Hand-Crocheted Baby Booties And Sweater
There's very little in this world that's more rewarding than
dressing your baby in a special sweater, bunting - or even
booties - that you've crocheted yourself. Crochet is one of the
easiest of the clothing crafts to learn. Even if you've never
looped yarn around a hook before, you can crochet these simple
booties for your baby in an evening - and the matching sweater
in a weekend.
The basic stitches for the baby booties are: chain stitch (cs),
single crochet (sc), dec (pull up loop in next two stitches,
yarn over, pull through both loops on hook)
Using worsted weight yarn and crochet hook size H, chain 5.
Turn. SC in next three chains, 5 sc in end chain, one SC in
bottom loop of each of next three starting chain stitches. 5 sc
in end chain to turn corner.
Round 2: Five SC, two sc in next stitch, sc, two sc in next
stitch, sc, two sc in next stitch, 5 sc, two sc in next stitch,
sc, 2 sc in next stitch, sc, 2 sc in next stitch.
Round 3: 8 sc, 2 sc in next, 5 sc, 2 sc in next, 8 sc, 2 sc in
next, 5 sc, 2 sc in next.
Work two rounds of crochet even (no increases). Sole will begin
to curve upward. At end of second round, turn.
SC in next 5 SC, dec, 3 SC, dec, 5 SC, turn.
SC in next 3 sc, dec, 1 sc, dec, 3 sc, turn.
SC in next sc, dec, dec, sc in next sc, turn.
SC in each sc, then continue in rounds again, dec one stitch at
each side of bootie top for two rounds.
Work even for three rounds, fasten off.
Repeat for second bootie.
If desired, embellish top of baby bootie with embroidered flower
or other design.
The single crochet booties are so simple that you can make them
in several colors - all in an evening.
The sweater is just as easy, and it's sized to fit a newborn to
6 months baby. Using the same yarn and hook, chain 45. Turn.
SC in next five sc. In next, inc by working 2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc in
one stitch. SC in next 8 stitches, work inc, sc in next 16
stitches, inc, sc in next 8 stitches, inc, sc in to end.
Work in the pattern as established, even on all sc, inc in each
chain 2 loop, till 10 rows are complete.
Shaping row: Crochet to first ch 2 loop, crochet in ch 2 loop,
skip all stitches till next ch 2 loop, crochet in that loop. SC
in each stitch to next ch 2 loop, skip all stitches till last ch
2 loop, sc in loop and one SC in each sc to end. Turn.
Work even till sweater measures 6 inches from underarm. Fasten
off.
Pick up and crochet in each SC around right underarm. Work in
rounds till sleeve is same length from underarm as body. Repeat
with left sleeve. Fasten off.
Starting at lower right hand corner, pick up nd crochet one sc
in each stitch up front opening, around collar and back down
other side of front. Run ribbon through openings in collar for a
neck tie.
That's all there is to it - a warm, cozy crochet sweater and
booties you created yourself just for baby.