BABY BOOTEE SLIPPERS

These baby bootee slippers are a breeze to make. They are knit flat, then sewn up the middle of the sole and heel. It is a one size pattern, but you can vary the size by using different weight yarns. A bootee made out of DK weight yarn and 3.5mm needles will be approximately 4.5" long, but if you use a sock weight yarn and 2.5mm needles it will measure about 3.75" long. In the picture below you can see the difference in sizes. The large fits my 7 1/2 month old 20 lb. baby. The small is more of a newborn size - approx. 0 to 6 months. The blue and red slippers were made with a Fleece Artist DK weight yarn and features rolled cuffs. The beige slippers have a shorter cuff. I think they would also look great two-toned. For instance, you could choose a colour for the sole and cuff, and a complimentary colour for the top of the foot. If you were to do this, I would change colours after you knit 15 rows in step #8, and again when you start the ribbing for the cuff in step#19.
WHAT YOU NEED:

• The large - one 50gr. ball of DK weight yarn and a pair of 3.5mm needles.
• The small - one 50gr. ball of sock weight yarn and a pair of 2.5 mm needles.
• Go up or down a needle size if you are a very tight or loose knitter.
• Darning needle.

PATTERN:

1. Cast on 49 sts.
2. Knit 1 row.
3. K1, inc 1, k23, inc1, k1, inc 1, k23, inc1, k1. (53sts)
4. K26, inc1, k1, inc1, k to end. (55sts)
5. K1, inc1, k26, inc1, k1, inc1, k26, inc1, k1. (59sts)
6. K29, inc1, k1, inc1, k to end. (61sts)
7. K1, inc1, k29, inc1, k1, inc1, k29, inc1, k1. (65sts)
8. K 15 rows.
9. K34, *ssk, k1, turn work.
10. Sl1 (hold yarn in back), k5, k2tog, k1, turn.
11. Sl1, k6, ssk (this closes the gap formed by turning), k1, turn.
12. Sl1, k7, k2tog, k1, turn.
13. Sl1, k8, ssk, k1, turn.
14. Sl1, k9, k2tog, k1, turn.
15. Sl1, k10, ssk, turn (**no k1 before turning from here on)
16. Sl1, k10, k2tog, turn.
17. Repeat the previous row until 34 sts remain in total.
18. When you've reached 34 sts, knit to the end of the needle so that you are at the very beginning of the row and can begin working the cuff on all 34 sts.
19. If you want a rolled cuff, work K1, P1 ribbing for 11 rows (or more), then cast off. If you want a shorter cuff, just do K1, P1 ribbing for 2 rows, then cast off.

To finish, sew up the seam along the bottom of the sole and up the heel to the cuff.
*SSK = slip a stitch as if to knit, slip a stitch as if to knit, then knit both stitches together.
- Rachel James (model is son Jack)