Crochet Baby Booties - Help to a beginner

[Ouma]

Hi!

I've just started crocheting and can't find any tutorials or FAQs to help me read - and understand - this pattern for baby booties http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PID=4185.

I'm stuck where the foot starts: "With RS of work facing, join yarn with sl st at center back. Ch 2 (counts as hdc). 1 hdc in each of next 6 (7-8) sts, 7 hdc down side of instep, 2 hdc in corner sc, 5 hdc across end of instep, 2 hdc in corner sc, 7 hdc along other side of instep, 1 hdc in each of next 7 (8-9) sts. Join with sl st in top of ch 2. 37 (39-41) hdc."

Where do I start? In the middle of the piece? As it is shaped like a box (23st wide) with a smaller box centered on top (8 st wide), I can't do 6 hdcs without having to 'jump down' to the bigger box.

Next question is the instep as mentioned above ("7 hdc down side of instep").. I can't see how the booties will look from what I have (where does the little box go?), so I don't now where to do the 7hdc.

I'm not sure this makes sense at all! But as you can see, I'm lost in translation!

Thanks for helping me out - it's very appreciated!

[Shandeh]

You will get your best help by contacting Bernat Customer Support - inquire@bernat.com

They have direct contact with the pattern designer.

[Ouma]

Thank you!!

[dogfoster]

Hi Ouma,
I have not made these but I used to get confused about instep too. The instep is the part that goes over the top of the foot and top of the toes. So it looks like you have made a rectangle for the cuff. Those short (15 sc )row ends need to be stitched together as the pattern states at the very end of the instep directions, and that seam forms the center back. The little box you have crocheted is the instep. It looks to me that now you take the cuff part side that the instep is on and begin the foot there at the seam you just made. You will be working across half of the cuff towards the instep, down the side of the instep (row ends), across the instep (that will be the side closest to the toes) back up the side of the instep (row ends), then to the remaining part of the cuff on the opposite from where you began and then join to the first stitch. You will be working 7 rows in the round for the foot, when you are finished you will sew those edges together for the sole seam which will run the length of the foot at the bottom of the boot. All of those decreases will make it smaller and narrower. That is how it looks to me at least.

[Kodikins]

Hi!

I've just started crocheting and can't find any tutorials or FAQs to help me read - and understand - this pattern for baby booties http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PID=4185.

I'm stuck where the foot starts: "With RS of work facing, join yarn with sl st at center back. Ch 2 (counts as hdc). 1 hdc in each of next 6 (7-8) sts, 7 hdc down side of instep, 2 hdc in corner sc, 5 hdc across end of instep, 2 hdc in corner sc, 7 hdc along other side of instep, 1 hdc in each of next 7 (8-9) sts. Join with sl st in top of ch 2. 37 (39-41) hdc."

Where do I start? In the middle of the piece? As it is shaped like a box (23st wide) with a smaller box centered on top (8 st wide), I can't do 6 hdcs without having to 'jump down' to the bigger box.

Next question is the instep as mentioned above ("7 hdc down side of instep").. I can't see how the booties will look from what I have (where does the little box go?), so I don't now where to do the 7hdc.

I'm not sure this makes sense at all! But as you can see, I'm lost in translation!

Thanks for helping me out - it's very appreciated!

Hi Ouma,
While I have not done this specific pattern, I've crocheted a couple of sets of baby booties from a pattern that is quite similar. Once you have made the cuff and added on the instep, you should be seaming the back of the cuff to make the top portion of the bootie. Where your seam ends at the bottom, that is where you will join your yarn, and start crocheting around the bottom of the cuff, and then around the instep. You will eventually end up at the back of the cuff where you joined. One thing that you will want to be mindful of is the "holes" that may get created when you are crocheting along the sides of the instep, especially where it is joined to the cuff. I found that if I crocheted into the stitch and not around it, the holes weren't so noticeable.

Hopefully this will be helpful to you.