A Flock of Booties

What a beautiful day out there, spring is obviously just around the corner! Since I realised how easy it is to modify a regular bootie pattern (see a few blogs ago) I’ve been building up a stock pile of these sheepskin soled knitted booties. It’s easy to change the pattern on the one I wrote out and do something different in the first 5 (7,9)  rows of knitting to give a different look.

sheepskin soled knitted booties

Embellished Cot Blanket

Sheer bliss, being at the beach AND having extra time to do handcrafts. Chose spring colours to do crochet flower embellishments on this woollen cot blanket.

 

crochet flower embellished woollen cot blanket

 

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Spiderweb Cot Quilt & Bandana Bibs

spiderweb cot quilt

Spiderweb quilts are a great way of using up scraps. This one is cot sized and fun to make. The bandana bibs are made with the free pattern from Desert Rose Designs. The fabrics are from a new quilting shop in Tirau, they have a big selection of children’s fabrics including the Riley Blake designs helicopter pattern.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

bandana baby bibs

 

 

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Sheepskin Soled Bootee Pattern

Here’s how to make any of your favourite baby bootee patterns into sheepskin soled patterns. If it starts from the sole up, cast on the number of stitches the pattern says, before you start working up to the instep shaping. I’ve included a pattern I’ve worked out to give you the idea, modified from a free online vintage bootee pattern (Pom Pom bootees). Decorate with any motif across the upper inset.

sheepskin soled baby bootees

Sheepskin Soled Bootee Pattern Sizes: 0–3 (3–6, 6–12) months

Materials: 1x 50gm ball of double knit wool, 3.25 mm and 4 mm straight needles, 2 twisted cords or ribbon (30 cm) long, a pair of sheepskin soles.

Bootee Upper: (Make 2 the same)
On larger needles 4mm, Cast on 43 (49, 55) sts.

Starting with a knit row, stocking stitch 5 (7, 9) rows.

Then, Row 1: p24 (28, 30), k2tog tbl, turn.
Row 2: (K1, p1) 2 (3, 3) times, k1, p2tog, turn.
Row 3: (P1, k1) 2 (3, 3) times, p1, k2tog tbl, turn.
Row 4: (K1, p1) 2 (3, 3) times, k1, p2tog, turn.
Repeat Rows 3–4 until 31 (33, 37) sts rem.
Next row: (P1, k1) 2 (3, 3) times, p1, k2tog tbl, purl to end—30 (32, 36) sts.
Change to smaller 3.25 mm needles.
rib k1, p1, for 2 rows.
Next row (eyelet row): K1, p1 *yo, p2tog; rep from * to end.
Rib 15 (17, 17) rows.
Cast off next row.

Finishing: Join back. Pin and sew on to prepared sheepskin sole. Thread twisted cord or ribbon through eyelets of each bootee.

Sheepskin sole:

On a piece of paper, mark the length you want your sole to be, about 9.5cm (11.5cm, 13.5cm). Draw in a sole shape like a kidney and there is your pattern. Transfer it on to sheepskin making sure you have a right and left foot. Cut out with scissors and trim the wool to about a cm thick. Use a hole punch to evenly space sewing or crochet holes around the edge.

sketching a kidney shaped sole

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