Wildflower Ruffle Baby Booties

Materials:

• RED HEART® Soft Baby Steps®: 9590 Lavender (A) - 1 ball
• RED HEART® Boutique Sashay Mini™: 2847 Parfait (B) - 1 ball
• Susan Bates® Double-Pointed Needles: One set 5 mm [US 8]
• Yarn needle
• Stitch marker
• Sewing needle and matching thread

Sizes:

Directions are for foot sizes: 3 1/2 (4, 4 1/2)"

Abbreviations:

A, B = Color A, B

k = knit

cm = centimeters

st(s) = stitch(es)

St st = stockinette stitch

* or ** = repeat whatever follows the * or ** as indicated.

Gauge: 20 sts = 4" [10 cm]; 28 rounds = 4" [10 cm] in St st. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge.

Special Stitches:

S2KP = slip next two sts together knitwise to right needle; knit next st, pass the two slipped sts over knit st and off right needle.

SSK = Slip next 2 stitches, one at a time as if to knit, to right needle, insert point of left needle through front of sts, knit these sts together through back loop.

Note:

Boutique Sashay Mini™ has two edges. One edge has plain loops and the other edge has a “railroad” like edge. Work into the plain loops when picking up stitches.

Instructions

Bootie

With one double-pointed needle, cast on as follows:

*Using B, skip first 2 loops, insert needle into next 3 loops of B, wrap A around needle as if to knit, pass 3 B loops over A* - 1 st cast on.

Repeat from *27 (27, 31) times—28 (28, 32) sts.

Do not join. Turn. Cut B about 1" [2.5 cm] from last loop worked.

Row 1: *K1, p1; repeat from * across. Divide sts onto 3 double-pointed needles, join in a round, being careful not to twist sts.

Rounds 2-8 (9, 10): *K1, p1; repeat from * around.

Next Rounds: Knit 6 rounds.

Instep

Row 1: K8 (8, 10); turn, leaving remaining sts unworked.

Row 2: Purl.

Repeat last 2 rows 6 (7, 7) times.

Next Row: K1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1. Do not turn - 6 (6, 8) sts

On same needle, pick up and knit 10 (11, 11) sts alongside of instep, k4 (4, 5); on next needle k12; on next needle, k4 (4, 5), pick up and knit 10 (11, 11) sts from instep—46 (48, 52) sts. Place marker to indicate beginning of round at tip of toe.

Next Rounds: Knit 5 rounds.

Shape Sole

For foot size 4 1/2" [11.5 cm] only: [K3, s2kp, k14, s2kp, k3] 2 times - 44 sts.

All sizes

Round 1: [K2, s2kp, k13 (14, 12), s2kp, k2] 2 times - 38 (40, 36) sts.

Round 2: [K1, s2kp, k11 (12, 10), s2kp, k1] 2 times - 30 (32, 28) sts.

Round 3: [S2kp, k9 (11, 8), s2kp] 2 times - 22 (24, 20) sts.

Finishing

Arrange sts so that there are 11 (12,10) sts on each of 2 needles, running parallel to each other along the sole. Graft sts together along center sole. See "Grafting" instructions below. Weave in ends.

With needle and thread, sew ends of B together.

Grafting

Thread yarn needle with long length of yarn. Hold the two needles in the left hand with wrong sides together. Keeping the yarn needle and yarn under the points of the knitting needles, graft the stitches together as follows:

*1. Insert yarn needle through first st of front needle as if to knit and slip the st off.

2. Insert needle through 2nd st of front needle as if to purl, but leave the st on the needle.

3. Insert yarn through first st on back needle as if to purl and slip the st off.

4. Insert yarn through 2nd stitch on back needle as if to knit, but leave st on needle.

Repeat from * until all the sts are joined.

Take care to draw yarn up so that gauge of grafting equals gauge of knitting. Fasten off. Weave in ends on wrong side.