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 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