Frankie's Knitted Stuff
These booties match my Pippi Baby Jacket and feature the same ridged pattern of two knitted rows in a plain colour followed by two rows of stocking stitch in a variegated yarn. The ribbed cuff helps them to stay on and they can be knitted in two sizes, with either a 31/2" or a 4" foot. The booties are knitted with thin 4 ply sock yarn and 2.75mm / US size 2 needles. I worked to a tension of about 14 stitches and 28 rows to 5cm / 2"2, using garter stitch. You will need roughly 20g of the main colour (M) and 10g of the variegated (C). For the smaller pair I used My first Regia for the main colour (105m/25g, shade 01812) and Trekking XXL sock yarn for the contrast (420m/100g, shade 159).
The bigger pair was knitted with Cygnet 4 ply for the main colour (205m/50g, shade 2137) and Opal sock yarn for the contrast (425m/100g, shade 6235). The instructions are for the smaller size with variations for the bigger size in brackets.
The Foot
Using the long tail method and the main colour, cast on 44 (52) stitches. Change to the contrast colour and work two rows in stocking Stitch. The stripe pattern consists of four rows: the first two in garter stitch and the main colour, the second two in stocking stitch and the contrast colour. I found that keeping the contrast colour in front when changing colours gave a neater edge. The foot is shaped by increasing on the first knitted row of each four row repeat. Row 1: (M) K1, m1, K20 (24), m1, K2, m1, K20 (24), m1, K1. Row 2: (M) Knit. Row 3: (C) Knit. Row 4: (C) Purl. Continue working in the stripe pattern, increasing on the first row in the main colour as follows: Row 5: K2, m1, K20 (24), m1, K4, m1, K20 (24), m1, K2. Row 9: K3, m1, K20 (24), m1, K6, m1, K20 (24), m1, K3. Row 13: K4, m1, K20 (24), m1, K8, m1, K20 (24), m1, K4. Row 17: K5, m1, K20 (24), m1, K10, m1, K20 (24), m1, K5. Finish the last repeat of the stripe pattern as normal: Row 18: (M) Knit. Row 19: (C) Knit. Row 20: (C) Purl. You should now have 64 (72) stitches on your needle. Knit two rows with the main colour and then knit two more in the contrast colour. These extra knitted rows give the top of the foot that square shape. Cut the contrast yarn; it will be re-joined for the instep.
The Instep
This is shaped by working short rows, keeping to the stripe pattern used on the foot. Row 1: (M) K37 (41), K2tog, turn. Row 2: (M) K11, SSK, turn. Row 3: (C) K11, SSK, turn. Row 4: (C) P11, P2tog, turn.
Now work the following four row pattern four (five) times all together: Row 1: (M) K11, K2tog, turn. Row 2: (M) K11, SSK, turn. Row 3: (C) K11, SSK, turn. Row 4: (C) P11, P2tog, turn. You should now have 44 (48) stitches left, 12 in the middle and 16 (18) on each side. The rest of the bootie is worked in the main colour only. There should still be 44 (48) stitches on your needle.
The Cuff
Work 30 rows in K2, P2 rib. Cast off in rib, leaving a long tail for sewing the booties up. Join the back of the bootie and the foot seam. When joining the back of the foot use mattress stitch and work first into the garter stitch section on one side and then the stocking stitch section on the other. This will line up the stripe pattern. For the foot seam, oversew the cast on edges together for a smooth finish inside which mimics the stripe pattern on the outside.
Abbreviations
st / sts stitch / stitches Kknit Ppurl m1 make 1 by lifting the thread before the next stitch and knitting into the back of it K2tog knit two stitches together P2tog purl two stitches together SSK slip, slip, knit: Slip 2 stitches knitwise (or knitwise followed by purlwise) one at a time, insert tip of left needle into stitches from above, put yarn round right needle and knit both stitches together. Frankie Brown, 2013. My patterns are for personal use only and should not be used to knit items for sale. Please do not use them for teaching purposes without my permission.
