Gansey Booties
I designed these booties for my son who is three months old. I wanted something that would keep a baby warm, look good on either boys or girls, didn’t have any fiddly buttons or ties, and would stay on his feet for more than two seconds.
I used Lion Brand Cotton-Ease, because it’s machine washable, but any worsted-weight yarn would do. These booties would look great in real gansey wool, for a rustic look, or in a soft cashmere blend for a special gift.
Gansey Booties
Sizes: Newborn (Medium 3-6 months, Large 6-9 months)
Materials: less than 50 grams worsted-weight yarn (I used Lion Brand Cotton-Ease)
Needle: size 6 or size needed to obtain gauge
Gauge: 18 st/ 4 inches in moss st.
Notes: These booties may be made with DPNs or one long circular using the magic loop method.
Sole
CO 7(9,11) st.
Row 1: K1fb, work in seed st across to last stitch, k1fb.
Row 2: Work in seed st across.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 once. 11(13,15) st on needle.
Work 20(24, 26) rows in seed st.
BO 1 st at beginning of next 4 rows. 7(9,11) st on needle.
Pick up stitches:
Wk 1 row in seed st. Pick up stitches around sole, picking up one stitch for every two rows along side of foot, one stitch for each cast-on stitch, and one stitch for every two rows along other side of foot. 42(50,56) st on needle. Place marker to indicate the beginning of the round.
Instep
Row 1: purl around
Row 2: knit around
Row 3: purl around
Row 4: knit around
Row 5: purl around
Row 6: k7(7,9), ssk, turn.
Row 7: s1, p5, p2tog., turn.
Row 8: s1, k6, ssk, turn.
Row 9: s1, p7, p2tog, turn.
Row 10: s1, k8, ssk, turn.
Row 11: s1, p9, p2tog, turn.
Medium and Large sizes only:
Row 12: s1, k10, ssk, turn.
Row 13: s1, p11, p2tog, turn.
Large size only:
Row 14: s1, k12, ssk, turn.
Row 15: s1, p13, p2tog, turn.
All sizes:
Next row: s1, k9(11,13), ssk, turn.
Next row: s1, p9(11,13), p2tog, turn.
Repeat these rows once more.
Next row: s1, p9(11,13), ssk, turn.
Next row: s1, p9(11,13), p2tog, turn.
Repeat these rows twice more.
Next row: s1, k9(11,13), ssk, turn.
Next row: s1, p9(11,13), p2tog, turn.
Next row: s1, k around. 24(30,34) st.
Cuff
Work cuff around in k1, p1 rib for 2″, BO in rib loosely.
Finishing
Weave in ends, fold cuff over.
Posted: January 6th, 2010 under Baby, Pattern, Tutorials.
Tags: Baby, booties, Knitting, Pattern
Comments
Comment from Lorraine
Time January 11, 2010 at 11:17 am
They stay on pretty well–I think they would even better if I had gone down to a size 4 needle for the cuffs. The only time they fall off now is if he’s being transferred in and out of blankets and things, because the blanket pulls them off.
Pingback from Lobolita » Baby Gansey Progress
Time January 11, 2010 at 11:40 am
[...] been working all weekend on a sweater to match the Gansey Booties I designed for Gid. Sorry about the cell phone picture–I can’t find my [...]
Comment from Debbie
Time January 11, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Thank you for the tip. I have a new little niece I’m knitting these for. I will go down in needle size for the cuff. Very cute pattern. Thanks! Debbie
Comment from Rita
Time January 11, 2010 at 12:25 pm
These look adorable. They will be perfect with the afghan that I’m making for my nephew’s first child. Thank you for sharing.
Comment from Denise
Time January 13, 2010 at 12:02 pm
I’m working on making a pair of yellow booties for my niece’s new baby. However, I’m having trouble with the first two rows over the toes (instep rows 6 & 7 for size large). There should be 11 st on the needle over the instep, correct? Row 6 puts the first decrease (ssk) at the edge of the instep. Then Row 7 puts the decrease (ssk) 2 stitches in from the edge. What am I doing wrong?
Comment from Lorraine
Time January 13, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Denise–
Okay, I had to take out needles and yarn to try it out again myself! The pattern is correct–these are short rows. The instep in the large size is worked over 15 stitches total, but not until Row 16. Until then, it’s all short rows. Try it, and see if it comes out right in the end.
Comment from Denise
Time January 13, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Thanks for your help! The bootie turned out fine!
Comment from Deborah
Time January 17, 2010 at 11:12 pm
I am new to knitting, I wanted to try your cute booties for my grandson just born on Sept 1st. Anyway, I am unfamiliar the direction “K1fb” that is knit one fb?? front to back?? Please let me know….thanks
Deborah
Comment from Tracy
Time January 18, 2010 at 8:15 am
Thank you! I just love this pattern. Baby number 4 is due in 6 weeks and I’m half-way done with a pair for him. One question…. When you s1, do you slip as if to knit, as if to purl or switch depending on the row (p on p row, k on k row) ? Thanks!
Comment from Lorraine
Time January 18, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Deborah–see today’s post for the answer to your question.
Tracy–I slip as if to knit on knit rows, and slip as if to purl on purl rows. That keeps the stitches from getting twisted.
Comment from phebe
Time January 22, 2010 at 3:37 pm
I’m struggling to follow this pattern. i knit the sole on four needles and wasn’t sure if that was right? is the sole supposed to be double layered? when I picked up stitches I wasn’t sure what to do with the original cast on stitches, alternate them and put them on one needle(I left them on two the first time around and ended up with a lumpy section where it was all twisted)? in the confusion i lost the beginning of the round, where should it be? I tried it center of the heel and back corner of the heel. i’ve ripped and repeated rows 1- 12 three times now and it looks the same each time. i end up with a huge gap and two lonely stitches down one long side which I would expect to make a huge hole in the bootie when you start knitting around. this is my first time knitting booties, sorry if I am asking stupid questions, can anyone help?
Comment from Whitney
Time July 26, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Hi. These are so cute! I wanted to write and say that I’ve modified the cuff ribbing to be a 2×2 rib in order to match the baby sweater I’m making these booties to match. In order for the ribbing to work out with 2×2 around the cuff (as it is in the sweater), I noticed I’d have to modify the last row (for the M and L sizes only, since 30 and 34 are not divisible by 4 – k2,p2) prior to the cuff starting. It’s an easy mod to increase 2 extra stitches, thought I’d share with your readers. 
Instead of doing: sl1, k around … for M and L you would do: sl1, k1, m1, k around to last 2 sts, m1, k2
That will add 2 extra stitches so the cuff ribbing in 2×2 will work out evenly.
I also did Row 1 of the sole with an M1 instead of “kfb”, just my preference.
Anyway, hope you don’t mind me sharing. These are too cute!
Comment from Whitney
Time July 27, 2010 at 12:40 am
Just to correct my previous comment: I did the “kfb” of Row 1 of the sole, not an M1 increase.
Pingback from Lazyhead, Lazyhead, Lazyhead Hannah! « Lazy Ka-nitting
Time July 29, 2010 at 1:20 pm
[...] used the same pattern that I used for those blue booties hat I made back in [...]
Pingback from prepping for baby « {our navy nest}
Time November 10, 2010 at 5:43 am
[...] beginner, I started making her some booties…and got stuck! Help me someone! I’m using this pattern, and got stuck where is says “Pick up stiches.” What does that [...]
Comment from pat
Time December 16, 2010 at 5:57 pm
Great looking bootee;well written pattern. Thank you so much for sharing!!
Pingback from Free knitting pattern: Lobolita » Gansey Booties «
Time January 14, 2011 at 8:33 am
[...] Think I’m going to knit some of these cute little booties today: Lobolita » Gansey Booties. [...]
Comment from Maggie Pringlemeir
Time January 21, 2011 at 3:06 pm
These are darling — but — umm — I’d like a pair in MY size — womans L — especially for wearing in the evening and/or in bed during these cold winter nights. Any suggestions about upsizing??
Comment from Lorraine
Time January 22, 2011 at 9:30 pm
Start with enough stitches to be about 3/4 the width of your foot, then follow the pattern, taking the instructions as general shaping guidelines, rather than specific numbers. As long as you remember how many stitches you cast on, so that you can to the instep short rows later, you should be fine.
Comment from mil@baby sweater knitting pattern
Time February 9, 2011 at 4:24 am
This looks awesome! Thank you so much!!!for sharing this pattern with us!
Comment from Tresa
Time February 11, 2011 at 2:54 pm
I am hopelessly confused about the short rows on the instep portion. I’m really new to circular knitting (I’m doing magic loop) and this is the first project like this I’ve tried. From row 6 on until the row where it says “knit around” again, aren’t you working back and forth? Each row seems to have more stitches from instep row 6 on, but I only see decreases in the pattern. How are those extra stitches getting there? What am I missing?
Thanks for your help & for this cute pattern!
Comment from Lorraine
Time February 12, 2011 at 7:49 am
Every row, you’re picking up more stitches from the edges while the decreases maintain the shape. Try just blindly following the pattern without understanding it–that’s what everybody has do to the first time for short rows!
Comment from Tresa
Time February 12, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Thank you so much… I was thinking too hard about it! LOL It’s working now!
These are going to be for my first grandchild that’s coming in May & they are adorable!
Comment from Loretta
Time March 26, 2011 at 8:08 am
Thank you for your cute pattern. I am having trouble printing all of it. I get the first page to the instep row 6 then all these comments. I was able to write the rest . wish I knew why I cant print all of it .
Thank you again
Comment from baby squirt
Time June 9, 2011 at 8:00 pm
I habe been knitting for over 60 yrs but I have never seen kifb. What does it mean. Thanks
Comment from baby squirt
Time June 9, 2011 at 8:02 pm
I have been knitting for over 60 yrs but have never heard of kifb. Could you tell me what it is. Thankyou
Comment from silviya
Time August 10, 2011 at 4:29 pm
I’ve knitted them at ones.I think I’ll do some embroidery to lighten them up.I really like the seed stitch sole and the no seaming idea you came up with.thank you for sharing it
Comment from silviya
Time August 10, 2011 at 4:34 pm
at once ( I’m a Bulgarian you see and English spelling isn’t my strength, so pls excuse me:)
Comment from Anya Zhovmiruk
Time September 13, 2011 at 7:39 am
Thank you so much for this pattern! I just finished making my first pair of baby booties ever (yours) so thank you! I just posted my project on Ravelry too. I added red ties to make them look like shoelaces
Comment from Debbie
Time January 10, 2010 at 12:32 pm
I think these are adorable! Please tell me – do they stay on little feet as well as you hoped they would? Thank you for posting the pattern. Debbie