This free beginners tutorial will guide you through how to make these cute and easy crochet baby shoes with step by step instructions and images at each stage to help guide you through.
These one piece Mary Jane style shoes are great for both boys and girls as the simple shape allows you to play with different colours and the strap stops them being lost when baby inevitably kicks with glee when they see them and try to grab them!
Try making them in white or ivory for the perfect newborn gift or classic DIY Christening Shoe.
Pin it for later here
Add it to your Ravelry queue for another day here
What Type Of Yarn Is Best For Crochet Baby Shoes?
There are two things that are important when making baby items, durability and softness.
Babies skin is so much more sensitive than ours and the slightest scratchy fibre can cause them great distress. You really don't to upset them every time you put them in a piece of clothing you spent hours making so aim for soft breathable natural materials such as cottons or even softer bamboo which is hypoallergenic.
If you're looking for something warmer in cold weather that will hold it's shape and will wash really well then soft man made fibres are your friend.
Step By Step Instructions For How To Crochet Easy Baby Shoes
This tutorial provides instructions for crochet booties sized from tiny baby up to around 6 months, the sole is approximately 10cm/4 inches.
If you wanted to make a slightly larger pair for toddlers you could use a more robust chunkier yarn and an appropriately sized larger hook.
What Materials Do I Need To Crochet My Easy Baby Booties?
- DK Weight Yarn (size 3) approximately 30-40m. I used King Cole Bamboo Cotton as the addition of bamboo is super soft for baby skin
- 4mm (US size G-6) crochet hook
- Measuring tape, Scissors and Tapestry needle
What About Gauge?
Gauge is important to give you an idea of whether your project will be the size you want, especially important with clothing!
I usually recommend making a swatch that measures at least 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 inches using the stitch in the pattern the gauge is given for (see below). In this case as the shoes are so small I would recommend testing a 5x5cm (2x2inches) sample.
Test your yarn against the gauge sizing below or check your yarn information label to check the typical gauge if you want to use an alternative.
Half Double Crochet = 9 stitches x 6 rows (5x5 cm)
If your swatch is smaller than this then swap to a larger hook, if you have a larger swatch then use a smaller size hook until the required gauge is reached.
Abbreviations: (US stitch abbreviations)
Ch - Chain
SC - Single Crochet
HDC – Half Double Crochet
HDC2tog – Half Double Crochet two together
DC2tog – Double Crochet two together
Slst – Slip Stitch
Pattern Notes:
Stitches are given in US terms
All measurements given are unblocked.
Note that measurements are given as exact as possible. Your tension & technique might give variations in the result, but that’s what makes it unique!
How To Crochet The Sole Of The Baby Shoe
Chain 11, I usually leave a long tail as once I have added several stitches into a chain it can sometimes stretch with smoother cottons and bamboo yarns. I weave this tail in at the end and use it to stitch over any small gaps.
3HDC into the 3rd chain.
1HDC into each of the next 7 chains, this should leave you with one chain.
6HDC into this last chain.
Work 1 HDC into the 7 chains on the opposite side to those you just worked, this should bring you back to your first stitch which has a chain plus 2HDC. Now add 3 HDC into this stitch so it has a total of 6 stitches.
Slst into first HDC to complete Row 1 (26)
ROW 2: Ch2, work 2HDC into the same stitch, 2HDC into next 2 stitches then HDC into the following 7 stitches.
Work 2HDC into each of the 6 stitches that curve around the end.
HDC into each of the next 7 stitches, then work 2HDC into the remaining 3 stitches. Slst to the first stitch (38)
ROW 3: Ch2 HDC into front loops only (see the image below), this will provide and edge to your sole.
Sl st to first stitch (38)
How To Crochet The Body Of The Baby Shoe
ROW4: Ch2, HDC into 11 stitches
Work 2HDCtog to do this yarn over and insert your hook into the stitch as normal, pull up a loop but do not complete the stitch (you should now have 4 loops on your hook).
YO and insert your hook into the second stitch and pull up a loop, you should now have 5 loops on your hook. Pull the first loop through all of the remaining loops on your hook to complete the stitch.
You have just reduced your stitch count by one.
See the image below to help you.
Repeat this 7 more times so you have worked 16 stitches.
HDC into next 11 stitches, Slst to first stitch (30)
This is what your shoe should look like with the decreases when you have completed your row
ROW5: Ch2, HDC into 11 stitches. 2DCtog , to do this yarn over and insert your hook into the stitch as normal, pull up a loop. YO then pull through two loops on your hook. You should have 2 loops on your hook. Repeat this in the next stitch.
For the final stage, YO then pull through all 3 loops. You have now decreased the stitch count by one.
Repeat the 2DCtog 3 more times (over the next 6 stitches).
Work 1HDC into each of the remaining 11 stitches (26)
ROW6: Ch1, SC into each stitch (26)
Your shoe is now complete, but we all know that babies love to kick their socks and shoes off at every opportunity, so we’re going to add a strap that fastens loosely around the ankle to stop it getting lost after you’ve put all that work into it!
Ch 31, SC into the 6th chain (this will create a button loop), then work 1SC into each chain to create your strap.
Anchor the strap with 2 HDC to the back of the shoe.
Add your button and off you go!
Make sure you send me some photos or tag me on social media (@kingandeye) I love to see what you’ve created!