Break out the stash yarn! These booties are super quick to knit and great for using up small amounts of leftover yarn. The pattern is the same for all sizes, you simply change your gauge to make size preemie, newborn, and baby booties.
Skill Level: easy
Stitches Used: cast on, bind off, knit, purl, k2t, ssk, sssk, k3t, picking up sitches
Abbreviations: knit (k), purl (p), knit two together (k2t), slip slip knit (ssk), slip slip slip knit (sssk), stitches (sts)
Sizes: preemie (newborn, and baby), measures 3″ (3 1/2″, 4″) long
Note: Make sure you check your gauge. The size of the booties is determined by the gauge you use.
Gauge:
preemie: 4 stitches = 1″
newborn: 3 1/2 stitches = 1″
baby: 3 stitches = 1″
-Materials-
- set of five double pointed knitting needles in size needed to obtain gauge . ( I used size 8 needles for preemie booties, size 9 needles for newborn booties, and size 10 1/2 needles for baby booties)
- yarn suitable for gauge (I used about 26 yds of worsted weight yarn for a pair of preemie booties, 28 yds of heavy worsted weight yarn for a pair of newborn booties, and 32 yds of bulky weight yarn for a pair of baby booties)
- yarn needle
-Booties- (make 2)
- With needle size and yarn needed to obtain gauge, cast on 5 sts.
Rows 1-18: knit (9 ridges). (see diagram #1 below)
- With needle #2: pick up and knit 9 sts along the left edge of the garter stitch strip. (see diagram #2 below)
With needle #3: pick up and knit 5 sts along the bottom. (see diagram #3 below)
With needle #4: pick up and knit 9 sts along the right edge. (total of 28 stitches on needles) (see diagram #4 below)
Rows 1-4: join in round, knit.
(directions are given for each needle on rows 5-7)
Row 5:
Needle #1: knit 5.
Needle #2: knit till there are 2 sts left on the needle, slip these last 2 sts onto needle #3.
Needle #3: sssk, k3, (1 un-worked st left on needle #3) slip 2 sts from needle #4 onto needle #3 ( 3 un-worked sts left on needle #3) k3t.
Needle #4: knit to end of needle. (total of 24 sts on needles)
Row 6: Same as Row 5. (total of 20 sts on needles)
Row 7:
Needle #1: ssk, k1, k2t. (Note: for a wider leg opening skip the decreases on this needle and simply knit 5.)
Needle #2: knit till there are 2 sts left on the needle, slip these last 2 sts onto needle #3. (3 sts)
Needle #3: sssk, k3, (1 un-worked st left on needle #3) slip 2 sts from needle #4 onto needle #3 ( 3 un-worked sts left on needle #3) k3t. (5 sts)
Needle #4: knit to end of needle. (total of 14 sts on needles)
Row 8: knit.
Rows 9-11: k1, p1, ribbing. (Note: to make the leg opening larger, don’t work the k1, p1, ribbing and just do garter stitch in the round for rows 9-16)
Rows 12-16: knit (or work any stitch pattern desired).
- Bind off loosely and weave in ends. Fold cuff over and sew in place if desired.
Awesome! Such a great pattern for baby gifts.
BEAUTIFUL!! I am going to try to make a pair.
I LOVE THESE!!! I’m currently making them as a gift for twin preemie girls :) I have a quick question for you though. If I give you credit for the pattern could I make these and sell them on my Etsy page? You would get full credit for the pattern :)
I have just pulled up a few free patterns I think are really neat. Sometimes I have problems knowing how to print them. I hope I will be able to print the ones that I just pulled. They are really cute and look like they would be fun to make.
Can you send me the pattern knitting
This pattern is great! I am made them for my sister-in-law :) they turned out amazing.
Awesome! I’m so glad my pattern helped you! :)
how do i do this on circular needles?
Hello, kim. I have never made these booties with circular needles, but if you would like to give that a try than I suppose you could use the Magic Loop method of knitting. If you’re not familiar with Magic Loop, here is a YouTube video explaining it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdSpc0EZpnk If you have any more questions, please let me know. Happy Knitting! :)
can you please state the number of stitches left on each needle for each of rows 5-7?
Yes:
Row 5: 24 sts
Row 6: 20 sts
Row 7: 14 sts (It will be 16 sts if you don’t do the decreases on needle #1 at the beginning)
I’ve added that information to the pattern and have tried to format it so that it’s a little easier understand. Sorry! I wrote it years ago. :)
Hi Joy,
I love these booties. For some reason, though, I end up having only 3 needles at the end of row 5. I DO have 24 stitches. Do you have any idea what I’m doing wrong? I’ve torn out and begun 3 times now. I really want to get this right. Thank you for your reply.
Hi Joy,
Could you please tell me how many stitches you have on each needle after knitting Row 6 (same as Row 5) Thank you!
By the way, I enjoy being on a blog with another believer. Keep on reading! :)
Thank you for your comments, Carolyn. At the end of Row 6, you will have 5 sts on each needle (total of 20 sts).
I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve had to start over 3 times! If you have any more questions, please let me know. Blessings! ~Joy
Also, here is a list of the stitches you’ll have on each needle at the end of each row.
At the end of…
Rows 1-4:
N #1: 5 sts
N #2: 9 sts
N #3: 5 sts
N #4: 9 sts
(total 28 sts)
Row 5:
N #1: 5 sts
N #2: 7 sts
N #3: 5 sts
N #4: 7 sts
(total 24 sts)
Row 6:
N #1: 5 sts
N #2: 5 sts
N #3: 5 sts
N#4: 5 sts
(total 20 sts)
Row 7:
N #1: 3 sts (note: if you skip the decrease on this needle it’ll be 5 sts)
N #2: 3 sts
N #3: 5 sts
N #4: 3 sts
(total 14 sts)
Since there are no more decreases after Row 7, then sts will stay the same through the end (Rows 8-16).
I hope that this helps clarify! :)
If I wanted to do this pattern but with circular needles instead what size would I use? I hate double pointed needles. My patterns never end up how they should if I use double pointed like they say.
Thanks,
Katie Winger
Hi Katie,
Unfortunately, these booties are too small in circumference to knit with circular needles. Thank you for asking though and best wishes!
~ Joy