In Which the Pirate Makes Booties.

I wanted to make matching booties to go along with the Gnome Hat for Angie’s baby, and I knew that I’d have plenty of yarn left over for them. The Oh! Baby Baby Booties pattern was perfect, since it would let me use both the variegated and the solid colour to make a perfect match for the hat. Angie’s recently announced that she’s having a little girl, but I had already picked the red-and-rainbow combination well before she broke the news. The usual pastel baby colours are so boring, and red-and-rainbow works for both boys and girls.

As usual, before I commit to a pattern, I look at the projects that have already been made. I check for notes on difficulty, look at what colours people have used, and hunt for interesting modifications to the original. This version of the booties, knit up by Babylee, caught my attention. First, because she’d changed the foot from garter stitch to stockinette… and second, because she’d come up with modifications to knit them in one piece, without all the yarn-cutting that’s in the original pattern.

It was easy to decide that the variegated yarn should be used for the cuff, and the solid red for the foot, to keep it from looking too busy. The stitch count of the cuff worked out well with the multi-coloured yarn to create rainbow-y vertical stripes. I don’t think it would have looked nearly as good if I’d done the whole bootie in rainbows.

Just like with the hat, I had trouble keeping an even tension with the Cascade Fixation. Although it’s a good yarn for baby knits, I don’t think I’ll be using it again. I don’t mind a little unevenness in my finished objects, but gaping holes that I have to go back and tighten up sort of annoy me. Because of the elasticity, I’m not sure the yarn-ends will stay woven in where they’re supposed to. I wove them in much more than usual but I’m still a little worried that they’ll work free. Ah well, it’s just a baby bootie, not a hard-wearing long-lasting piece of knitwear.

Here’s a picture of a bootie with the cuff unfolded, so you can better see how it’s made. The cuff is knit first, then stitches are picked up along the long edge and knit down. A flap is knit outwards, then stitches are picked up along the sides of it to form the foot. It’s really quite a clever construction and I can definitely see myself making more booties for future babies – especially because I can crank out a pair in a few days. Knitting for babies is great that way. The projects are tiny and adorable, provide instant gratification, and while the babies might not have any appreciation for the effort, their parents sure do. (At least, anyone I’d knit for is someone who will appreciate it. Some people get handknits; some people get gifts from Babies ‘R Us.)

Happy to cross another project off my list!

Due Date …… Project
10/3 ………… Angie’s gifts
11/1 ………… Second Fleep, hand section
12/1 ………… Mom’s sock #2
1/1 ….………. Gift for Janis
2/1 ………….. Twins’ sweaters
2/1 ………….. Mitten tops and thumb caps on Fleeps
2/1 ………….. Jacob Hat