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Hugs & Stitches
Newborn Booties
by Vickie Howell |
 With the recent birth of my best friend’s son and a nephew on the way, I’ve got baby fever, and the only cure for it is cute booties. You knit these little numbers straight and shape them with seaming, so they’re a great beginners’ project. If you use organic, petrochemical-free cotton, you can keep a newborn’s tootsies warm and mama’s conscience clear. So introduce your wee one to eco-friendly footwear early by whipping up a pair (or three). After all, isn’t it time we redefine the term booty call? |
Materials
1 ball of Vickie Howell Collection’s Craft yarn (65% organic cotton/35% milk fiber) in Libby (coral)
Scraps of Vickie Howell Collection’s Craft or other yarn, to embroider with, in Jennifer (sea foam)
U.S. size 5 knitting needles
Tapestry needle
Directions
Makes one pair
1. With coral-colored yarn, cast on 35 stitches. Work in garter stitch (knit** every row) for 1 3/4 inches. Bind off. This piece is the bootie sole/heel.
2. Count 14 stitches in from the top right corner. Pick up 9 stitches. Next row (wrong side), purl**. Following row (right side) knit, then purl again. Continue alternating knit and purl rows for six more rows. Bind off. This is the bootie top foot panel.
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| 3. Fold and seam top foot panel down so that you can see where the baby’s tootsies will go. 4. Pick up 26 stitches along the top edge of piece. Next row (wrong side), purl one stitch, knit one stitch (purl-one/knit-one ribbing), continuing this sequence to end of row. Repeat this row 7 more times. Bind off. This creates the bootie cuff.
5. Using the tapestry needle, sea-foam-colored scrap yarn and the chain stitch (see sidebar), embroider an X or O (or whatever design your little heart desires) onto the top foot panel.
6. Seam up the back of the heel and the cuff. Weave in the ends. Stuff the toes with tissue to shape. This will fit toddlers 0 to 6 months old.
**For instructions on how to knit and purl, go to www.vickiehowell.com/howto.html.
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