Sweet Steps Ruffled Booties

On May 21, 2025 35 0

Just imagine those tiny toes wiggling in a pair of these absolutely precious ruffled booties! Looking at the image, you can see these aren’t just any baby shoes; they are little bundles of handmade joy. And the best part? You can learn to fashion a pair just like them! This guide will walk you through each step, transforming soft yarn into a cherished keepsake. If you’re new to crochet, welcome! We’ll go over all the basics together, making this a wonderful first (or next!) project.

What You’ll Need to Gather

Before we begin our lovely little project, let’s get our supplies ready. For these booties, which are designed to be soft and sweet, we’ll use:

🧶 DK Weight Yarn:
- About 50g in a Dusty Rose Pink (for the main bootie)
- Small amount in Creamy White (for the ruffles)
- Tiny amount in a Soft Grey (for the sole accent)
🪝 Crochet Hook: 4.0mm (G/6)
🎀 Satin Ribbon: About 2 feet (60cm) of light pink ribbon, ¼ inch (6mm) wide
✂️ Scissors
🪡 Yarn Needle (for weaving in ends)

Getting Started: Your Crochet ABCs

If terms like “chain stitch” or “double crochet” sound like a secret code, don’t worry! Here’s a simple rundown of the stitches we’ll be using. Practice these a few times before you start the booties if you’re brand new.

Slip Knot: This is how you get the yarn onto your hook to begin. Make a loop with your yarn, lay the hook over the strand leading to the ball, and pull a loop through. Tighten gently onto the hook.
Chain Stitch (ch): Yarn over your hook (yo), then pull the yarn through the loop already on your hook. That’s one chain! We often start projects with a series of these.
Slip Stitch (sl st): Insert your hook into a specified stitch, yarn over, and pull the yarn through both the stitch and the loop on your hook in one motion. It’s used to join pieces or rounds, or to move your yarn without adding height.
Single Crochet (sc): Insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (you’ll have two loops on your hook). Yarn over again, and pull through both loops on your hook. This is a nice, tight stitch.

Half Double Crochet (hdc): Yarn over, insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (three loops on hook). Yarn over again, and pull through all three loops on hook. It’s a lovely, slightly cushy stitch.
Double Crochet (dc): Yarn over, insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (three loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through two loops (two loops left on hook). Yarn over again, pull through the remaining two loops. This is a taller stitch.
Front Post Double Crochet (FPdc) & Back Post Double Crochet (BPdc): These stitches make the ribbed texture you see on the cuff. Instead of inserting your hook into the top of the stitch from the row below, you work around the post (the vertical part) of the stitch.
- For FPdc: Yarn over, insert your hook from front to back to front around the post of the indicated stitch from the row below, then complete your double crochet as normal.
- For BPdc: Yarn over, insert your hook from back to front to back around the post of the indicated stitch from the row below, then complete your double crochet as normal.

Let’s Make These Adorable Booties!

We’ll make two identical booties. Remember to keep your tension even – not too tight, not too loose – for the best results. The instructions are for a bootie approximately 3.5-4 inches long, suitable for a 0-3 month old baby.

Part 1: The Bootie Sole (Bottom)

The sole of these booties is an oval, providing a comfy base. We start with Dusty Rose Pink.

Foundation: With Dusty Rose Pink yarn, ch 11.
Round 1: Work 2 hdc in the 2nd ch from hook (this counts as your first hdc increase). Hdc in each of the next 8 ch. Work 5 hdc in the last ch (this shapes the toe). Now, working along the other side of the foundation chain, hdc in each of the next 8 ch. Work 3 hdc in the very first ch space where you put your initial 2 hdc (this completes the heel shaping). Sl st to the top of the first hdc to join. (You should have 26 hdc).
- Beginner Tip: When you turn to work on the other side of the chain, you’re essentially crocheting around it to form an oval.
Round 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch here and throughout). Work 2 hdc in each of the first 2 stitches. Hdc in each of the next 8 stitches. Work 2 hdc in each of the next 5 stitches (toe increases). Hdc in each of the next 8 stitches. Work 2 hdc in each of the last 3 stitches (heel increases). Sl st to the top of the first hdc to join. (36 hdc).
Round 3: Ch 1. Hdc in first st. 2 hdc in next st. Hdc in next st. 2 hdc in next st. Hdc in next 8 sts. (Hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st) 5 times. Hdc in next 8 sts. (Hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st) 3 times. Sl st to top of first hdc. (46 hdc). Fasten off Pink.
Round 4 (Grey Accent): Join Soft Grey yarn with a sl st anywhere in the previous round. Ch 1. Sc in each stitch around. Sl st to the first sc to join. (46 sc). Fasten off Grey.
Round 5 (White Scalloped Edge): Join Creamy White yarn with a sl st. Ch 1. Sk next st, work 5 dc in the next st (this is a shell), sk next st, sl st in next st. Repeat from * to * all the way around. You may need to adjust the skips slightly at the end to make it even, aiming for about 11-12 shells. Sl st to the first ch 1 (or base of first shell) to join. Fasten off White. This completes the sole with its distinct grey line and white scalloped edge.

Part 2: The Bootie Upper (Main Foot Part)

This section forms the body of the bootie in Dusty Rose Pink. We will be working in the back loops only (BLO) of the last pink round (Round 3 of the sole) to help the sides turn upwards.

Round 1 (BLO): With Dusty Rose Pink yarn, join with a sl st to any back loop of Round 3 of the sole (the pink round just before the grey). Ch 1. Hdc in BLO of each stitch around. Sl st to the first hdc to join. (46 hdc).
- Why BLO? Working in the back loops only helps to make a nice, defined edge between the sole and the side of the bootie.
Round 2-3: Ch 1. Hdc in each stitch around. Sl st to the first hdc to join. (46 hdc for 2 rounds).

Now we will start shaping the toe area with decreases. A decrease means working two stitches together to become one. We’ll use hdc2tog (half double crochet two together): Yarn over, insert hook in next st, yo, pull up loop. Yo, insert hook in next st, yo, pull up loop. Yo, pull through all 5 loops on hook.

Round 4 (Toe Shaping): Ch 1. Hdc in next 14 sts. (Hdc2tog, hdc in next st) 6 times. Hdc in remaining 10 sts. Sl st to first hdc. (40 sts).
Round 5 (More Toe Shaping): Ch 1. Hdc in next 13 sts. (Hdc2tog) 6 times. Hdc in remaining 11 sts. Sl st to first hdc. (34 sts).
Round 6: Ch 1. Hdc in each stitch around. Sl st to the first hdc to join. (34 hdc).

Part 3: The Ankle Cuff (Ribbed Section)

This section features the pink ribbed texture and the eyelets for the ribbon. We switch to double crochet stitches here for the ribbing.

Round 7 (Ribbing Setup): Ch 2 (counts as first dc). Dc in each stitch around. Sl st to top of beginning ch-2 to join. (34 dc).
Round 8 (Ribbing): Ch 2 (counts as first dc, treat as a regular dc post for the next round). FPdc around the post of the next dc from the previous round. BPdc around the post of the next dc. Repeat from * to * around. The last stitch might be an FPdc or BPdc depending on your count; keep the pattern consistent. Sl st to top of beginning ch-2. (34 sts).
- Beginner Tip: FPdc and BPdc can feel fiddly at first. Go slow! Make sure you’re going around the entire post of the stitch, not just into a loop.
Round 9 (Eyelets for Ribbon): Ch 3 (counts as dc + ch 1). Skip next st. Dc in next st, ch 1, sk next st. Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to the 2nd ch of the beginning ch-3 to join. (You will have 17 dc stitches and 17 ch-1 spaces).
Round 10 (Final Cuff Round): Ch 2 (counts as first dc). Dc in each ch-1 space and in each dc from the previous round. Sl st to top of beginning ch-2. (34 dc). Do not fasten off Pink if you are continuing directly to the ruffle with white. If you prefer, you can fasten off Pink and join White.

Part 4: The Top Ruffle (White)

This beautiful crisp white ruffle is made with clusters of double crochet stitches.

Round 11 (Ruffle): Join Creamy White yarn (if you fastened off pink) with a sl st. Ch 1. Work 3 dc in the next stitch. Sl st in the following stitch. Repeat from * to * all the way around. This means you are putting a little shell of 3 dc, then anchoring it with a sl st. Sl st to the first ch-1 (or base of first 3-dc group) to join. Fasten off White.

Part 5: Finishing Touches

Weave in Ends: Using your yarn needle, carefully weave in all loose yarn tails on the inside of the bootie.
Add Ribbon: Thread your light pink satin ribbon through the eyelet holes (ch-1 spaces from Round 9) of the cuff. Start at the front center, weave it in and out, and tie it into a lovely bow as seen in the image. Trim the ribbon ends at an angle to prevent fraying.

Repeat all steps to make the second bootie.

Tips for Bootie Bliss

Count Your Stitches: Especially on the sole and shaping rounds, counting ensures your booties will match and have the right form.
Even Tension: Try to pull your loops to a consistent size. This comes with practice!
Don’t Be Afraid to Undo: If you spot a mistake, it’s often better to gently pull out the stitches (this is called ‘frogging’ because you ‘rip-it, rip-it’!) and redo that part.
Customise It: While these instructions aim to replicate the booties in the image, feel free to choose different colors once you’re comfortable!

You’ve Fashioned Something Special!

And there you have it – a pair of utterly charming Little Ruffle Feet booties, put together with your own two hands! Imagine the smiles when these are unwrapped as a gift, or the sweet sight of them on a little one’s feet. Every stitch holds a bit of your care and attention.

We would be so thrilled to see your finished booties! Please do share photos of your handiwork. Happy crocheting!