I used this elfin pattern when I led a teen knitting club to teach older sib lings and teen moms how to knit. There was something magic and empowering about coming in as a nonknitter, making two small squares, and then leaving 2 hours later with a pair of booties. These are designed to be newborn sized (that said, they fit nicely on Brooklyn's rather large 3.25" long feet) and can be made very quickly by an experienced knitter.
Supplies:
-30 yards of worsted weight yarn (I used Jil Eaton Minnow Merino) -US size 8 needles -yarn needle
Gauge: 9 stitches and 12 rows in 2" Cast on 18 stitches. Work 24 rows of stockinette (l slipped the first stitch of each row to create a tidier selvedge edge). Bind off. Repeat for second bootie.
This should create a 4" square (if you would like to make these using other weights of yarn, the recommended gauge information on the label is a good place to start, since this is basically a swatch).
Fold the square in half, right sides together, along the cast on edge and whip stitch seam - this creates the heel.
Now take one corner of the bound off edge and bring it to the heel seam - whip stitch bound off edge evenly to selvedge edge of square to close bootie. Repeat for second bootie, folding up opposite corner on final step in order to make right foot/ left foot.
