Newborn Mary Janes – Quick Crochet Baby Booties
Every piece of this layette set has been created with Caron Simply Soft No Dye Lot yarn. This kind of yarn is classed as a “medium weight” yarn – somewhere between the standard worsted weight and baby weight yarn. To change the size of these booties, the easiest step is to use a different weight of yarn. For slightly smaller booties, use the same hook size but substitute baby weight yarn for the Caron yarn. For slightly larger booties, use worsted weight yarn. You can also go one hook size up or down using the same kind of yarn to further vary sizes, but I wouldn’t go more than one hook size.
The booties are worked in two pieces: the bootie, and the bootie top. First, you’ll form the base of the bootie – everything but the part that goes over the toes. Then, you’ll create the top and whip stitch it in place to cover the toes and top of baby’s feet.
The only stitches used in this super-easy crochet pattern are the single crochet, half-double crochet, and slip stitch. Even for a crocheter who has time only to pick up the pattern for a few minutes, these will take less than an hour for each bootie.
The Bootie
Materials: Size H Hook, Less than 4 oz. Main Color (MC) yarn, less than 1 oz. Contrast Color (CC) yarn, tapestry needle.
With MC, chain 8
Round 1: Half-double crochet in each stitch of chain, working 4 half-double crochet in the last stitch. Continuing on the other side of the chain, work 1 half-double crochet in each stitch and 3 half-double crochet in the last stitch (making 4 hdc with first hdc). Join with slip stitch to first half-double crochet.
Round 2: Chain 2. Half-double crochet in the first 7 stitches. 2 half-double crochet in the next 2 stitches. Half-double crochet in the next 7 stitches. 2 half-double crochet in each of the last 3 stitches. Join with slip stitch to first half-double crochet.
Round 3: Chain 2. *Half-double crochet in 3 stitches, 2 half-double crochet in the next stitch*. Repeat * around, ending with one half-double crochet in each of the last 2 stitches. Join with slip stitch to beginning ch 2.
Round 4: Chain 1. Single crochet in each stitch around. Join with slip stitch to first single crochet.
Round 5: Chain 2. Half-double crochet in the back loops only of each stitch around. Join with slip stitch to beginning chain 2.
Round 6: Chain 2. *Half-double crochet in 5 stitches, 2 half-double crochet in the next stitch*. Repeat * around, ending with one half-double crochet in each of the last 3 stitches. Join with slip stitch to top of beginning chain 2.
Round 7: Do not chain. Slip stitch in the back loops only of 35 stitches. Half-double crochet in the last 8 stitches. Join with slip stitch to first slip stitch. Turn.
Round 8: Chain 2. Half-double crochet in each of the 8 half-double crochets. Turn.
Round 9: Do not chain. Slip stitch in each of the 8 half-double crochets across. Chain 20. Half-double crochet in each stitch of the chain. Join with slip stitch to bootie. Finish off.
Bootie Top
Chain 7
Row 1: Half-double crochet in each chain across. Turn.
Rows 2-3: Chain 2, half-double crochet in each stitch across, working 2 half-doubles in the last stitch. At end of row 3, finish off.
To attach, there are two options which result in different looks for the bootie. (Reference photo attached to this article).
For a rounded top, turn bootie inside out. Use a tapestry needle and small amount of yarn to whip stitch top to bootie and the strap to the side.
For a flat top, (do not turn inside out) insert top inside bootie so that its stitches and the slip stitches of bootie match up. Whip stitch from the outside – tightly – to attach bootie top to bootie, and then attach the bootie strap to the side of bootie.
Trim
Use size F hook to work CC around the edges of bootie with slip stitches.
Repeat for second bootie.
