It’s been a while since I’ve designed a pair of baby booties and with a new arrival coming in the next few months I thought it was time I worked up another design.  I wanted something simple that could be made in many colors for either a boy or a girl (although I picked blue since we are having another boy!) and I wanted to try out a technique I had been thinking of for a thick sole that looked more like tennis shoes.  I like the way the finished booties turned out and I think I’ll try this sole again in the future.

One yarn I keep going back to again and again when making baby booties is Red Heart Baby Hugs.  I wanted these to be a bit wider than some of my other booties so I chose to use the Baby Hugs in Medium.  My little guys tend to have chunky feet (they are big babies too – my smallest was 9 lbs!) so I wanted a bit wider shoe that could hold a little wider baby foot.

Simple Baby Slip-On Booties

What You’ll Need

Yarn: Red Heart Baby Hugs Medium, 1 skein each of Frosting (MC) and Sky (CC)

Hook: Size F/5/3.75mm

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.

 

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!]

Pattern

SOLE (make 4 in MC)
Ch 8 (10).
Row 1: 3 sc in 2^nd 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 with RS facing out, join MC in center heel stitch, going through both soles.  Sl st around edge to join soles.  Do not fasten off.

Body

Notes:  I started with a ch-2 working around the sole with the RS on the inside of the shoe.  This does leave a strand of yarn carried up the back but you can help weave this in when you weave in the MC ends as seen in the photo below.  If you prefer not to do this, after you slip st the soles together you can make an invisible join in the slip sts and join the yarn at the center heel, making sure the RS of the shoe is on the inside for round 1.

For rounds 2 and after the RS will be on the outside of the shoe.  Be sure to turn after round 1 only.

Do not work into same st as join for these rounds.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in both loops of each slip st; join with slip st to ch-2, turn – 39 (43) sts.  Change to CC.

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in back loop only of each hdc, join to first sc with slip st.

Round 3: Ch 1, sc 10 (12), (sc 2, sc2tog) four times, sc 13 (15); join to first sc with slip st – 35 (39) sts.

Round 4: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc 8 (10), hdc2tog, (dc3tog) twice, hdc2tog, sc 8 (10), sc2tog, sc 5; join to first sc with slip st – 27 (31) sts.

Round 5: Ch 1, sc 7 (9), (dc3tog) twice, sc 8 (10), sc2tog, sc 2, sc2tog; join to first sc with slip st – 21 (25) sts.  Change to MC.

Round 6: Slip st in each st around.  Make invisible join.

Weave in all ends.  Tie a MC bow in front if desired.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this free pattern.  Be sure to check out my other free baby patterns, too!

Happy Crocheting!

Amanda