I have to admit I really struggled as I wrote this week’s post about crocheting baby booties. You see, for the last year and a half I took a break from Grace Elizabeth’s because life took over. I checked and seriously the last time I contributed was August 2014. That is like a lifetime ago! What have I been doing? Oh you know moved to a new state, finished college, helped my husband launch a youth ministry. The usual. During my time away, I barely touched any creative projects. But I did find an excuse.
Just under a year ago there was a baby boom for people I knew. As I thought about baby gifts, I realized the most affordable (and probably most meaningful) gifts I could give would be handmade. I finally had a chance to hold yarn again! I set out to create baby booties!
[Tweet “My first attempt back in the saddle was pretty sad. #BabyBooties #Crochet”]It amazes me how much you remember… and forget… when you step away from crocheting for more than a year. Honestly, I had to look up how to double crochet because I wasn’t 100% sure I was doing it right. My first attempt back in the saddle was pretty sad. I found a free baby booties pattern online and it didn’t make sense to me. Plus it was much bigger than the size I wanted to make. Probably for two reasons 1) I was crocheting looser 2) I picked a pattern that was bigger than I thought I wanted. After that poor choice on my part, I decided why not just make a pattern myself? I know the basics and experimenting with crochet is relatively easy.
I had to look up sizing for baby feet to decide what size I wanted to make. After many distractions, I decided to try for a 3 month(ish) foot size. Creating a pattern for such a small item went much faster than I expected. I focused on the sole first and once I got the right length I built up from there. I even sketched the stitches out on paper to help visualize when and where I needed to put certain stitches.
As you can see, the finished product has buttons attached (and yes they actually button and unbutton). Want to know how cheap and lazy I was when I first made them? I didn’t own any type of needle to attach the buttons so I just crammed the yarn through. I don’t advise this. Go buy a darn tapestry or embroidery needle that fits. It will save you the headache I went through and better secure your button anyway. Don’t worry, I did finally buy a needle!
I am so excited to share this pattern with you in the future! I still need to have it tested by others to ensure quality, but later this year I hope to make it available!
It’s good to be back 🙂
Mackenzie is a member of the GE Creative Team and is the youngest of the trio of sisters. As a recent graduate in Family Studies, she uses her degree as the wife of a youth pastor and mentors teen girls. She’s a Nebraska girl living through North Dakota winters mostly by crocheting and sipping chai tea.
Those are really cute! I wish I could help you test it. I’m going to tackle sewing some baby shoes soon.
Thanks 🙂 Kira, do you crochet? (I can’t remember) If so, I could definitely use a tester once I get the pattern written up!
I don’t, I really wish I did though! I don’t know where to start, and I’m afraid if I do learn how, my pile of projects will triple in size! I finally just started to organize all my sewing things after 2 years in the house and I’m really disappointed/excited about all the unfinished projects I need to complete. And then having the baby I added a ton more to it. 🙂
Oh I totally get that!! So many projects! Who knew having a baby added to life?! She is seriously so cute! If you do want to learn crochet someday I can help with that! (We are planning something special for beginners later this year) But that’s a secret ?