How to Knit Adorable Baby Booties (Step-by-Step Guide with Lace & Colour Design)

Name: Knitting Knife by Chinki
Address: Himachal Pradesh, IN
Telephone: +91-7018228065
Price range: ₹1,200 - ₹5,000

2026-04-05 · 7 min read · Tutorial · By Chinki

Soft, colourful, and finished with lace eyelets — these knitted baby booties make perfect gifts. Adjustable sizing, three-colour design, and a professional double border that looks shop-bought.

These knitted baby booties pair perfectly with a handmade cardigan — and they're easier to make than they look. The design uses colour changes, short-row shaping for the toe, lace eyelets for threading a decorative cord, and a neat double border that gives a professional finish.

The finished bootie measures approximately 12 cm, but the slight stretch of knitted fabric means it fits babies with foot sizes up to 13–15 cm. Adjust the stitch count up or down to change the size.

What You'll Need

Yarn in 3 colours (main colour + 2 accent colours)
Knitting needles appropriate for your yarn weight
A tapestry needle for seaming
A crochet hook (optional, for making the lace cord)

Step 1: The Sole and Base

Cast on 37 stitches using your main colour yarn. Knit a few rows straight, then begin increasing at the centre to shape the sole:

Knit 15 stitches, yarn over, keep 3 centre stitches, yarn over, knit to end
On each increase row, the centre group grows: 3 → 5 → 7 → 9 → 11
Continue increasing for several rows to form the base and front shape

Step 2: The Ankle (Colour Change)

Switch to your first accent colour (e.g., green) and knit approximately 6 rows straight — no increases. This creates the coloured band around the ankle.

Step 3: Toe Shaping with Short Rows

Switch back to the main colour. Shape the toe using short rows — work partial rows, turning the work back and forth, and gradually increase the number of stitches worked each turn. This creates the curved toe shape without any seaming.

Step 4: Decreases and Second Colour Band

Switch to the second accent colour (e.g., blue) and begin decreasing — knit 3 together at specific points to shape the upper foot. Continue decreasing across rows until the bootie takes shape.

Step 5: Lace Eyelets and Double Border

Create a row of eyelets by working yarn over, knit 2 together across the row. These holes are where the decorative lace threads through.

Then knit a ribbed border (1 knit, 1 purl) and fold it over to create a double-thickness cuff. This gives the bootie a polished, store-bought look.

Step 6: Finishing

Seam the sole and back edges with invisible stitching
Make a lace cord — either crochet a chain or knit a single-stitch i-cord
Thread the cord through the eyelets and tie in a bow
Make a second identical bootie to complete the pair

Written by Chinki — Knitting Knife, Himachal Pradesh, India.