How to Make a Bootie

Booties make a great gift for a baby shower.

Cute baby booties complement a onesie or outfit while keeping a baby's toes and feet warm and snug. Booties are often knit, but knitting booties is difficult, even for experienced knitters, because of the tight stitches required. To make a simple pair of booties, stitch the shoes from felt.

Things You'll Need

• Felt
• Needle and thread
• Scissors
• Wax pencil
• Pins
• Ribbon and buttons (optional)

Instructions

1. Draw a "U" shape on the piece of felt, using the wax pencil. Enclose the "U" by drawing a line to connect the tips of the curve. Cut this shape out of the felt. The size of the "U" depends on the foot size of the infant. Typically, baby booties are between 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 inches to accommodate infants between 0 and 6 months. To make a 4-inch bootie, draw your initial "U" shapes so that the letter is 4 inches long and 2 1/2 inches wide at the top.

2. Duplicate the shape by tracing it on the felt and cutting out so that you have two identical pieces. On both pieces, cut a narrow "V" into the felt from the center of the straight edge. Make the point of the "V" half-way down the length of the felt. These two felt pieces should now resemble a block letter "U."

3. Draw and cut two rounded, foot-shaped pieces out of the remaining felt (one left foot and one right foot). Make these two pieces as long as the length of the "U" shapes. Make the width of the foot approximately three inches at the toes and two and one half inches at the heel.

4. Fold the "U" in half symmetrically. Align the edges of the fabric (the top tips of the "U"). Overlap the fabric slightly and stitch them together with a needle and thread. Repeat on the other piece of "U"-shaped fabric for the second booty.

5. Place one of the "U" pieces directly on top of one of the foot-shaped pieces. Curve the edges of the foot-shaped piece up to slightly overlap the edges of the "U" shaped piece. Pin the edges to hold the two pieces in place. At this point, the two pieces should resemble a bootie, with the opening directly above the heel of the bootie. Stitch the two pieces together, removing pins as you stitch around the bootie. Repeat this step with the two remaining pieces to complete the second booty.

6. Decorate the bootie, if desired. Tie a ribbon into a bow and place on the corner of the felt where the opening is located. Stitch to the felt, right at the corner.

Tips & Warnings

• Attach any decorations very firmly to the booty so that they do not become a choking hazard for the infant wearing them.

References

• Heather Bailey Design: Bitty Booties