Beginner Knit Baby Booties “Moccasins”
So my brother requested that I knit something for his dear friend who is having a little baby boy. I love all the baby moccasins that I am seeing around, so I decided to attempt a knit moccasin. It took a few tries, but my pattern finally turned out nicely and they are really great for a beginner. You could easily make them without the “leather” and they would be simple, basic booties. They work up fast using size 8 needles and aran weight yarn. You just need to know how to do the knit stitch (garter stitch) and how to knit two together. And guess what, these are made of 100% organic cotton! It doesn’t get softer, sweeter or more eco-friendly than that, does it? An earthy little pair of footwear, no?
**These are sized for a 3 to 6 month old. They measure 4 inches long, and are about 2 inches wide.
You will need:
One skein Lion Brand Natures Choice Organic Yarn, or another aran weight yarn
Size 8 Knitting Needles
Scissors
A small piece of faux leather fabric (not vinyl). You need a soft, thin fabric. I got mine at Jo-Ann Fabric and they had a good selection.
Thread for hand sewing (Make sure you use a thread that is heavy duty so it doesn’t snap when you attach the leather to the stretchy knit fabric)
Tapestry Needle
Hand Sewing Needle
How I Made them “Pattern”:
With your size 8 knitting needles, cast on 18 stitches
Knit in Garter stitch for 2 inches
Begin Decrease by doing the following:
Knit the first two together in the row, then knit across (garter stitch), and knit two together at end of row
Knit (garter stitch) the next two rows
Knit the first two stitches together, knit across, and knit the last two stitches together
Now you will knit (garter) each row until the entire piece (from heel to toe) reaches 4 inches long
The final row you will decrease for the final time:
Once your piece is 4 inches long, you will make the final row as follows. *Knit the first two together, Knit 2* Continue this pattern from * to * across the row.
Cut a long tail, thread your tapestry needle and carefully place all stitches over your tapestry needle. Pull to tighten in order to create the end of the tow. Tie off.
Turn bootie inside out, and sew up the seam with your tail leaving a large enough opening for the foot.
Sew up the seam in the back of the bootie.
Turn right side out.
Attaching the leather fringe:
This part is as simple as cutting a rectangle piece of fabric, cutting fringe and sewing it onto the bootie.
Here is a bit more detail:
I am really excited to mail these off to the expecting Mama in New York City! I am trying to think of what to include with them. If you have any ideas, let me know!
If you enjoyed this, feel free to follow me to see more easy and free patterns 🙂 Thank you!
really adorable!!!!
xxxxx Ale
Aww, thanks so much, Ale!
I agree! They r really cute! Simple little pattern n think that makes em cuter!
Oh my gosh, those are really cute! I want a pair or two to have on hand for sweet little ones. What a great idea.
A woman after my own heart! My suggestion for an accompanying gift would be a rattle as it stays with the indigenous theme and its purpose is to alter the brain waves allowing one to enter into altered states of consciousness. Works for baby and adults! I think you’re on to something as it is time for us all to return to what we once knew and many have forgotten! Thank you for remembering! 🙂
Hi Gisele! Thanks for the kind words about the booties, and I completely agree that we should get back to our basics. I just love the rattle idea. Now if I could find a wooden one, how perfect would that be?
So cute! I would make a hat to match.
Thanks Adriana for that suggestion! A hat would be super cute, and they are fun to make!
I `m in my 60 tys wonder if you have some more cute ideas to make some more things. Make them for different people, so if you have any more things you can knit please pass them on. Carole Rae
Hi Carole Rae, I’d be happy to! The easiest way is for you to subscribe to the blog by putting your email address in the “Subscribe” box. I can do it for you as well if you let me know. So glad that you like the knitting patterns!
Please sign me up for all communication!
We have a brand new baby, so I’m thinking he might need them sized for 6 months. Any way you could give me the pattern for that size? I think they’ll be a real hit!
Hi Nancy! I am so glad that you like these! I soooo wish that I could give you a pattern for the size you want, but I only made this one set of booties and haven’t tried to figure out other sizes. My suggestion might be to find a basic pattern for a pair of booties that you like in the size you need, use a brown yarn, and attach the fringe in the same way that I have done here. I wonder if that could work? Sorry I don’t have the pattern for all sizes!
Will, do. Thanks Nancy!
Thanks for what you do to inspire others.
Hi Melynda,
Thank you so much for your very kind words! It is funny, because I feel inspired by those of you who stop in, like yourself. Thank you!
They look so cute, can’t wait to knit them – new style for Irish babies!!
Hi Margaret,
That is too cute! Got to love an Irish baby in moccasins! 🙂
Love the baby mocks.
So glad that you like them, Lyn!
Fantastic booties! Is it possible to make them bigger for a 12 month old baby??
Thanks, Sharon Ankrom
Hi Sharon!
I’m so happy that you like these! I am sure it is possible to make them to size for a 12 month old, but I only made this one set of booties, so I don’t have a pattern for 12 months old. I’m so sorry! I will have to think about more sizes next time I make booties.
Loved the pattern but had to write it out as i tried twice to print it but no such luck
Hi Brenda,
I wish my blog had the capability of making a printer friendly version, but I haven’t figured that out. If you copy and paste into Word, and then print, that should work for you next time. Sorry for the trouble! Glad you liked the booties :).
Brenda, if you go to: https://www.printfriendly.com you can put the URL of a site into a box there and it will turn the page into a PDF. It is really quick and easy.
Thank you so much for this bootie pattern. I am starting to make hats & booties for our local hospital nursery and NICU [Nursery Intensive Care Unit]. We have a large percent of Native Americans in this area, and the moccasins will be very appropriate. Your sharing is very much appreciated!
Hi Pat!
Sharing this pattern is my pleasure! Thank you for your kind words about the booties. I think it is so wonderful that there are people like you making hats and booties for NICU babies. Thank you for doing that! I think it is so neat that you have a lot of Native Americans in your area as I have always been intrigued with their culture.
Thanks again, Pat!
Your mocs are so cute! I look forward to making them too! Thank you for such cute patterns. Sign me up for more.
Awww, you are welcome Cheryl! I will sign you up for more patterns for sure. Thank YOU for your kind words.
Looking forward to trying this pattern! They are adorable! Thanks for sharing…
It’s my pleasure to share! I hope that you enjoy the pattern, Robbie.
They are the best I have seen for awhile as we are approching winter my little ones need this kind of footwear. To make bigger will I just add more stitches Frances Margaret
Hi Frances,
I am so happy that you like these. You have a great idea to add stitches in order to make them larger. Thanks for sharing the idea in case others may want to do the same thing. I hope you enjoy making them!
Thanks my dear for the quick reply will try and make them for my darling little one I guess we just let our imagination flow will let you know soon cheers Frances M argaret
Just found your great pattern for baby booties and loved them.
I have a new Grand Nephew and will make this pattern. Thanks so much for sharing.
Hi Marlene!
I’m so happy that you like the pattern. I really hope you enjoy making them for your precious grand nephew!
Thanks for responding so fast Jessica! I’ll try and figure it out…
Love the booties – so cute – I have signed up above I hope this will allow me to receive more of you wonderful ideas and patterns – I love to knit and have 2 new babies about to join the family – along with the 4 year old and my 18 month old Grand Daughter already here – thanks so much – Susan
Wow – you are going to have a lot of wonderful grandchildren to love! Congrats on your two new little ones. I am so glad you like the booties. 🙂 Thanks for signing up as well!
sign me up for the newsletter!
thanks
Will do, Lisa!
I love this pattern!
I am a great grand mother to two beautiful girls , 21 months and 6 months old and expecting a new baby in December. My grand daughter would love these! I don’t crochet yet but started to knit…so please sign me up for your next patterns. Have a great day!
Gisele
Hi Gisele! Congrats to you on your great grandgirls, and soon to be new baby! Thanks for taking the time to let me know that you like the pattern! I will sign you up for the new posts. Thank you!
HELP!!!
I’m new to knitting and I can’t get the toe of my booties to look like yours. Mine turn out much longer?
Do you decrease every row while knitting the four inches?
How many stitches left on needle to pull yarn thru?
I love this pattern but mine don’t look like yours
Hi Chris!
Ok, so the entire piece should be 4 inches long. If you made 4 inches AFTER you started to decrease, they will be way too long. Does that make sense, and is that what may have happened? If so, you just need to pull it out to where the entire piece is 4 inches. It might help you to look at how my picture looks before I tied up the toe. Let me know if that helps!
These booties are so cute. I am making a baby blanket in fall colors for a baby due the end of October , and when I saw these I thought they would look really cute to make these to match. Thank you for this pattern.
Hi Jessica,
I love all kind of craft. I like knitting for babies, this will be a nice addition to my layettes instead of the regular booties
Thank you for the pattern.I will be using it soon, as I have 2 friends expecting later this year
Thanks again.
Fay
Hi Fay! You’re welcome. I’m so happy that you’d like to give these a try for your friends who are expecting.
Hi Jessica
I made the mocassins and added them to my layette they were so cute, every loved them .
Thanks again for the psttern. I am attempting a larger size, will send you the conversion when it is completed if works.
Blessings
Fay
Fay – I’m so happy to hear that they worked out so well for you! Thank you so much for sending a conversion if you make a larger size. People will love to have that. Thanks for taking the time to let me know! Feel free to post a pic on my Facebook page if you’d like as well. Thanks again, Fay!
very nice
Thanks Peggy! 🙂
I love how these look! Can’t wait to make them. I have signed up to get more great patterns from you! Thank you so much for sharing this!
Hi Sue,
Thanks for you kind words about them! You’re welcome – it’s fun for me to share.
I am so grateful that I just found your site! It is absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait to try this baby moccasin pattern (my baby boy is almost 9 months, so I’m going to try to increase the size a bit. Also really looking forward to trying the seed stitch slouch hat!
I am also a CO native, up in the Front Range. What are some of your favorite knitting/yarn shops in our beautiful state? I certainly go to JoAnns most often for yarn (I too prefer lion brand), but for special projects I’ll venture into a colorful shop.
Happy Knitting!
Hi Bethany!
How fun to hear from someone right here in Colorado! I’m so happy you like the patterns and site. Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know. ☺️ I hope it works for you to increase the booties a bit to make them fit your 9 month old. What a cute age! I also mostly hit up JoAnns or Michaels. I also like to go to Old Colorado City to Needleworks….it’s pretty small, but they have been helpful and I love the feel of Old Colorado City. It’s also just fun to see the other little galleries and shops in Old Colorado City. Do you have any other yarn stores that you enjoy here?
hi,
I love working with my hands. I’m new to knitting and I love your easy moccs!
I tried it but was too narrow,about the size of an adult’s digit.. not sure what went wrong as I followed your instructions to the T..
beautiful moccs,I want to try them again and add more stitches.
Hi! Oh no, that’s too bad it didn’t work! Are you sure you are using the correct needle size, and have you made sure the yarn is the same as the yarn used here? It is kind of a chunky yarn, so that could be an issue too if you are using something small. Maybe if you have a knitter friend, they could help you out. Hope they work for you next round!
Hi once again!
Good news, did the moccs again but this time I doubled my yarn we have only one type here and CO nine more stitches as my needles were sizes 9 and ten…borrowed since I’m a beginner.. VOILÀ! done it but I didn’t add the leather… Great work!
Thank you for sharing! If there’s more stuff for beginners please do let me know.
You’re welcome! I’m so glad that it worked out for you! If you’ve learned to purl, you can do some of the easy scarves I have listed under “Knitting Patterns” in the menu on the website. Another good one are the knit fingerless gloves. But you do have to know how to knit and purl for those. 🙂
this looks like a cute pattern. I am expecting 2 great-grandsons. One in January & 1 in February. i will be using this pattern. I wonder how it would look with dark brown I-Cord fringe instead of leather?
Congratulations! I think that the I-cord would be very cute and creative. You really can do anything you’d like with these booties. 🙂 Hope you enjoy them!
Hello,
I just stumbled across the moccasin pattern and am excited to start. I was hoping you could clarify your pattern a bit as I find myself slightly confused. After you have knit 2 inches in garter stitch you you begin to decrease the pattern. The pattern states you are to k2t garter stitch across k2t, straight garter stitch for two rows and then lists that sequence again. I was wondering if we were to continue this process untill the piece is 4 inches long or if we are supposed to just knit garter stitch straight across until the pieces teaches 4 inches long and on the final row follow the step listed in your pattern. I’m excited to try these out and look forward to your clarification!
Hi Alicia,
So I think I understand your question! You basically just do those couple specific rows of decreasing, and then do the straight garter stitch until the entire piece is the 4 inches long. You make a final row with a decrease at the end. Does that clarify it at all?