No Sew Bootie-ful Booties By Aisling M Doonan
Okeydokey, so here we are the pattern for my cute litle covers for minute piggy toes!
What you need:
Lace Weight yarn (64m/70yds approx) Iused Jamieson & Smith Shetland Supreme 2ply Lace Weight yarn Or 4ply yarn (56m approx) I used Patons Fairytale 4ply 50g & Sirdar Luxury Soft Cotton 4ply Or DK yarn (70m/76yds approx) Iused Tivoli Cruise DK cotton 100g Or Aran/Worsted yarn (67m/73yds approx) I used Tivoli Tweed Aran 100g 0 3mm & 3.25mm Double Pointed Needles (5) Co-ordinating ribbon Stitch Marker
Size:
The lace weight bootie measures: Length of foot - 3.25"/8cm Width of sole - 1.75"/4.5cm Height to folded cuff - 2.5"/7cm The 4ply bootie measures: Length of foot - 4"/10cm Width of sole - 1.5"/4cm Height to folded cuff - 2.5"/7cm
The DK bootie measures: Length of foot - 4"/10cm Width of sole - 2"/5cm Height to folded cuff - 3.5"/9cm
The Aran/Worsted bootie measures: Length of foot - 4"/10cm Width of sole - 1.75"/4.5cm Height to folded cuff - 4"/10cm
Instructions:
The sole of the bootie is knit first in garter stitch back and forth and the stitches for the side of the foot are picked up and knit in the round. The instep is knit back and forth in garter stitch and then the cuff is knit in the round until cast off. This means that there are no seams and there is no sewing involved to put the bootie together (except weaving in ends of cast on and cast off at the end, yippee!). If you want a more masculine pair of plain booties, you can omit the flower motif in the instep and the frilled edge using a super stretchy cast off instead!
Sole (all sizes, use 3mm needles for lace and 4ply booties & 3.25mm for DK and Worsted weight):
Cast on 16 stitches loosely and knit one row. I used a lace kniing cast on as it's stretchy and leaves a little row of loops that can be used when you are picking up stitches for the sides of the bootie. Row 1: K1, M1, knit to end of row (17 stitches) Repeat 5 more times (22 stitches) Knit 6 plain rows Next row: K1, K2TBL, knit to end of row (21 stitches) Repeat 5 more times (16 stitches)
Side of foot:
Using your other DPN's pick up and knit 9 stitches at heel, 16 stitches from cast on and 9 stitches at the toe (50 stitches). I used a DPN for each side and the fifth to knit with. Mark the beginning of the round with a stitch marker and knit 9 rounds. Next row: Knit 16 side stitches and then begin instep.
Instep:
The instep is knit back and forth over the toe stitches attaching to the side of the foot (left and right sides) every row by knitting 2 stitches together. Row 1: K8, K2Tog (using 1 stitch from the side stitches on the other needle) Row 2: S1, K7, K2TBL (using 1 stitch from the side stitches on the other needle) Row 3: S1, K7, K2Tog Row 4: S1, K7, K2TBL Row 5: S1, K7, K2Tog Row 6: S1, K7, K2TBL Row 7: S1, K2, YO, SK2P, YO, K2, K2Tog Row 8: S1, K7, K2TBL Row 9: S1, K2Tog, YO, K3, YO, K2Tog, K2Tog Row 10: S1, K7, K2TBL Row 11: S1, K2, YO, SK2P, YO, K2, K2Tog Row 12: S1, K7, K2TBL Row 13: S1, K7, K2Tog Row 14: S1, K7, K2TBL Row 15: S1, K7, K2Tog Row 16: S1, K7, K2TBL
Cuff:
You should now have 32 stitches on your needles - 9 stitches at heel 9 stitches at instep 7 stitches on left side 7 stitches on right side You caneven up your dpn's now by making sure there are 8 stitches on each- this makes it easier to keep track of the rib. Mark the beginning of the round. NB: To bridge the gap and reduce the risk of a gaping hole in your knitting, at this point turn your bootie to the wrong side and wrap a stitch by bringing yarn forward as if to purl, place a stitch purlwise on your right needle, turn work to right side and return yarn to a knitwise position. As you knit the first round, when you get back to the 'wrapped stitch' knit it and the wrap together as one stitch. Knit3rows Eyelet row for ribbon: K2Tog, YO, repeat to end Knit3rows Begin ribbing with knit 2, purl 2 rib and continue for 2.5 inches (Lace/4ply) or 3 inches (DK/Worsted/Aran) or whatever your preference is (the cuff will be folded over).
Frill Cast Off:
Cast on 2 stitches by inserting the RHN into the first stitch, knitting a stitch and putting the loop bacl on the LHN (twice), cast off 3 stitches, repeat to end. Sew in cast on and cast off threads and add your ribbon of choice, et voila, No Sew Bootie-ful booties!
Blocking
The 4ply/DK/Aran/Worsted booties didn't need blocking and are ready to wing their way to their new owner but I did block the lace weight ones. Iwashed and soaked them in the sink with a wool detergent, blotted them thoroughly with a towel and used a cotton handkerchief folded into a rectangle to fit the “foot' of the bootie. The cuff I left alone, as I didn't want to disturb the stretchiness of the ribbing. The dried in a few hours and then kept their shape when I took the hanky out. When I post them to their new owner, I will stuff them with pretty tissue.
Abbreviations:
K -Knit P- Purl M1 - Make one; pick up a loop between two stitches, lift onto left hand needle and knit through back loop K2Tog - Knit 2 together K2TBL - Knit 2 together through back loops S1 - Slip 1 SK2P - Slip one, knit 2 together and pass slipped stitch over RHN - Right hand needle LHN - Left hand needles
