Free Tie-On Newborn Baby Booties Pattern

I’ve been searching for a while for a quick, easy bootie pattern to knit for charity that uses up left over DK yarn, has built in ties, and doesn’t require picking up stitches. Pretty big ask! So, after some fruitless searching, I decided to get designing!

I love the idea of having an all-in-one bootie with ties, as tie-on bootie stay on wiggly toes much better. Also, with the ties joined to the bootie, there’s no worry about the ties coming loose and getting lost.

I’m really pleased with how these have turned out – now I have no excuse for my large stash of leftover yarn! Each pair uses approximately 28 m of DK (light worsted weight) yarn (around 15 g).

This pattern is free to use for making booties to keep, gift, or to sell, but please do not copy this pattern without my permission (instead giving a link to this page would be much appreciated).

If you have some spare time and some spare yarn, it would be great if you could make a pair or two for a local charity too!

To see my other baby knitting patterns, click here.

To see all my other knitting patterns, click here.

Materials:

Needles: 4 mm

Yarn: DK (Light worsted weight) 28 m (alternatively, you could use 2 strands of 4 ply/sport/fingering weight yarn held together, or worsted weight yarn for slightly larger booties)

Sewing needle for sewing in ends and seams

Abbreviations:

K = knit

P = purl

M1 = make one stitch by picking up the bar between stitches and knitting into it

Sl1 = slip one stitch

Sl1, K1, PSSO = slip one stitch knit wise, knit one stitch, pass slipped stitch over the knitted stitch and off the needle.

P2tog = purl two stitches together

Pattern:

Starting at the sole, cast on 25 stitches

Row 1) Knit row

Row 2) K1, M1, K11, M1, K1, M1, K11, M1, K1 (29 stitches)

Row 3) Knit row

Row 4) K2, M1, K11, M1, K3, M1, K11, M1, K2 (33 stitches)

Row 5) Knit row

Row 6) K3, M1, K11, M1, K5, M1, K11, M1, K3 (37 stitches)

Row 7) Knit row

Rows 8-13) Stocking stitch (knit one row, purl one row) starting with a knit row

Row 14) Knit 21, Sl1, K1, PSSO, turn

Row 15) Sl1 purl wise (as if you were going to purl it), P5, P2tog, turn

Row 16) Sl1 knit wise (as if you were going to knit it), K5, Sl1, K1, PSSO, turn

Repeat rows 15-16 three more times (four times in total) and then work row 15 one more time. You should now have 27 stitches left.

You are now working on the centre 7 stitches only (make sure you turned at the end of the last row).

Work 9 rows of garter stitch (knitting every row) on these 7 stitches. This forms the tongue of the bootie.

Cast off these 7 stitches knit wise.

With work facing towards you, join yarn to the left 10 stitches and knit across these 10 stitches.

Turn, and knit across these 10 stitches again. At the end of this row, cast on 30 stitches.

Turn and cast off the same 30 stitches (this forms one of the ties), and knit to the end of the row (you should have 10 stitches you are now working on this side of the bootie)

Work 6 rows garter stitch (knitting every row) on these 10 stitches. This forms the right hand side of the bootie. Cast off knit wise.

With the wrong side of the work facing you, join yarn to the other side of the bootie and cast on 30 stitches.

Turn and cast off the same 30 stitches (this forms the second tie), and knit to the end of the row (you should have 10 stitches you are now working on this side of the bootie)

Work 7 rows garter stitch (knitting every row) on these 10 stitches. This form the left hand side of the bootie. Cast off knit wise.

Sew together the seam down the back of the bootie and across the sole. Weave in any loose ends. Work the second bootie exactly the same way.

After I have washed the booties (following the instructions of the yarn manufacturer), I sometimes stuff them with some spare fabric as they dry. This means they hold their shape and look much prettier for gifting!