04.15.07

Work in Progress: Baby Booties

Posted in Crafts, Yarn Arts at 8:25 pm by rachel

You would think that with all the little projects I enjoy (mittens, socks, and hats), that booties for a baby would be a cinch.  This is what I thought and yet I’ve just spent the weekend starting, stopping, and pulling out a half-dozen booties.

Why?

Problem number 1: Size.  I don’t have a good concept of the measurements of a baby’s foot.  I was convinced that the first pattern I tried (using the correct needle size and gauge) wouldn’t fit any foot bigger than a Barbie doll’s.  The ones I am making now are probably for a 9-12-month old, but they will have to do.  Perhaps I am wrong, though, and these 4-inch long baby slippers really are for a newborn, but I am not sure how to check.

Problem number 2: Pattern visualisation.  Contrary to the consensus of many knitters, I am quite comfortable on double-pointed needles and even prefer them.  Knitting in a round makes it easy for me to visualise the sock/mitten/hat I create.  Many bootie patterns, however, are knit flat, on two straight needles, and then sewn together at the end.  I am satisfied with the pattern I am working on now, but it took a couple of tries to realise how exactly the squiggly shape I knit would actually become a tubular 3-D item.

I still need to pick up a couple of buttons for this Mary Jane-style bootie, but in all, this is a quick 1-2 hour project.  I thought the angular strap was unusual and that’s my slight modification of the Craftbits pattern.

In my last post, I mentioned two other bootie patterns, which I am eager to try, but which require needles that are smaller than the ones I have.  Looks like I have another excuse to run to the craft store.  (By the way, my favorite supply shop in Paris is La Droguerie, in the 1st arrondissement, near Les Halles)  I’ll block the booties and the sweater and these will be a cheerful first completed summer project!

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