Saturday, February 26, 2011

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The most confusing but simple pattern for bunny "booties"


 They aren't really booties more like slippers with a strap, so if you're making for a small baby then make a cuff instead of a strap. This is the original pattern Checkheatons Knitted Bunny Booties. as seen in the Australian Women's Weekly.

And here is the pattern interpreted by me row by row, with some modifications.

Sport weight yarn 1 50g ball in MC and 1 50g ball in CC, although I used a scrap ball less than 50g knitted double and still had a bit leftover. This project is a good scrap buster esp for the CC so don't go out and buy yarn for the project unless you really need too!

3.25mm needles (doesn't matter what type as you are knitting flat), a tapestry needle, yarn or embroidery thread for detail.

Sizes: 3 months (to fit boot length approx 8cm); 6 months (to fit foot length approx 9.5cm) in parenthesis.
Tension

25sts x 50rows in 10cm garter st
28st x 36rows in 10cm stocking st

*Note where I don't write a row or there is no instructions just work in the specified st over all sts
Garter st - Knit all rows
Stocking st - Knit RS rows, Purl WS rows


shoe before sewing seams

Make 2, Beginning at sole.
With main colour cast on 13 (17) sts.
Working in garter st
Row 1 (WS)
Row 2 (RS)
Rows 3,5,7,9 increase 1st each end...21 (25)sts.
Rows 10-12
Row 13 inc 1st each end....23 (27)sts
Rows 14-16
Row 17 decrease 1st at each end...21 (25)sts
Rows 18-20
Rows 21,23,25,27 dec 1st at each side...13 (17)sts
Row 28 (RS) knit
Row 29 (WS) Knit

Shape Heel
Row 30 Cast on 7sts *Do this by looping the working yarn around the needle* then knit the 7sts and sts to end...20 (24)sts
Row 31 (WS) Knit - We are still working the garter pattern!
Row 30,32,34,36,38,40 inc 1st on the toe edge ( it is the left right-side edge - the edge we didn't cast on the new sts)...26 (30) sts.
Row 41 (WS) Knit

Ankle
Row 42 Cast off 14 (16) sts, knit to end…12 (14) sts

Instep
Rows 43-49 work stocking st
*note it says to tie markers to mark ear positions here but it's unnecessary tell you why later.
Rows 50- 57 work stocking st

Other side of Ankle - We are going to work in Garter st again!
Row 58 Cast on 14 (16)sts - in the same method as before, then knit over til end...26 (30) sts
Row 59 (WS) Knit
Row 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70 dec 1 st on the toe edge (again this is the side we did not cast on new sts)....20 (24)sts
Row 71 (WS) Knit
Cast off LOOSELY!

At this point I like to sew up my bootie



Ears
Start with the outter ear in MC

Mark the centre of the instep, count 8 sts from the outter edge to the middle (I do this so the ears are the same distance from the middle), then pick up the 8sts going right to left.

Row 1(RS) Knit
Rows 2-4 work in stocking st.
Beg shaping:
Row 5 K2, inc in next st, K2..10sts. *inc by knitting f&b
Even Rows Purl.
Row 7 K2, inc in next st K4, inc in nest st, K2…12sts.
Row 9 Knit.
Row 11 K1, sl 1, K1, psso, K6, K2tog, K1….10 sts.
Row 13 K1, sl 1, K1, psso, K4, K2tog, K1….8sts.
Row 15 K1, sl 1, K1, psso, K2, K2tog, K1….6sts.
Row 16 (P2tog) 3 times.. 3sts.
Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitches.

3 months size before detailing.

For the Inner ear pick up 6sts with CC along the edge you picked up the sts for the outter ear. From right to left.
Row 1 (WS) purl
Rows 2-3 stocking st
Beg shaping:
Row 4 K2, inc in next st, K2..8sts. *inc by knitting f&b
odd Rows Purl.
Row 6 K2, inc in next st K2, inc in nest st, K2…10sts.
Row 8 Knit.
Row 12 K1, sl 1, K1, psso, K4, K2tog, K1….8 sts.
Row 14 K1, sl 1, K1, psso, K2, K2tog, K1….6sts.
Row 15 (P2tog) 3 times.. 3sts.
Cut yarn leaving a tail for sewing up ear, pull through stitches. sew edges of ears together. tie off and using a crochet pull the ends into the ears - to neaten up hang threads :)
emboider the bunnys face on and voila you are done!

This is my mouse variation.

For the mouse variation skip only purl one row on the wrongside before starting the inc and dec. Thread through some yarn at the back and plait it.