Every baby outfit needs a bonnet and a pair of booties. It’s just a rule, somewhere. And if you’re new to knitting for babies, or you’ve got a new yarn sitting in your stash that you’d like to get to know, small projects like this are exactly where to start. This free garter stitch baby booties knitting pattern has almost no shaping and no fiddly finishing, just squishy garter stitch to enjoy from cast on to cast off.
The Playday Bootees started life as one half of a set, designed for Scheepjes and published in YARN, The After Party. I’ve split the bootees and the bonnet into two posts here on the blog, so each gets the space it deserves, but they’re still very much a pair. If you’d like the full set, the bonnet has its own free pattern post too (coming soon).
Quick Look
What you’ll find in this post:
- A free garter stitch baby booties knitting pattern in three sizes, newborn to 24 months
- Full materials list, needle sizes and tension
- Step-by-step instructions for the instep, sole and shaping
- A note on sewing the buttons on safely
- The matching Playday Bonnet, for the full set
Free Garter Stitch Baby Booties Knitting Pattern: Overview
The Playday Bootees are a simple garter stitch baby bootee, worked flat and seamed, with a folded cuff and a single button fastening. They come in three sizes, from newborn up to 24 months, so there’s a size for a first outing and room to size up as your knitter gets more confident.
There’s no heel shaping to worry about and no picked-up button bands. The instep is worked back and forth on a small set of held stitches, then the sole stitches are picked up around it, which sounds more technical than it is in practice. If you can knit, purl doesn’t even come into it here, and follow a row of numbers in brackets, you can make these.
This is a genuinely good project if you’re trying a yarn for the first time. There’s so little going on stitch-wise that you get to spend your attention on how the yarn actually behaves, how it splits, how it blocks, whether it’s soft enough for the job, rather than fighting a complicated construction at the same time.
The Yarn
The Playday Bootees are knitted in Scheepjes Merino Soft Brush, shade 252 Toorop, a warm heathered grey with a soft brushed halo. It’s 50% Superwash Merino Extra Fine, 25% Microfibre and 25% Acrylic, in 50g/105m balls. You’ll need 1 (1: 2) balls depending on your chosen size. It’s the same shade used for the Billy Bear Jacket, so if you’re building a little wardrobe, the two pair up without a second thought.
If you’d like to substitute a different yarn, Scheepjes Softfun is a good option at a similar weight, with a smooth finish and a lovely range of colours. Scheepjes Stone Washed also works well, with a subtle stony texture. Both are available from Scheepjes stockists.
Please note: the affiliate links above are to Scheepjes yarn suppliers. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Materials
- Scheepjes Merino Soft Brush, shade 252 Toorop, 1 (1: 2) x 50g balls (105m per ball)
- 2 x 17.5mm Bottoni Italiani buttons, item no. 4348-28, colour 693 red
Needles
3.25mm (US 3) knitting needles. A 3.25mm (US 3) circular needle is optional, and can make picking up the instep stitches easier, since the cord bends to accommodate the shape.
Tension
24 sts and 48 rows to measure 10 x 10cm (4 x 4in) over garter stitch using 3.25mm (US 3) needles. Check your tension before you begin and adjust needle size if necessary.
Finished Measurements
| Age | 0–3 months | 3–12 months | 12–24 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finished sole length | 10cm / 4in | 12cm / 4.75in | 13.5cm / 5.25in |
Skill Level for Garter Stitch Baby Booties
Easy, and a genuinely good first pattern. The Playday Bootees use only the most basic knitting skills: casting on, casting off, garter stitch, a simple picked-up instep, and one seam. There’s no shaping beyond the sole decreases, which are all worked the same way throughout. The Craft Yarn Council skill level guide is a useful reference if you’re unsure where you sit.
Abbreviations
cont — continue | g st — garter stitch (knit all rows) | k — knit | k2tog — knit 2 stitches together | rem — remaining | RS — right side | st(s) — stitch(es) | WS — wrong side | [ ] — number of stitches on a given row
For a full reference, visit my free Knitting Abbreviations Guide.
A Note on Safety
The Playday Bootees use a single button fastening on each foot, and buttons on any baby garment need to be attached with care. Sew each button on securely using a strong thread and needle in addition to the yarn, working over each one several times and pulling firmly. Give every button a firm tug before the finished bootees go to a baby. For more on knitting safely for little ones, read my guide to knitting for babies and how to get it right.
Babies are more destructive than we give them credit for. If you are planning to sell finished items made from this pattern, the UK Hand Knitting Association has a useful overview of toy safety regulations here that is worth reading before you do.
Garter Stitch Baby Booties: The Pattern
Pattern Notes: Sizes are written as 0–3 (3–12: 12–24) months throughout. Where only one figure is given, it applies to all sizes. When picking up stitches for the instep, you may find it easier to work using a circular needle, as the cord will bend to accommodate the shape.
Bootee (make two)
Using 3.25mm (US 3) needles, cast on 31 (35: 39) sts.
Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Row 2 Knit.
Continue to work in garter st until piece measures 5 (6: 7)cm / 2 (2.25: 2.75)in from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
Instep Set Up
Row 1 (RS): K21 (23: 25), turn.
Row 2: K11 (work back and forth on these 11 sts, leaving rem sts on the needle unworked for now).
Instep
Work 20 (24: 28) rows in garter st. Cut yarn.
With RS facing, rejoin yarn to the first set of sts, k10 (12: 14) sts, pick up and k10 (12: 14) sts along the edge of the instep, k11 instep sts, pick up and k10 (12: 14) sts along the edge of the instep, knit rem 10 (12: 14) sts. [51 (59: 67) sts]
Sole
Work 13 (15: 17) rows in garter st.
Sole Shaping
Row 1: K1, k2tog, k19 (23: 27), k2tog, k3, k2tog, k19 (23: 27), k2tog, k1. [47 (55: 63) sts]
Row 2: K20 (24: 28), k2tog, k3, k2tog, k20 (24: 28). [45 (53: 61) sts]
Row 3: K1, k2tog, k16 (20: 24), k2tog, k3, k2tog, k16 (20: 24), k2tog, k1. [41 (49: 57) sts]
Row 4: K17 (21: 25), k2tog, k3, k2tog, k17 (21: 25). [39 (47: 55) sts]
Row 5: K1, k2tog, k13 (17: 21), k2tog, k3, k2tog, k13 (17: 21), k2tog, k1. [35 (43: 51) sts]
Cast off.
To Finish
Sew from the cast-on edge down to the sole, then sew the sole closed. Fold the cuff in half. Sew on the button securely, using the safety note above as a guide. Weave in all ends. Wash according to ball band instructions and lay flat to dry naturally.
Pattern reproduced with the kind permission of Scheepjes.
Make the Matching Set
The Playday Bootees are one half of a set, and the Playday Bonnet is the other. Both are worked in the same squishy garter stitch, in the same shade of Scheepjes Merino Soft Brush, so if you’re making both you only need the one ball count between them (with a little extra for the bonnet). Knit the bootees first or the bonnet first, they’re both quick, satisfying makes, and together they make a proper going-out set for a new arrival.
FREE Playday Bonnet knitting pattern – coming soon
Check out the FREE Bunny Best Friend Blanket knitting pattern and Billy Bear Cardigan knitting Pattern
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I knit baby booties on 2 needles?
This pattern is worked flat on a single pair of straight needles (or a circular needle used flat), so there’s no need for double-pointed needles or working in the round. The whole bootee, instep, sole and shaping included, is worked back and forth in rows.
What sizes does this pattern come in?
Three sizes: 0–3 months, 3–12 months and 12–24 months, with a finished sole length of 10cm (4in), 12cm (4.75in) and 13.5cm (5.25in).
Can I knit these on straight needles?
Yes, straight needles are all you need for the main bootee. A circular needle is only ever suggested as an optional aid for picking up the instep stitches, never a requirement.
What yarn does the Playday Bootees pattern use, and can I substitute it?
The original uses Scheepjes Merino Soft Brush in shade 252 Toorop. Scheepjes Softfun and Scheepjes Stone Washed both substitute well at a similar weight, see The Yarn section above for details.
Is this pattern suitable for a first-time knitter?
Yes. That’s really the point of a garter stitch baby booties pattern like this one. If you can cast on, knit, and follow a row of bracketed numbers for your size, you have everything you need. There’s no purl, no complicated shaping, and only one seam to sew at the end.
Is there a bonnet to match?
Yes, the Playday Bonnet is a free pattern here on the blog, worked in the same yarn and the same easy garter stitch, so the two make a proper set.
If You Love Knitting for Babies
There are plenty more free patterns where this one came from. Browse the full collection in the free baby knitting patterns archive.
Show Me Your Playday Bootees
I’d love to see your finished makes. Share your Playday Bootees on social media and tag me.
Instagram: @jane.burns.designs
Facebook: @JaneBurnsDesigns
Pinterest: @janeburnsdesigner
Stay in Touch
If you would like new patterns, free resources, and the occasional dry observation about knitting for children delivered straight to your inbox, you can join the list here:
You can also find me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook.
About Jane
Jane Burns is a UK-based knitting and crochet pattern designer with 18 years of experience, specialising in whimsical, characterful patterns for babies and children. She is the founder of Jane Burns Whimsical Children’s Knits, with patterns that carry real personality and a focus on making knitting feel accessible, satisfying, and a little bit special.
