From: KD ELLIS


Booties:  Baby weight yarn, gauge: 7sts=1inch, 8rows=1inch, in
stockinette st.  Knitting needles size 2 and 4 or size needed
to knit to gauge.

These booties are in two colors (Main Color=MC,
Contrasting Color=CC) and come out with a checkerboard design
on top.  Very easy to make, but I knit quite a bit.

Starting at top of cuff with smaller needles and CC, cast on
56 sts.  Work k1p1 ribbing for 3/4", decrease 14 sts evenly
spaced across last row--42 sts.  Change to larger needles.

Next Row: With CC, k 3, * with MC, k 4, with CC, k 4; repeat
from *, end with CC, k 3.  Work even with colors as set for
3 rows.

Next Row: Work in pattern (in stockinette st) on 14 sts and slip to
holder, work on next 14 sts, place remaining sts on other holder. Work
even on 14 sts for instep, reversing color pattern every 4 rows to form
blocks until instep measures 2: from beginning, end with p row.

Next Row (right side): With CC, k across sts of first holder, pick up
and k 12 sts along right edge of instep rows, k 14 across end of instep,
pick up and k 12 sts along left edge of instep, k sts of 2nd holder--66
sts.  K 2 rows.

Next Row:  k 32, place marker, k2, place marker, k 32.  Decrease 1 st
each side of center 2 sts every other row until 58 sts remain.  K 2
rows.

Shape Sole: Bind off 23 sts at beginning of next 2 rows--12 sts.  K
every row until 2 3/4" from beginning of shaping.  Bind off.  Sew center
back seam.  Sew edges of sole to bottom of bootie.


My personal notes:  I usually twist some yarn to make a cord to put
around the ankle of the booties, just weaving it in and out of the
ribbing with a crochet hook.  Also, on the top of the foot, I usually
get 4 blocks (= 16 rows).  Note that the first row of the top of the
foot, the one where you place stitches on holder, you should reverse the
colors for the top of the foot (it's the 5th row, so time to make a new
block of color).

Besides this bootie pattern, a family favorite is a round blanket,
knit in one piece but forming 12 wedges.  It looks like a pin-wheel. We
usually use sport weight yarn, or sometimes baby weight doubled,
occasionally worsted weight. Find needles that give a slightly loose
gauge - you want the knitted fabric to drape nicely - and measure your
gauge (x sts = 1") in garter stitch. Multiply x by 18 to find out how
many stitches you would need for 18", then round up 1 st so you have an
odd number. Cast on that many stitches (call it N). Row 1: slip 1st
stitch on lefthand needle and knit to the end. Row 2: knit 1st stitch
and knit all but 2 sts, turn. Row 3: slip 1st stitch on lefthand needle
and knit to end. Row 4: knit 1st stitch and knit 2 less stitches than
on previous row, turn. Repeat rows 3 and 4 until only 3 sts remain.
Next Row: sl 1st stitch, k 2.  There should be pairs of stitches all
along your needle, with a pie shaped piece of knitting below.  Your
working yarn is at the outer edge of the piece of pie.

Begin Next Wedge:  K all stitches (to center of pie), being sure not to
twist them.  Begin with Row 1 in paragraph above and repeat for a total
of 12 wedges.  At the end of the last one, either cast off and sew seam
or cast off with the cast on edge.  Run yarn through hole in center and
pull tight.

This works great with different colors for different wedges, etc.  It
sounds kind of weird, but is wonderful and wraps a baby really well.
Many children have chosen these to be their "blankies", myself included!

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