Cassandra - side buttoning boots

Cassandra Side Buttoning Boots by Jennifer Lee

What is Being Made

Cassandra is a knitted baby boot pattern designed to keep infants' toes warm and cosy throughout winter. These boots feature distinctive side buttoning closures, making them both functional and charming for newborns through nine-month-old babies. The pattern includes sizing for four age ranges: 0–3 months, 3–6 months, 6–9 months, and 9+ months, with corresponding foot lengths ranging from 7cm to 10cm (2¾ inches to 4 inches).

Techniques and Construction Methods

The Cassandra boots are constructed using fundamental knitting techniques suitable for intermediate-level knitters. The primary construction method involves garter stitch, which is created by knitting every row. This classic stitch produces a textured, reversible fabric with excellent stretch and recovery—ideal for baby garments that need to accommodate growing feet while maintaining a secure fit.

The pattern incorporates several essential knitting techniques including:

• Make 1 (M1) increases: Created by picking up the loop lying before the next stitch, placing it on the left-hand needle, and knitting into the back of the loop to create new stitches without visible holes
• Slip stitches (sl): Used for shaping and creating clean edges throughout the boot construction
• Pass slipped stitch over (psso): A decrease method that creates a neat, left-leaning reduction in stitch count
• Yarn forward (yfwd): Used to create decorative eyelet details or buttonholes for the signature side buttoning feature

The side buttoning closure is achieved through strategically placed buttonholes worked into the boot structure, allowing six small buttons to secure the boots snugly around the ankle and foot.

Stitches Used

The pattern relies primarily on garter stitch as the foundational stitch throughout the boot. This stitch is achieved by knitting every row, creating a bumpy, textured fabric that lies flat and provides excellent elasticity for baby garments. Additional shaping stitches include increases (M1), decreases (psso), and yarn forward techniques for buttonhole placement.

Yarn and Materials

The Cassandra boots are designed to be knitted using Lincraft Superwash 8ply yarn, a practical choice for baby garments due to its washability and durability. The pattern requires one 100g ball of Main Colour (MC) and one 100g ball of Contrast Colour (CC) for all four sizes, with each ball offering 190 metres of yardage. The superwash treatment ensures these boots can withstand frequent washing necessary for baby clothing.

Knitting is worked on 3.75mm (UK size 9, US size 5) knitting needles, which are sized to achieve the specified tension of 22.5 stitches and 44 rows over 10cm (4 inches) in garter stitch. Additional materials required include a wool needle for sewing seams together, a safety pin for holding stitches, and six small buttons for the side closures.

Pattern Details

Rated as an easy pattern despite intermediate difficulty classification, the Cassandra boots offer an accessible project for knitters with basic skills. The straightforward garter stitch construction combined with simple shaping techniques makes this an ideal pattern for those developing their knitting proficiency. The downloadable PDF format provides complete instructions across four pages, including detailed abbreviations and tension specifications to ensure proper fit for each size range.