Lea - 4ply baby shoes

Lea 4ply Baby Shoes by Jennifer Lee

What is Being Made

Lea is a pair of knitted baby shoes designed for infants from newborn through nine months old. The shoes feature a classic garter stitch construction with a distinctive design element: two crossed ankle straps that fasten with small buttons for secure fit and easy dressing. The pattern includes four different sizes to accommodate growing feet, ranging from 7cm to 10cm in length.

Craft and Techniques

This is a knitting project rated as beginner level, making it an excellent introduction to constructing small garments. The pattern uses fundamental knitting techniques including casting on, basic increases using the make 1 (M1) method, decreasing stitches with pass slipped stitch over (psso), and binding off. The construction method involves knitting pieces that are then sewn together using a wool needle, a standard technique for finishing handmade knitwear.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout the Lea shoes is garter stitch, which is created by knitting every row. Garter stitch is one of the most fundamental knitting stitches and produces a dense, textured fabric with horizontal ridges on both sides. This stitch is ideal for baby garments because it lies flat, provides good structure, and is reversible—both sides look identical. The simplicity of garter stitch makes this pattern accessible to beginners while still producing a professional-looking finished product.

Materials and Specifications

The Lea shoes require minimal materials, making them an economical project:

• Yarn: One 50-gram ball of Lincraft Lullaby 4ply yarn (approximately 185 meters per ball). The 4ply weight is a lightweight yarn suitable for delicate baby garments. Only one ball is needed regardless of size selection.
• Needles: A pair of 3.25mm knitting needles (UK size 10, US size 3/4)
• Notions: Four small buttons for fastening the crossed ankle straps, plus a wool needle for sewing seams

Tension and Sizing

The pattern specifies a tension of 27 stitches and 54 rows over 10cm (4 inches) when working garter stitch on 3.25mm needles. Achieving correct tension is essential for proper fit, particularly important in baby footwear. The pattern provides four size options: Months 0, 3, 6, and 9, with corresponding foot measurements of 7cm (2¾ inches), 8cm (3¼ inches), 9cm (3½ inches), and 10cm (4 inches) respectively, allowing the shoes to grow with the baby or accommodate different foot sizes.

Pattern by Jennifer Lee Designs, 2012. Downloadable PDF format.