Yeah, I am makin' fishy stuff for donation ;)

Just sent out 3 boxes of knitted stuff to a charity. It is a voluntary group of people to knit / crochet / loom small pieces for local charity. The yarns are mostly donated from the community.

Right now I am fascinated by baby pieces ... hats, booties and mittens. They take up less time to make and they look absolutely adorable no matter what.

So after finishing the fish cap, I googled the net for free patterns on booties. All I could find were a few that I like but ALL OF THEM are sewn up to complete. And yes, I don't like sewing up at all. I am a bit challenge with the mattress stitch. My first attempt was sewing up an adult size hat and by Parkinson's Law, I chose to use black yarn. So you can imagine what happened. From then on, I stick to circular knitting :)

So I converted one of the simple bootie pattern into circular knitting and sharing with all the no sewn knitters. I find that once you have the basic pattern, the sky is the limit for modification and creating new pieces.

I will also put in a pdf file link here (if I ever figure out how to do it lol)

Simple baby booties in garter stitch

Knitting techniques involved 


Simple bootie samples, sizing from newborn to 12mth baby
(decoration shown as suggestion)

1. Judy`s magic cast on
2. Circular knitting
3. Changing colour yarns during knitting
4. Garter stitch
5. make 1 purl
6. knit 2 together and slip, slip, knit
7. Jeny`s very stretchy bind off

Abbreviations

CO = cast on
st(s) = stitch(es)
Rnd = round
p = purl
k = knit
m1p = make 1 purl
pm = place marker
sm = slip marker
m = marker
ssk = slip, slip, knit
k2tog = knit 2 together
BO = bind off
" = inches
mm = millimeter(s)
cm = centimeter(s)
approx = approximate

Materials

Yarn A and B, worst weight, 2 colours
Circular needles, size 4.5mm (cable length 20cm)
Markers , 2
Scissors
Tapestry needle

Gauge (Garter Stitch)

Width and Height 10 stitches x 10 rows = 2 1/8" x 2 3/8"

Measurement (approx)

Length of foot bed = 3.5" (size: newborn to 3mth)

This simple bootie is knitted from bottom up .

Using circular needles 4.5mm and Yarn A, CO 30 sts using Judy`s magic cast on method

Rnd 1 p15, m1p, p to the end of rnd (31 sts)
Rnd 2 k to the end of rnd
Rnd 3 p to the end of rnd
Rnd 4 Change to Yarn B, k to the end of rnd

Carry Yarn A up the knitting from now on

Rnd 5 p13, pm, p5, pm, p to the end of rnd
Rnd 6 k to 2 sts before m, k2tog, sm, k to the next m, sm, ssk, k to the end of rnd (29 sts)
Rnd 7 p to 2 sts before m, p2tog, p to the next m, sm, p2tog, k to the end of rnd (27 sts)
Rnd 8 Change to Yarn A, repeat Rnd 6 (25 sts)

Carry Yarn B up the knitting from now on

Rnd 9 repeat Rnd 7 (23 sts)
Rnd 10 repeat Rnd6 (21 sts)
Rnd 11 repeat Rnd 7 (19 sts)
Rnd 12 Change to Yarn B, k to the end of rnd; remove all markers; cut yarn A leaving a 3" tail
Rnd 13 p to the end of rnd Rnd 14 k to the end of rnd

Repeat Rnd 13 - 14 for 4 more times

Rnd 23 p to the end of rnd

Rnd 24 BO using Jeny`s very stretchy bind off to the end of rnd; cut yarn B leaving a 3" tail

Repeat the pattern to make another one to form a pair

Finish

Check pieces for error, amend as necessary; weave in all tails

Decorate the booties with buttons or other knitted / crocheted piece(s) as desired

Blocking optional