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These adorable booties are just the thing for winter! With the holidays coming soon this would be a great gift for you to knit for a baby in your family.  This pattern is one of 40 booties, socks, and slippers for babies and kids, in the Knitting for Little Feet book by Trafalgar Square Books.  As you turn the pages of this book, you’ll keep changing your favorite until the end.  Full review in the upcoming Fall 2011 issue of Living Crafts.

All My Clothes Are Green

Level of Difficulty

Intermediate

Size

12 months (approx)

(see page 127 for size measurements)

Materials

Yarn: Regia 4-ply (75% wool/25% polyamide, 50 g, 230 yds / 210 m) pine (327) = color 1 for the sole and Chinese lantern (1111) = color 3 for instep

Regia 4-ply, small amounts fern (1092) = color 2

Needles: set of 5 dpn or 48 in / 120 cm Magic loop circular U.S. size 1.5 / 2.5 mm

Gauge

30 sts and 42 rnds in stockinette = 4 x 4 in /
10 x 10 cm.

Adjust needle size to obtain correct gauge.

Stitch Patterns

Stockinette

Worked back and forth: Knit on RS and purl
on WS.

In the round: Knit all rounds.

Garter Stitch

Garter Stitch worked back and forth:
Knit all rows.

Garter Stitch in the round: Alternately
knit 1 rnd and purl 1 rnd.

Instructions:

Sole

Color 1: work back and forth in garter st from the toe to the heel.

CO 4 sts with provisional cast on (see page 117).

Rows 1-9: On every other row, M1 after the first and before the last st of row = 14 sts.

Rows 10-29: Knit.

Row 30: Dec 1 st each at beg and end of row = 12 sts rem.

Rows 31-39: Knit.

Row 40: Dec 1 st each at beg and end of row = 10 sts rem.

Rows 41-59: Knit.

Row 60: Dec 1 st each at beg and end of row = 8 sts rem.

Row 61: Knit.

Row 62: Dec 1 st each at beg and end of row = 6 sts rem.

Row 63: K3 to center of heel. Pick up and knit sts around the sole for a total of 72 sts.

Mark the center of heel and tip of toe. If working on a circular ndl, at the center of toe, pull out a ndl cable-loop so that you can continue knitting in the round in two separate sections. (Magic Loop method)

Side of Foot

Work in the round, beg at center back. Knit 1 rnd with color 1 = continue with the existing color.

Purl 1 rnd with color 1, knit 4 rnds with color 2, knit 1 rnd with color 3. These rounds begin and end at center of toe.

Instep

Now work short rows in stockinette st. Mark
center toe and heel, and on either side of each marker should be 24 sts, 48 total.

The 12 sts to the right and to the left of the heel marker (24 sts) are put on hold. The instep will be worked on the rem 24 sts (12 on either side of the toe marker). Beg at center of toe, k3; turn, yo, (see page 76).  For this yarnover, wrap the yarn around the cable after the turn, at the beginning of the row. At the end of the row, this loop will always be knit together with the next stitch and
1 stitch will be increased (an increase of 2 sts in every row). On the RS, slip the yarnover, knit the next st and pass slipped st over. Continue with short row shaping until there are 16 sts on
working needle (8 sts on either side of the center of toe).

Now from the existing 16 sts, work 15 sts, k3tog (16th st + yarnover + 1 st from holder).

On RS, work as follows: Sl 1 rem st + yarnover together, k 1 st from holder and pass over
slipped sts.

Now work to place marked between the heel
and instep. Beg working in the round again and, on every rnd, join the last st on holder with the first instep st and the last instep st with the next st on holder until 48 sts rem. Work 4 rnds in
stockinette over these 48 sts to begin leg and then continue in k2/p2 ribbing until leg is desired length.

Make the other shoe the same way.

GIVEAWAY

We have a copy of Knitting for Little Feet to give to one lucky Living Crafts visitor. Just leave a comment to this post to be entered to win! Deadline to enter is Sunday, October 9, 2011 at midnight Pacific Time. We will announce the winner on Wednesday. Good luck!

We Have a Winner!

Congratulations Patty!

Pattern by Fiona Duthie -Photos by Nicole Spring

Remember our Living Crafts Knitted Child’s Hat from last year?

Well, the cool weather is upon us again, and just in time, the Living Crafts Knitted Child’s Hat is now also available in sizing for babies- a quick knit and a great gift for the fall and winter babies in our lives.

Our baby hat is soft and warm, covering and protecting our littlest ones’ ears and neck from cold winds and drafts.

Materials: 1 Skein Noro Kochoran yarn, 50% Wool, 30% Angora & 20% Silk

Note –one skein will be enough to knit 2 hats. The Noro Kochoran has a beautiful angora halo when handwashed gently in a mild soap. It also felts only moderately when put through the washing machine and dryer- try going up one size and washing it for an even more warmth and softness!

Needles: size 8 (5mm) Straight and Double Pointed needle sets

Gauge: 14 stitches and 22 rows equals 4 inch square

Instructions given for two sizes:  The beautiful baby is pictured here at both 3 months and 6 months, wearing the 3-6 month size.

3-6 months years, measures 14 inches at widest part of head

(6-12 months, shown in parentheses), measures 16 inches at widest part of head

Instructions:

Using straight needles, cast on 28 (32 stitches).

Knit 12 rows garter stitch (knit every row). At the end of last row, turn work and cast on 20 (22) stitches. 48 (54) stitches total.

Evenly divide stitches while transferring onto dpn’s. Turn knitting.   Place a marker to show beginning of round.

Purl one round, joining to work in the round, being careful not to twist stitches.

Knit one round.

Purl one round

Knit every round until piece measures 4 inches from hat front edge.

(6-12 month size only- K7, K2together, repeat to end. Knit 1 round)

Both sizes:

K6, K2together, repeat to end of round.  Knit one round.

Repeat these two rounds, knitting one less stitch before the K2together, in each decrease round, up to and including:

K1, K2together, repeat to end of round. Knit one round.

K2together, repeat to end of round. (6 stitches remain)

Note: for a flat topped hat- break yarn, pass yarn end through remaining stitches, pull tight and sew in end yarns.

K2together, repeat to end of round. (3 stitches remain)

Pass stitches onto 1 dpn. Knit 4 rounds I-cord. Break yarn, pass through remaining stitches and sew in end yarns.

Make two cords, each 10 inches long, either by knitting 3 stitch I-cord, braiding or fingerknitting,

Sew one end of each cord to corner of ear cover to make the underchin tie.

Sew in all end yarns, and wrap your baby (or someone else’s!)  in some woolly love!

Fiona Duthie is a regular contributor to Living Crafts.

In her studio on Salt Spring Island, BC, she creates in a bountiful beauty of color, wool, and texture, inspired by the natural world. Fiona designs fine feltwork, felting and knitting patterns, gives workshops in natural craft, and runs her hand dyed, artisan fibre company, Kattikloo. You can read more about her fibers, projects and creative living at www.kattikloo.com and on Facebook.

Can you just imagine a baby’s sweet little feet surrounded by rose petals? Squee!

How about lettuce leaves?

Crafted by SmartlittleonesTM on Bryn Du Farm in Colorado. Available at ImagineChildhood.com.

This cute-as-a-button mobile on the Dottie Angel blog does not come with a tutorial, but I suggest everyone hurry up and pay her blog a visit for all the vintage goodness. There is a bubbly crochet blanket to die for …