Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Bluebell Bootees

EDIT : my friend Jejeune has turned this pattern into a PDF which you will find here


I LOVE the people at Patons Australia.
I started these little bootees yesterday [ and just finished them ] from a vintage Patons book from the late 70s - 20 beautiful Booties C24.
Earlier this arvo I emailed them to ask if I could share the pattern with you - it being out of print and all - and they've already replied very sweetly in the affirmative. As with so many patterns of the era, it didn't have a name, just a number, so I'm calling it Bluebell Bootees after the yarn it was designed for. Having said that though, I used Jasmin, which was another Patons yarn of similar gauge from that period.
NOTE: the original pattern has the ridges in a contrast colour but I'm giving you directions for a single colour as per the sample. Of course, if you like sewing in ends, by all means do the garter stitch ridges in a contrast. It will look fabulous but I'm too lazy.

So:

Bluebell bootees
yarn: Patons Bluebell - less than one ball
length: 4 1/4"
needles: 3.00mm / US size 2.5 or 3
tension - 14 1/2 stitches to 2" over stockinette
abbreviation - "inc" knit twice into same stitch

Bootees
Using 3mm needles cast on 25 stitches
row 1: "inc" knit to end
row 2: knit
rep. row 1 & 2 4 times [ 30 stitches]
work 19 rows garter stitch
shape front as follows-
row 1: [ wrong side ] cast off 10 sts, patt to end
row 2: knit
row 3: K1, purl to last st, K1
row 4,5 & 6: knit
rep rows 3-6 incl 3 times and then rows 3-5 once
keeping continuity of pattern, shape toe as follows -
row 1 K2tog, pattern to end
row 2: pattern to end
repeat last 2 rows 4 times [ 15 stitches ]
row11: pattern to end
row 12: K1 purl to last stitch," inc"
row 13 knit
repeat rows 12 and 13, 3 times and then row 12 once [ 20 stitches]
row 21 , 22 & 23: knit
row 24: K1, purl to last st, K1
Repeat rows 21 to 24 incl 3 times, then rows 21 - 23 incl once
next row - cast on 10 sts, purl across work to last st, K1 [ 30 stitches ]
Complete other side of back of bootee, working dec. on heel to correspond with other side.

Making up :
gather around edge of striped section, pull firmly, fasten off. Using a flat seam, sew up sole and back seam.

The original pattern has a 3/4" pom-pon attached to cover the gathered section.
When I have more time and energy I'll write out some full directions to replace that "work to correspond to other side" which is how most patterns used to be written.

Anyway now that I understand the basic shaping , I'm going to cast on for a pair in 8-ply/sport and slightly bigger needles and have a play with the numbers so that it still comes out no bigger than this - in fact I'd like it a wee bit smaller... newborn size
ETA the result is here
but you'll need to scroll past the goaty stuff.


46 comments:

crazyhaberdasher said...

Did you know they also have a pattern archive - you request a pattern, they will send it out - either an original or a photocopy. They did this with some doll patterns I was after a couple years back, and I think they were free of charge.

Rose Red said...

OMG - they are so cute! yay for lovely Patons people!

Anonymous said...

CUTE! And I don't even LIKE Booties!
So - are you the willing home I've been looking for to enjoy my Nana's old knitting patterns?

catsmum said...

hell yes

picperfic said...

thank you for this, they are so cute! Found you on ravelry!

Mariella said...

Thank You! Paton's rocks!

Sheepish Annie said...

Those are darling!!! I'm collecting baby patterns right now. There is soon to be a little one in our midst. (no, not from ME, Silly!!!)

Thanks for checking up on the pattern for us. And how nice of Patons for giving you the thumbs-up!

Yvette said...

I have this pattern book!! Wow! There it was all the time!

love

Yvette

catsmum said...

Yvette
When you have as many patterns as you and I do, how can you remember them all ?

Denise said...

Oh how cool is that? Yay for Patons! I'll have to make some of these for upcoming bubbies! Thanks for the pattern :D

MadMad said...

So cute! Thanks for doing all that work to get us the pattern! I'm definitely going to make some of these!

PaulaRed said...

hi

found your cute baby booties discussed in a thread on ravelry (forums, patterns, titled: Babystøvler by Dansk Mohair - pattern?) and I really like them. I am going to include them with a baby set I am making for someone at work. Thanks for reviving this different looking bootie pattern from the past!

kittie said...

Thanks for the Bootie pattern. They will be great for our Native American Support HEET the FEET project.
Also, MANY THANKS For your "clock" thingie. I have a dear friend in Au. that I always call at the wrong time. I have bookmarked your site so I can remember to check your clock before I call and of course to get a update on your Goats and Knitting. Mary

Meridith said...

I have all but finished these booties (found your pattern ia Yarn Miracle) and, for the life of me, I can't figure out what "gather around the edge of the striped section" means. Does this mean seam up? When I seam it up, I don't get that nice little "poof" at the toe that I see in your pictures. Does it mean weave a piece of yarn around the edge and pull taut? When I do this, the top of the foot doesn't close up. Any advice or help you can give would be much appreciated. They really are adorable booties! Thanks for sharing the pattern.

catsmum said...

hi Meridith - I took it to mean gather up using largish stitches - from memory I took one through the end of each garter ridge, pull up really tightly , fasten off and then use one or two stitches to close any remaining hole. The original from Patons had a small pompon sewn over that spot.

Whispy Love said...

These are beautiful!!! I've just started knitting (I posted my first pair of booties on my blog today, also knitted in patons wool!) These are just so adorable im going to have to give them a try!

Listlia said...

I love these booties. I just began to knit a few months ago and I just can't stop! I don't have very many needles and no DPN's at all. Is there any way I can get this pattern or the Newborn size for the pattern using stright or circular needles?
Thanks. Listlia.

listlia@google.com

Anonymous said...

I am heavily pregnant and have been searching everywhere for a 'nice pair' of booties. I will give them a try this week. Thank you. Can I ask...what is the Patons website/email address as I am after a copy of an old pattern. I will contact Patons and request it. Cheers.

catsmum said...

enquiries@auspinners.com.au

Anonymous said...

love these bootees and thanks for you help with patons i have been after and old pattern for ages when i get it i will pass it on
cheers lyn

Anonymous said...

Hi there! I'm a really new knitter and I dont understand this line:
row 1: [ wrong side ] cast off 10 sts, patt to end
what does the patt to end mean?? And I dont understand why I'm casting on new stitches, what am I supposed to do with the stuff that I already knitted? Do I leave it on the needle and join them somehow, or bind it off or what?? Please help!!

catsmum said...

Because this pattern is from patons archives , it is written in 1970s conventional knitting pattern style. When I get time I'll rewrite it in more modern language. Basically if you look at the photo of it out flat, and realise that the cast on edge is the left hand side then you can see where the 'cast off 10' gives you the front edge of what will end up being the cuff. Then you work the ridges that will be gathered up for the toe and then you need to add those 10 stitches back on again for the other side of the cuff. When you get to that point you knit the 20 stitches currently on the needle, transfer that needle to your left hand and cast on the 10, so you now are back to 30 [ 20 + 10 ] on the left hand needle. Knit across these 30 stitches and continue on as directed in garter stitch.
I always assume that "pattern to end" just means continue on with whatever stitch you were doing.
Hope that this is helpful

Anonymous said...

VERY new to knitting so perhaps trying an old 70's pattern is not the best, but these bootees are too cute. I've managed to get most of my answers from the comments, my only remaining question is what does "incl" mean? For instance where it says, "rep rows 3-6 incl 3 times"?

THANK YOU!

catsmum said...

oh that just means inclusive
so 3 -6 incl just means repeat rows 3,4,5,& 6 another 3 times

good luck and don't hesitate to query anything else that you have problems with

Anonymous said...

Thank you for responding so quickly! I'll be moving on with this pattern now. :)

Anonymous said...

Would you please post the Bluebell Bootees with an updated set of instructions. I know how to knit but have struggled with these cutie little boots. I know if it were more clear, I could wipe these out in no time. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing this lovely pattern, Susan. I did mine in 8 ply and they turned out great.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the pattern. I have started to make these but am stuck on the ;row 1 K2tog, pattern to end
row 2: pattern to end repeat last 2 rows 4 times [ 15 stitches ]

I'm not sure if I am suppose to continue with the previous pattern (row 3: K1, purl to last st, K1 row 4,5 & 6: knit)

I hope you can clairfy this?

SouthernComfortknc said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

May i know if row 11 which is patt to end is referring to row 3 to 6 ?

catsmum said...

hi anonymous
I take it to mean 'do the toe decrease and then keep the rest in the pattern as set' which is as you guessed rows 3 - 6

pattern to end means just go back to what you were doing before the decrease

Anonymous said...

to reconfirm again rw 11: patt to end mean row 3,4,5,6 right ?

Linda said...

Your blog is awesome! Thank you and I will definitely be back to see more patterns! :)

cleobytheseao said...

I can't believe this! Every year I make a batch of these bootees for new babies, I don't have a pattern so I usually end up opening one up to count the stitches etc. Now I have the pattern - Hurrah! :) Thank you so much!

Daphne said...

Hope you see this as your original post was a long time ago but just wanted to say thank you sooo much for providing this pattern - I've been looking for it for weeks! Daphne

Cindy said...

These are so gorgeous! I've started them as my first pattern (with some help). However I've got a bit stuck!

"row 3: K1, purl to last st, K1
row 4,5 & 6: knit
rep rows 3-6 incl 3 times and then rows 3-5 once"

I've done this fine, but now here:
keeping continuity of pattern, shape toe as follows -
row 1 K2tog, pattern to end
row 2: pattern to end
repeat last 2 rows 4 times [ 15 stitches ]
row11: pattern to end

I assumed this all meant knit, so now I've knit it all and lost my lovely ridge pattern. :( Would someone be so lovely enough to E-mail me the instructions simply, eg. Row 1 = ?

I may have to get someone to undo all my rows to start this section again too .. Unless someone can tell me an easy way to do that myself as well?

I hate getting stuck, because I just want to keep going! Any help really super duper appreciated!!

x5inny@hotmail.com

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AlisonH said...

Oh *cute*!

Linda M said...

I am knitting a blanket for my granddaughter Lucy Michelle Debi who has not even been conceived yet. I have high hopes. So I am going all out and making her these booties also. And if my daughter has a boy I hope he loves lavender.

Anonymous said...

I am an inexperienced knitter. My interpretation of the pattern as written means to me that the central rows where the increase/decrease happens is knit 1 row pearl 1 row. This is contrary to what I understood when the pattern says "keeping continuity of pattern" and also what I can see in the picture.
Can you help to clarify please?

SarahF said...

Hi, I'm new to knitting too. Will have to look up garter and stockinette.

Kimberly Zapata said...

Hello,

I’m writing to you on behalf of Disney’s Babble.com. We’d love to include one of your crafts in a post on our site, and one of the photos found at each of these links:

http://susaninstitches.blogspot.com/2007/10/bluebell-bootees.html

Would you be willing to give us permission to use your photos on our site and social pages? We will link back to your site and give you proper photo credit.

Please let me know if you are interested.

Thanks,
Kimberly Zapata
Writer/Freelancer, Babble.com

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