Variation on a popular theme
Love Saartje’s Bootees…love felted booties…why not blend ‘em?
With a few modifications to Saartje’s lovely design, here’s a nice variation for baby knitting. You can find her original free pattern on her blog with the following adaptations…
Use 4.5mm/US7 needles
Use worted weight feltable yarn…picture features Lamb’s Pride.
Knit the bigger of the two sizes, which casts on 35 stitches.
If you’d like a wee bit of a stripe between the main colour and contrasting colour, Rows 19-20 are a great place for them.
On Row 27 (right strap): k11, co15 (instead of 12).
Rows 28-29: k 26
Row 20: k26
Add a Row 31: bo26
Repeat these instructions for left strap.
I didn’t make a button loop, but rather sewed the button onto the strap itself and used (at Holly’s good suggestion) Velcro instead, trying to minimize fiddliness in dressing a wiggly baby. I suppose if you don’t want to use Velcro, you could either—
a) sew the button as normal and cut a slit into the strap or
b) before felting, make a little elastic button loop on the strap or
c) make a button loop with feltable yarn, remembering to make it a little bigger for shrinkage
Now while I’m quite happy with the end result, I have to confess that this isn’t the first try.
Attention: A Spot The Difference Interruption
Can you spot the difference between the before-washing and after-washing pictures (apart from the buttons, that is…)?
Yep, Noro Silk Garden doesn’t felt.
Ah well, no great loss. Daughter-Kate is quite happy as one ‘baby’ in the house is now the proud owner of new booties.
actually silk garden felts the second time around…I think I increased the temperature to 60 degrees
11 Feb 2008 at 2:01 am
They look cute on the bear ! I am so going to try these, they look perfect for what i have been looking for in a bootie. Thanks for experimenting and making the recipe for felted as well. Some of us are not talented enough to do that! *smile
11 Feb 2008 at 4:11 am
I submit to the urge. These are adorable. I’ll put them on a doll or something, maybe in a trunk….I have to make them!
11 Feb 2008 at 1:27 pm
The booties are sooo cute. I am going to have to keep them in mind for future gifts. I have at least one baby shower this spring.
11 Feb 2008 at 2:02 pm
That is one well-dressed bear…
11 Feb 2008 at 2:44 pm
Such fabulous little booties - I’ve been considering adapting them to adult feet!
11 Feb 2008 at 9:57 pm
what a lucky bear to have such beautiful silk booties. both pairs are absolutely adorable!
12 Feb 2008 at 3:11 am
Hm…I just asked my personal knitting guru (LOL) yesterday if Silk Garden would felt because I want to make a bag out of some that I have, and she assured me that it would, that they actually write patterns specifically for SG for felting. Here’s hoping I can get it to work out!
12 Feb 2008 at 6:01 am
Great minds must truly follow the same course:) I was just thinking that Saartje’s pattern might be pretty felted, but I had no idea how to adapt the pattern to do it. Now you’ve done the thinking for me!
Both pairs are so pretty. I agree that that’s a lucky bear!
12 Feb 2008 at 3:33 pm
Lovely booties. They look great felted! I’m going to try a pair, too, for a darling friend. I appreciate having the benefit of your experience and tips!
13 Feb 2008 at 12:01 am
I have felted Silk Garden, it just takes a few more tries. But you may not wishy to deprive Teddy now.
13 Feb 2008 at 2:02 am