Easy Baby Booties

Knit baby booties are probably the most classic gift for a new mom to receive from a knitter. And with good reason: baby booties are useful, quick and easy to knit, don't take a lot of yarn and, since baby's feet don't grow quite as fast as the rest of her, may be useful for longer than a cute baby sweater would be.

This pattern is as basic as booties can get. It's almost all Stockinette Stitch with a Garter Stitch heel flap and a very quickly turned heel. Casting on extra stitches makes a ruffle at the top and a twisted cord helps keep them in place.

• one skein O-Wool Classic 2-ply (I used color Rust; one skein is enough for several pairs) or about 40 yards per bootie (80 yards per pair) of your favorite fine-weight wool yarn
• set of four size 3 US double-pointed knitting needles
• scissors and yarn needle

Gauge:

6.5 stitches and 10 rows per inch in Stockinette Stitch in the round.

Size:

Finished size is about 3.5 inches around and 3.5 inches long for size small and 4 inches around and 4 inches long for the larger size. To fit a newborn (six month to year old baby). Instructions are given for size small with larger size in parentheses.

1. Cast on 48 (56) stitches. Arrange fairly evenly on three double pointed needles. Join in round, being careful not to twist stitches, and place a stitch marker to note the end of the round if desired.
2. Knit 3 rounds.
3. *Knit 2 together. Repeat from * around. 24 (28) stitches remain.
4. Knit 1 round.
5. *Yarn over, knit 2 together. Repeat from * around.
6. Knit straight until piece measures 2 inches from beginning.

1. Slip the first stitch and knit across 11 (13) more stitches, 12 (14) total, placing all on the same needle and putting all unworked stitches on the same needle.
2. Work back and forth on these stitches in Garter Stitch, always slipping the first stitch of the row, until 12 (14) rows have been worked, ending on the wrong side.
3. Slip 1, knit 6 (7), slip, slip, knit, knit 1, turn.
4. Slip 1, purl 5, purl 2 together, purl 1, turn.
5. Slip 1, knit 6, ssk, knit 1, turn.
6. Slip 1, purl 6 (7), p2tog, purl 1, turn.
7. Slip 1, knit 5 (6), ssk, knit 1, turn.
8. For small, purl across. For medium, slip 1, purl 6, p2tog, purl 1.

1. Knit across the 8 stitches remaining. With a new needle, pick up and knit 8 stitches along the side of the heel flap. Knit across the leg stitches, then with another empty needle, pick up and knit 8 stitches from the other side of the heel flap. Knit across 4 stitches of heel again onto this needle and slide other 4 stitches onto needle with other newly picked up stitches. The middle of the heel is now the end of the row.
2. Next round, needle 1: knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, knit 1. needle 2: knit. needle 3: knit 1, ssk, knit to end.
3. Next round knit straight. Repeat these 2 rounds until 24 (28) stitches remain.

1. Knit straight until foot measures 3 (3.5) inches from back of heel.
2. Next round, needle 1: knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, knit 1. needle 2: knit 1, ssk, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, knit 1. needle 3: knit 1, ssk, knit to end.
3. Next round, knit. Repeat these 2 rounds until 12 stitches remain, then knit one more decrease round without a plain knit round between the two.
4. Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread yarn onto needle, slip stitches onto yarn and pull tight. Weave in ends.
5. Make a second bootie the same way.

Once your booties are knit, make a twisted cord for each bootie out of two pieces of yarn that are two yards long.

Thread the cord through the eyelets and use as a tie to help keep the baby booties where they belong.