Happy Feet Booties
A sweet celebration of garter stitch, joyful color, and new life, the Happy Feet Booties are so cute that you can’t help but smile when you see them!
These tiny, no-fuss booties are easy as can be to knit, with no need for double pointed needles or Magic Loop. They’re worked flat in plush garter stitch, and we’ll walk you through an easy and straightforward seaming method to create the final shape… Simple and so satisfying!
Knit these booties in Cotton Chirp, our charming new 100% Pima cotton yarn. This yarn comes in winsome 25-gram peanut balls, bundled in 4-color combos, perfect for happy little feet!
Machine-washable and dryable Cotton Chirp is incredibly soft and lustrous, in a light worsted/DK weight that makes for breezy knitting!
We created eight different four-color palettes of Cotton Chirp, packed with exciting color play. You’ll have so much fun exploring each shade in a bundle, or mix and match bundles for even more options!
A pair (or a whole set!) of these adorable booties will make such a special gift for a new baby. With one Cotton Chirp Bundle, you can make four pairs, or how about two pairs in the 0-3 month size and two pairs in the 3-6 month size, so the baby in your life can keep wearing them as they grow!
Once you take the first step, you might just find that the Happy Feet Booties become your go-to gift for welcoming little ones to the world!
If you love the yarn used in this project, you’ll love all of our other yarn, too! Explore our 35+ lovingly created yarn collections, in nearly every natural fiber and spectacular color you can imagine… Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn shop!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Hiromi Glover. Click here to see even more of Hiromi’s work!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoHappyFeetBooties, and #PurlSohoCottonChirpBundle. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
To make a set of 4 pairs of booties…
- 1 of Purl Soho’s Cotton Chirp Bundles,100% Peruvian Pima cotton yarn. Each bundle includes four 58-yard, 25-gram balls; approximately 50 (55) total yards required per pair of booties.
- US 5 (3.75 mm), 16-inch circular needles, or a set of double pointed needles
- If using 16-inch circulars: A spare US 5 straight, circular, or double pointed needle for binding off
- A stitch marker or scrap yarn
GAUGE
20 stitches and 40 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch
SIZES
0–3 Months (3–6 Months)
- Finished Foot Circumference: 4¼ inches
- Finished Foot Length: 3¾ (4¼) inches
- Finished Height from Heel to Top Cuff: 2½ inches
Samples: We knit all of our booties in the 0–3 Months size.
NOTE
CONSTRUCTION
These booties are knit flat in garter stitch. Explaining the construction probably makes it sound harder than it is, so don’t be deterred if this part confuses you. Just follow the pattern and be pleasantly surprised by how easy these really are! For those who need to visualize what you’ll be doing, you will start by knitting the Toe + Instep (the sides and top of the foot) back and forth in rows, then you work simple short rows to make the Sole. You’ll continue knitting to create the Heel, then fold the stitches in half and close the back of the Heel using a 3-Needle Bind Off. Finally, you will seam the top of the foot closed with a whipstitch to complete the bootie.
PATTERN
TOE + INSTEP
Cast 44 (48) stitches onto circular needles or one double pointed needle, leaving a foot-long tail for seaming later. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1 (wrong side): Slip 1 knitwise with yarn in back (wyib), knit to end of row.
NOTE: Mark the first row with scrap yarn or a removable marker to indicate the wrong side.
Repeat Row 1 eight more times, ending with a wrong-side row. [5 garter ridges on right side]
Your work should look like this…
SOLE
NOTE: In this section you will turn the work before the end of each row, effectively working short rows without the complication of wrapping and turning. It may sound difficult, but if you follow the instructions, you’ll see how your bootie begins to take shape!
Set-Up Row (right side): Slip 1 knitwise wyib, k7, cut yarn, slip next 9 (11) stitches purlwise, rejoin yarn, k9, purl 2 together (p2tog), turn work. [1 stitch decreased]
Row 1 (wrong side): Slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front (wyif), k8, knit 2 together (k2tog), turn work. [1 stitch decreased]
Row 2 (right side): Slip 1 purlwise wyib, k8, p2tog, turn work. [1 stitch decreased]
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 six (8) more times, then repeat Row 1 one more time. [28 stitches remain]
Next Row (right side): Slip 1 purlwise wyib, k8, p2tog, knit to end of row. [27 stitches remain]
Next Row (wrong side): Slip 1 knitwise wyib, k16, k2tog, knit to end of row. [26 stitches remain]
Here’s how your bootie should look at the end of this section…
HEEL
Row 1 (right side): Slip 1 knitwise wyib, knit to end of row.
Repeat Row 1 seven more times, ending with a wrong-side row.
Here’s how your bootie should look at this point…
Now fold piece in half so needles are parallel with 13 stitches on each needle and wrong sides are facing each other. (If using double pointed needles, slip 13 stitches to another needle and fold.)
NOTE: For help with a 3 Needle Bind Off, visit purlsoho.com/create/3-needle-bind-off
With a spare needle, close the back of the Heel with a 3 Needle Bind Off.
SEAM
NOTE: For help with sewing a whipstitch, visit purlsoho.com/create/whipstitch
With the long cast-on tail, seam the two sides of the cast-on edge together using a whipstitch, working from top of cuff to tip of Toe.
FINISHING
Weave in all ends and make another bootie. Gently wet block your finished pair!
Learn About Cotton Chirp + All Our Beautiful Yarns
Cotton Chirp 25-gram mini balls are the perfect cotton yarn for your most cheerful knitting! Think playful colorwork, like stripes or log cabin projects, and also piles of small knits, like baby booties and washcloths. In bundles of 4 coordinating colors, this light worsted/DK-weight yarn is made from 100% Peruvian Pima cotton, which has a lustrous finish and an incredibly soft and supple hand. Choose from 8 chirpy palettes, or pick up all of them with the 32-color bundle!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our growing collection of free Cotton Chirp knitting patterns and cast on!
More Light Worsted/ DK Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of light worsted/DK-weight yarns
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial!
More Yarns With Similar Fiber
- Shop cotton yarn
- Shop plant-based yarn
- Shop machine washable yarn
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
I would really want to make these precious little booties. I do not know how to order the yarn and save this pattern directions.
Hi Dawn,
Thank you so much for your interest in this sweet pattern! You can find the Cotton Chirp yarn here and I am including some specific instructions on how to print or save the PDF below.
If you’re on a desktop version of the site, you will find a “print” icon in the right column just below the “Save To Favorites” button. If you’re on a mobile version of the site, you will find a “print” icon below the pattern and above the comments.
You can follow the easy on-screen instructions to delete whichever parts of the pattern you don’t want to print or save. For example, you may decide to shorten the pattern by omitting certain images or the list of materials. To remove images, click the drop down next to the image icon and change from 100% to 0%. You can also hover your mouse over any portions of the pattern you wish to delete, and click the trash can icon that appears. Then, you can click “Print” or “PDF” along the top left of the pattern preview box to print or save the pattern!
I hope this helps but please don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any other questions!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
So cute thanks for sharing patern
Hi Pearly,
You are very welcome! We hope you enjoy making these little booties!
Happy making,
Gavriella
Can these be knitted in stockinette?
Hi Karen,
Thank you for writing in and for your question! Although this pattern is knitted in garter stitch, you may enjoy our Baby Sock Pattern for a pair of sweet stockinette socks. The pattern calls for Season Alpaca but they could definitely be made using any of our sport-weight yarns!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Would love bigger sizes included for my older grandkids, under 5s and then to under 10yrs. ÷ )
Hi Sheryl,
Thank you for writing in! I think this sounds like a lovely idea as well and I will be sure to share your requests with our team. In the meantime, I’d recommend checking out our Carousel Collection Slipper which includes sizes baby to large adult feet. This pattern could be wonderful in a solid color for a similar look to the Happy Feet Booties. I hope this helps but please let us know if there is anything else we can answer for you!
Happy making,
Gavriella
How does this yarn compare to your other organic cotton that I crocheted the granny stripe blanket with ?? Thanks.
Hi Susan,
That is a great question! Our Cotton Pure is closer to a sport-weight yarn while Cotton Chirp is a light worsted/DK weight yarn. Both are wonderful options for blankets though! I hope this helps but please let me know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Gavriella
Hi. I’m with Sheryl – i would like to make these in an adult size! cheers, peter
Hi, and I’m with Peter.
How about having instructions in an adult size!
Thanks!
Please send me the happy feet pattern
Hi Jenny,
Thank you for writing in! The pattern can be found on this page right under the last two photos of the Chirp yarn bundles. If you’re on a desktop version of the site, you will find a “print” icon in the right column just below the “Save To Favorites” button. If you’re on a mobile version of the site, you will find a “print” icon below the pattern and above the comments.
You can follow the easy on-screen instructions to delete whichever parts of the pattern you don’t want to print or save. For example, you may decide to shorten the pattern by omitting certain images or the list of materials. To remove images, click the drop down next to the image icon and change from 100% to 0%. You can also hover your mouse over any portions of the pattern you wish to delete, and click the trash can icon that appears. Then, you can click “Print” or “PDF” along the top left of the pattern preview box to print or save the pattern!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
I like it 👍
Hi, I just started to knit the first bootie. I finished knitting the first 9 rows. I am currently working on the Set-Up Row. When it states “cut yarn”, do I literally cut the yarn? If so, how much yarn should I leave after that 8th stitch? Kindly advise so I can finish working on these adorable booties! The yarn is just fabulous!
Hi Maria,
Thank you for writing in! Yes, that is exactly correct. In the set up row you will cut your yarn leaving about a 6 inch tail and then begin to slip stitches before rejoining again. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
When it says to cut yarn in the set-up row, does it mean to literally cut the yarn and later tie the pieces back together? I’ve never seen an instruction like this, so want to be sure before I go ahead and do it, then repeat it six times. That seems like a lot of reattaching.
Hi Alana,
Thank you for your comment. You will only cut and rejoin the yarn once in the set up row. After that you will leave yarn joined. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Great! Thank you so much for the prompt reply.
I have tried to knit this gorgeous bootees.
I cannot make the same shape as shown.
Following the pattern. Getting it wrong somehow after cutting yarn and rejoining
What happens after is nothing like your photos.
I am an Intermediate knitter. I have watched several online Tutorial on turning.
All complicated. Not relevant to this pattern.
A video Tutorial would be great.
I just adore these bootees style.
Thank you so very much for sharing.
Hi Chandrika,
We are so sorry to hear you have been having trouble knitting these booties and we would love to help you get back on track. Could you please send a photo of your project to [email protected] so we can have a deeper look? We’ll be able to better visualize what’s going on that way!
All the best,
Gavriella
Hello Gabriella.
Thank you for the prompt reply.
Sorry I didn’t see your message.
Will send you photos
Many thanks.
Rika
Hi! Like many of the other commentors, I have finished the first 9 rows and am confused by the set it up row. I understand that I need to cut the yarn and leave a 6in tail, but when it says rejoin, what am I rejoining? When I rejoin, do I end up with a gap with a length of yarn where I slipped 9? Or do I instead pull the adjacent stitches snug up to each other, so that the slipped stitches are bunched up? Little confused by how to do this/what exactly I am doing.
Hi Campbell,
Great question! The reason that you cut the yarn and slip these stitches is so that each side of the sole is at the same level. If you were to knit the slipped stitches instead, that side of the sole would end up a row higher than the other side, which can look pretty imbalanced in such a small project! And you have to cut the yarn to make this work so that there isn’t a long float going behind all the slipped stitches. To rejoin your yarn means to begin knitting with your working yarn again kind of the same way you could join a new ball of yarn. You can find a quick tutorial on how this can be done here.
I hope this helps clarify the way this pattern was designed, and please let us know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Gavriella
Hi,
I am having trouble with this pattern as well. This is my fourth time ripping it out and I’ve now moved on to another color as I can’t bear to work it again from the same yarn. As another knitter mentioned, my bootie looks nothing like the one shown. My problem starts with Row 1 under Sole. After I slip the first stitch (wyif) and begin to k8, where should my yarn be to start the k8. Should I move it to the back before k8 or leave it in the front. It looks like a mess as I continue to work the short rows and the knitting doesn’t look the same on each side. I’m really frustrated. Please help. Thank you.
Hi Ann,
Thank you for writing in although we are sorry to hear you are hitting a bump in this pattern. Any time you are ready to knit a knit stitch, you will want to have your yarn in back. Leaving your yarn in front will create a yarn over which will leave gaps in your project. Sometimes this can be done as a desired stitch detail but in this case, you are slipping 1 with yarn in front and then knitting 8. So after the slipped stitch, you will want to make sure you are moving yarn to the back again in to make sure you don’t increase your number of stitches. I hope this helps!
All the best,
Gavriella
This is hilarious. The pattern is a standard bootie pattern but it’s not the sox that are pictured.
Hi Lesley,
I’m so sorry to hear that the photos don’t look like what you expected! I can confirm that the photos are all showing the samples we knit directly from this pattern. Would you mind letting us know which ones in particular don’t look right? We’d love to take a closer look to ensure there’s no confusion going forward!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you for this pattern! It is so fun and cute! I added an icord ( 2 stitches cast on ) and knitted it 5 inches long. I shaped it into a bow and tacked it onto the front midpoint of each bootie just for fun! Looking forward to your next pattern.
Hi Janice,
We are so happy to hear you enjoyed this pattern and even added a new detail! That’s such a lovely idea and we appreciate you sharing!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Such cute baby socks! Did a pair and will certainly be making more. One of the adjustments I’ve made to the pattern is not to cut the yarn. Just bring the yarn forward and backward every other time as you slip those 9 (11) sts. The “floats” will be hidden since it’s garter stitch anyway. Much easier!! Love this quick pattern, great car knitting during travel; husband driving of course!
What a great trick! Thanks for sharing!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you so much for this tip! I was working out how I could do wrap & turn because I also didn’t want to deal with a cut end to have to weave in (I’d rather get the w&t practice!) but I’ll proceed with this instead!
I am making my fourth pair of these darling booties and I think the instructions are spot on. Trust, and follow the pattern. It works. I am thinking that I might try to make a thin icord in a lace weight or fingering weight yarn to weave through the tops of the booties so they don’t stretch and fall off. I am in the planning stages.
Hi Leslie!
Thank you so much for the additional feedback. I am sure this will be very helpful to other knitters as they begin knitting their projects!
Happy making,
Gavriella
Hi, thanks for the pattern. I’m having difficulty understanding the bind off. I have it exactly as your picture, but if I do a 3 needle bind off I’ll be joining the top of the bootie closed together and that doesn’t make sense.
Hi Valeria,
Thank you for writing in although we are sorry to hear you are running into issues here. Could you please send a photo of your project to [email protected] so we can have a deeper look? We’ll be able to better visualize what’s going on that way!
All the best,
Gavriella
These are adorable! If you bought the kit you can use your leftover yarn from the good morning blanket to make these- I used 1 color on the heel and a different color on the rest of the pattern and it’s a perfect amount for a pair in the 1-3 month size.
Planning the rest of my color combinations now!
Hi! I’m curious why I shouldn’t do a regular bind off. I don’t see the point of a 3 needle bind off.
Hi Maryellen,
Thanks for writing in! The reason you need to do a 3-needle bind-off at this stage of the pattern is to close up the back of the heel. The 3-needle bind-off allows you to close up the heel easily in one simple step!
If you prefer a normal bind-off though, you could do that. You’d just need to seam the heel up after you’re done, which adds a step!
All the best,
Lili
Hi! I am having trouble placing my marker after the cast on….i have been knitting the first row and then add the marker….my work looks like the picture shown in the pattern…
Once I get to the last two rows of sole…I should be on the right side and end on wrong…. Mine is opposite…
Cute bootie!! Thank you, Diane
Hi Diane,
Thank you for writing in although we are sorry to hear you are running into issues here. Could you please send a photo of your project to [email protected] so we can have a deeper look? We’ll be able to better visualize what’s going on that way!
All the best,
Gavriella
Hello!
So excited to make these booties!
Will this cotton yarn shrink in the dryer, or has the yarn already been pre-shrunk?
Hi Melissa,
Thank you for asking! This yarn will not shrink when washed but if you’d like to be sure, we always recommend knitting a quick gauge swatch!
All the best,
Gavriella
I just finished my first pair! This pattern — and all Purl Soho patterns I’ve ever knit — are just fantastic and so easy to follow! Plus, the Purl Soho tutorials are well-done and really help — really a one-stop knitting shop. The Chirp yarn is a total dream to work with, and the colours just dance off the needles.
I might try the suggestion from a knitter to make a fine I-cord to keep the ankle snug to kicking feet. Hoping to find a compatible colour in my stash!
Hello sorry for thus stupid question. I finished the sock and at the point where it say to fold the sick in half and do a 3 needle bind off for the heel. When and how do I bind off the stitches on the needle at the end? Do I bind them off before I do the 3 needle bind off? Thank you!
Hi Jayne,
There is no such thing as a silly question! We would love to help you get back on track. Could you please send a photo of your project to [email protected] so we can have a deeper look? We’ll be able to better visualize what’s going on that way!
All the best,
Gavriella
Hello,
Would this bootie pattern work with your Morning yarn I recently purchased.
Thank you,
Diana
Hi Diana,
Thank you for asking! Morning would work wonderfully for this pattern!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Thanks for sharing this cute bootie pattern.
I was also confused before doing the 3-needle bind-off; as the remaining stitches on the needles, look like they could be for the leg. That’s what make this pattern unique from other patterns. Once I took a closer look at the picture, I realized how the stitches where running).
Please note, that your instructions for binding off, say to have the wrong sides facing each other, wherein the video suggest the right sides should face each other.
Thank you again.
Hi Sheryl,
Thanks for writing in! A 3-needle bind-off can be worked both ways. Our tutorial demonstrates the more common way (with right sides facing each other), but many patterns use this technique with the wrong sides facing each other. The pattern should always make note of which option you should use so that there’s no ambiguity!
All the best,
Lili
Such a quick and easy knit! I am a relatively new knitter and haven’t done much that’s complicated, and found this easy to follow. The instructions are clear and straightforward. However, after finishing the first bootie, it seems way too big, even though my swatch was right and the size matches the sizes given in the pattern. Seems super big for a baby foot!
Hi Anna,
We’re so glad to hear that you had a great time knitting this pattern! The size might look a bit bigger than expected because cotton doesn’t have much elasticity. That means that it isn’t able to stretch as much as other fibers, such as wool, so each size needs to be big enough to fit without having to stretch. Are you able to have the baby try it on yet? If it’s way too big, then we can brainstorm alternate options from there!
All the best,
Lili
These are darling.
I want a pair
Seriously, my grandsons would LOVE a pair of these.
But they are not babies anymore. Rather, they are stocky, string 8 year old boys (twins). Probably even their older 12 year old brother would want a pair.
But I know they would. They hardly ever wear shoes, not unless absolutely necessary.
SO
on behalf of those two guys (and not to mention myself, oh I guess I did 😉)
IS THERE A PATTERN FOR LARGER SIZE?
or
HOW can it be adapted to make it larger?? I need actual instructions.
Hi Harley,
I’m so glad that you love this pattern! I’m afraid that resizing this pattern will take considerable modifications, which are currently out of our wheelhouse. I can totally see how more sizes would be super useful though, so I’m going to pass along your message to our design team for future consideration! They’re always eager to hear about what our customers are interested in seeing on our website. In the meantime, you could try using a thicker yarn/larger gauge and knitting the pattern as written!
All the best,
Lili