A509 Baby 8ply Merino Booties

How to Knit Baby Merino Booties

Knit a cosy pair of baby booties with a deep folded cuff, shaped heel and separately knitted sole. The booties are worked flat in stocking stitch, then seamed together for a soft and comfortable finish.

The design is available in three sizes to fit babies from newborn to approximately six months. Soft 8 ply merino yarn gives the booties warmth, elasticity and a smooth finish suitable for delicate feet.

Sizes and Finished Measurements

What You Will Need

Yarn

• 1 × 50 g ball of Lincraft Baby 8 Ply Merino for each size

Needles and Equipment

• One pair of 4 mm knitting needles
• Three stitch holders
• Wool needle for sewing seams and weaving in ends
• Scissors
• Stitch markers, if desired

Tension

Using 4 mm needles, work to:

22 stitches and 30 rows over 10 cm in stocking stitch.

Knit and wash a tension square before beginning. Correct tension is important because it affects the finished foot length and width.

Abbreviations

• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• K2tog: Knit two stitches together
• St or sts: Stitch or stitches
• St st: Stocking stitch
• Beg: Beginning
• Rem: Remaining
• Dec: Decrease

Construction Overview

Each bootie is made in the following stages:

1. Knit the ribbed cuff and upper leg.
2. Divide the stitches to shape the centre heel and foot.
3. Pick up stitches around the shaped foot.
4. Decrease through the toe and lower foot.
5. Knit a separate garter-stitch sole.
6. Sew the leg, heel and sole seams.
7. Fold the cuff over.

Make two booties using the same size instructions.

Knit the Bootie Upper

Cast On

Using 4 mm needles, cast on:

• Newborn: 29 stitches
• 3 months: 31 stitches
• 6 months: 33 stitches

Work the Ribbed Cuff

Row 1

Knit one, purl one across, finishing with knit one.

Row 2

Knit two, then repeat purl one, knit one across, finishing with knit one.

These two rows form the rib pattern.

Continue in rib until the work measures approximately 8 cm, finishing after a second rib row.

Decrease Above the Foot

Decrease four stitches evenly across the final rib row.

You should have:

• Newborn: 25 stitches
• 3 months: 27 stitches
• 6 months: 29 stitches

Work two rows in stocking stitch.

Shape the Heel and Foot

Divide the Stitches

Knit the first seven stitches and turn.

Continue working only on these seven stitches for:

• Newborn: 6 rows
• 3 months: 6 rows
• 6 months: 8 rows

Work in stocking stitch, beginning with a purl row.

Break the yarn and place these seven stitches onto a stitch holder.

Place the centre stitches onto a second holder:

• Newborn: 11 stitches
• 3 months: 13 stitches
• 6 months: 15 stitches

Join the yarn to the remaining seven stitches and work the same number of stocking-stitch rows as for the first side.

Break the yarn and place these stitches onto a third holder.

Pick Up Around the Foot

With the right side facing:

1. Join the yarn and pick up 4, 4 or 5 stitches along the inner edge of the first side section.
2. Knit across the 11, 13 or 15 centre stitches from the holder.
3. Pick up 4, 4 or 5 stitches along the inner edge of the second side section.

You should have:

• Newborn: 19 stitches
• 3 months: 21 stitches
• 6 months: 25 stitches

Purl the next row.

Shape the Upper Foot

Work the following decrease sequence:

Second Row

Knit 3, knit two together, knit to the final five stitches, knit two together, knit 3.

Fourth Row

Knit 2, knit two together, knit to the final four stitches, knit two together, knit 2.

Sixth Row

Knit 1, knit two together, knit to the final three stitches, knit two together, knit 1.

Eighth Row

Knit two together, knit to the final two stitches, knit two together.

Tenth Row

Repeat the eighth row.

Twelfth Row

Repeat the eighth row.

You should have:

• Newborn: 7 stitches
• 3 months: 9 stitches
• 6 months: 13 stitches

Six-Month Size Only

Work one additional decrease row by repeating the eighth-row sequence.

You should have 11 stitches.

Complete the Foot Opening

For all sizes, work 3, 3 or 5 rows in stocking stitch, beginning with a purl row.

Break the yarn.

With the right side facing:

1. Slip the first seven stitches from the holder onto the empty needle.
2. Knit up 13, 13 or 15 stitches along one side of the foot.
3. Knit across the central 7, 9 or 11 stitches.
4. Knit up 13, 13 or 15 stitches along the opposite side.
5. Knit the final seven stitches from the remaining holder.

You should have:

• Newborn: 47 stitches
• 3 months: 49 stitches
• 6 months: 55 stitches

Work 5, 5 or 7 rows in stocking stitch, beginning with a purl row.

Cast off.

Knit the Sole

Using 4 mm needles, cast on:

• Newborn: 7 stitches
• 3 months: 8 stitches
• 6 months: 9 stitches

Work the Sole Increases

Knit in garter stitch for:

• Newborn: 10 rows
• 3 months: 12 rows
• 6 months: 12 rows

At the same time, increase one stitch at each end of the third and seventh rows.

You should have:

• Newborn: 11 stitches
• 3 months: 12 stitches
• 6 months: 13 stitches

Work the Sole Length

Continue straight in garter stitch until the sole measures:

• Newborn: 5.5 cm
• 3 months: 6.5 cm
• 6 months: 7.5 cm

Finish after a wrong-side row.

Shape the Toe End

Decrease one stitch at each end of the next row, then every alternate row until:

• Newborn: 3 stitches remain
• 3 months: 4 stitches remain
• 6 months: 5 stitches remain

Knit one row, then cast off.

Assemble the Booties

Join the Leg and Heel Seam

1. Fold the bootie upper with the right sides together.
2. Sew the leg and heel seam using mattress stitch or backstitch.
3. Reverse the seam direction through the upper half of the ribbed cuff.

Reversing the seam through the cuff ensures that the seam remains hidden when the cuff is folded over.

Attach the Sole

1. Pin the sole to the lower edge of the bootie upper.
2. Position the cast-on edge of the sole at the heel.
3. Position the cast-off edge at the toe.
4. Match the centre of the toe and heel before pinning the side edges.
5. Sew the sole evenly around the complete opening.
6. Secure the seam and weave in all yarn ends.

Fold the Cuff

Turn the bootie right side out and fold the ribbed cuff down evenly.

Shape the heel, toe and sole gently by hand.

Final Finishing

1. Check the leg and heel seam.
2. Check that the sole is attached evenly.
3. Weave in any remaining yarn ends.
4. Make the second bootie to match.
5. Lightly block both booties to the same size.

Alternative Yarns for This Project

A suitable substitute should be soft enough for delicate skin and achieve approximately 22 stitches and 30 rows over 10 cm on 4 mm needles.

• 8 ply baby merino – gives the closest finish to the original pattern.
• 8 ply superwash merino – soft, warm and easier to wash.
• 8 ply wool and acrylic blend – combines warmth, elasticity and durability.
• 8 ply anti-pilling baby acrylic – affordable, washable and available in many colours.
• 8 ply cotton and merino blend – creates a breathable bootie with gentle warmth.
• 8 ply cotton and acrylic blend – produces a cooler, smoother bootie for mild weather.

Choosing the Best Substitute

Merino and wool blends provide stretch and shape recovery, making them particularly suitable for ribbed cuffs and fitted baby footwear.

Acrylic yarn offers easy washing and good colour availability. Cotton blends produce less stretch, so check the cuff and foot width carefully.

Avoid highly fluffy, loosely spun or shedding yarns, as loose fibres may irritate delicate skin or obscure the shaping.

Colour Ideas

• Mint green
• Soft cream
• Blush pink
• Powder blue
• Oatmeal or natural
• Soft grey
• Lilac or lavender
• Mustard or warm caramel
• Striped cuffs with a solid foot

Baby Safety

• Avoid buttons, beads, cords and detachable decorations.
• Check every seam before use.
• Keep all yarn ends securely concealed.
• Make sure the cuff is comfortable and not restrictive.
• Remove the booties if they become wet or excessively warm.

Care

Follow the care instructions on the selected yarn label. Merino booties should generally be hand washed or washed on a gentle wool cycle.

Reshape the sole, heel and cuff while damp and dry flat. Avoid tumble drying unless the yarn label specifically permits it.