple boot cuffs. I hope you’ve enjoyed this free knitting pattern!
Happy Knitting!
Amanda
