Nifty Knitting

Break out the stash yarn! These booties are super quick to knit and great for using up small amounts of leftover yarn. The pattern is the same for all sizes, you simply change your gauge to make size preemie, newborn, and baby booties.

Skill Level: easy
Stitches Used: cast on, bind off, knit, purl, k2t, ssk, sssk, k3t, picking up sitches
Abbreviations: knit (k), purl (p), knit two together (k2t), slip slip knit (ssk), slip slip slip knit (sssk), stitches (sts)
Sizes: preemie (newborn, and baby), measures 3″ (3 1/2″, 4″) long
Note:  Make sure you check your gauge. The size of the booties is determined by the gauge you use.

Gauge:
preemie: 4 stitches = 1″
newborn: 3 1/2 stitches = 1″
baby: 3 stitches = 1″

-Materials-

• set of five double pointed knitting needles in size needed to obtain gauge . ( I used size 8 needles for  preemie booties, size 9 needles for newborn booties, and size 10 1/2 needles for baby booties)
• yarn suitable for gauge (I used about 26 yds of worsted weight yarn for a pair of preemie booties, 28 yds of heavy worsted weight yarn for a pair of newborn booties, and 32  yds of bulky weight yarn for a pair of baby booties)
• yarn needle

-Booties- (make 2)

• With needle size and yarn needed to obtain gauge, cast on 5 sts.

Rows 1-18: knit (9 ridges). (see diagram #1 below)

• With needle #2: pick up and knit 9 sts along the  left edge of the garter stitch strip. (see diagram #2 below)
  With needle #3: pick up and knit 5 sts along the bottom. (see diagram #3 below)
  With needle #4: pick up and knit 9 sts along the right edge. (total of 28 stitches on needles).  (see diagram #4 below)

Rows 1-4: join in round, knit.
Rows 5 & 6: (directions are given for each needle on rows 5-7)
Needle #1: knit 5.
Needle #2: knit till there are 2 sts left on the needle, slip these last 2 sts onto needle #3.
Needle #3: sssk, k3, (1 un-worked st left on needle #3) slip 2 sts from needle #4 onto needle #3 ( 3 un-worked sts left on needle #3) k3t. (5 sts)
Needle #4: knit to end of needle.
Row 7:
Needle #1: ssk, k1, k2t.  (Note: for a wider leg opening skip the decreases on this needle and simply knit 5.)
Needle #2: knit till there are 2 sts left on the needle, slip these last 2 sts onto needle #3. (3 sts)
Needle #3:  sssk, k3, (1 un-worked st left on needle #3) slip 2 sts from needle #4 onto needle #3 ( 3 un-worked sts left on needle #3) k3t. (5 sts)
Needle #4: knit to end of needle. (3 sts)
Row 8: knit. (total of 14 sts)
Rows 9-11: k1, p1, ribbing. (Note: to make the leg opening larger, don’t work the k1, p1, ribbing and just do garter stitch in the round for rows 9-16)
Rows 12-16: knit (or work any stitch pattern desired).

• Bind off loosely and weave in ends. Fold cuff over and sew in place if desired.

This simple pattern comes in sizes preemie, newborn, and baby. It also includes adjustments for 3 different gauges making it a perfect pattern for knitting charity projects with leftover  stash yarn.   (The picture above shows the hats using the 5 stitch gauge)

Skill Level: easy
Stitches used: cast on, knit, k2t, k3t, bind off
Abbreviations: knit (k), knit two together (k2t), knit three together,
Measures: sizes preemie, (newborn, baby)
hat: approximately  11” (12”, 13”) circumference and 4” (5’, 6”) length
booties:  approximately 2″ (3″, 4″) wide
Notes: the adjustments for each size will be listed in parenthesis in this order, preemie (newborn, baby)

-Materials-

• knitting needle size of your choice
• yarn of your choice
• yarn needle
• stitch markers

-Hat-
Work a swatch first to determine what gauge you are knitting in. Listed below are the numbers of stitches you need to cast on for your gauge.

• For 3 stitches per inch gauge: cast on 32 (36, 40) stitches, continue with pattern.
• For 4 stitches per inch gauge: cast on 44 (48, 52) stitches, continue with pattern.
• For 5 stitches per inch gauge: cast on 54 (60, 66) stitches, continue with pattern.

1. Place marker and join in round, work 1” of edging in stitch of your choice. (such as garter stitch, ribbing, seed stitch…)
2. Knit for 2” (3”, 4”).

• For 3 stitches per inch gauge: *k2, k2t* to end of row. Knit 1 row. *K1, k2t* to end of row. Knit 1 row. K2t to end of row. Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitches. Fasten off and weave in ends.
• For 4 stitches per inch gauge: *k2, k2t* to end. Knit 2 rows. *K1, k2t* to end. Knit 2 rows. K2t to end. Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitches. Fasten off and weave in ends.
• For 5 stitches per inch gauge: *k4, k2t* to end. Knit 1 row. *K3, k2t*, to end. Knit 1 row. *K2, k2t*, to end. Knit 1 row. *K1, k2t*, to end. Knit 1 row.  K2t to end. Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitches. Fasten off and weave in ends.

-Booties- (make 2)
Work a swatch first to determine what gauge you are knitting in. Listed below are the numbers of stitches you need to cast on for your gauge.

• For 3 stitches per inch gauge: cast on 16 (20, 24) stitches, continue with pattern.
• For 4 stitches per inch gauge: cast on 22 (26, 30) stitches, continue with pattern.
• For 5 stitches per inch gauge: cast on 26 (32, 38) stitches, continue with pattern.

1. Place marker at begging of row and join in round, knit half of the stitches , place marker, and knit to end.
2. Knit till bootie measures 1” (1 1/2”, 2”)
3. Knit to 3 stitches before middle marker, k3t, k3t, knit to end.
4. Knit 1 row.
5. Knit to 2 stitches before middle marker, k2t, k2t, knit to end.

• For 4 stitches per inch gauge: knit 1 row. Repeat  number 5.
• For 5 stitches per inch gauge: knit 1 row. Repeat number 3.

6. Knit till bootie measures 2” (2 1/2”, 3”).
7. Work 1” of edging stitch of your choice. (such as garter stitch, ribbing, seed stitch…)
8. Bind off. Sew bottom of bootie together, pull tightly and secure. Weave in ends.