Yellow Submarine Knit Baby Boots

Yellow Submarine Knit Baby Boots by Nuria Pastor

Project Overview

The Yellow Submarine Baby Booties are a charming knitted footwear design created by independent designer Nuria Pastor. Originally designed in crochet, this knitted version was developed in response to requests from knitters seeking a needle-based interpretation. These booties draw inspiration from The Beatles, making them a whimsical and culturally meaningful gift for young children. The finished booties measure 10 (11) centimeters long by 5 centimeters wide, accommodating babies aged 0 to 6 months and 6 to 12 months.

Techniques and Advanced Skills

This intermediate-level knitting project is designed to help crafters master several advanced techniques. The pattern teaches Judy's magic cast-on, a specialized cast-on method that creates a seamless foundation ideal for small, circular projects like baby booties. Short rows are incorporated into the construction, allowing for shaping and three-dimensional structure without increasing stitch counts dramatically. The design also features i-cord construction, a technique that creates small, tubular knitted cords used decoratively on the finished booties. These techniques combine to create a sophisticated finished product suitable for intermediate knitters looking to expand their skill set.

Stitches and Construction

The primary stitch used throughout the booties is stockinette stitch (St st), which creates a smooth, classic fabric base. The gauge for the main bootie sections is 12.5 stitches by 18 rows in stockinette stitch when worked with the larger needles. The decorative elements—periscopes, propellers, and portholes—are constructed using smaller needles and different yarn weights, creating visual contrast and textural interest that enhances the submarine theme.

Materials and Tools

The Yellow Submarine Baby Booties require chunky-weight yarn for the main bootie construction. The sample shown was knitted using multiple yarn types: Eskimo, Promo Fin, and Niki yarns. For the main booties, crafters need 44 (48) metres or 48 (53) yards of 100% Wool Super Bulky yarn in shade 24 yellow (54 yards per 50 grams). Additional yarn is required for decorative elements: 17.4 metres (19.0 yards) of Promo Fin, a Sport or 5-ply yarn composed of 100% Acryl.

Needle requirements include:

• 6.5 mm [US 10½] double-pointed needles (DPNs) or an 80 centimeter [32 inch] circular needle for the main bootie sections
• 3.0 mm [US 2½] DPNs for the periscope details
• 3.5 mm [US 4] DPNs for propeller and porthole elements

Additional notions include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping, and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends and finishing seams.

Yarn Weight and Gauge

The primary yarn weight used is Super Bulky, which allows the project to work up quickly despite the small finished size. The gauge specification of 12.5 stitches by 18 rows in stockinette stitch using the larger needles ensures proper fit and bootie structure. The use of multiple yarn weights and needle sizes throughout the pattern creates intentional gauge variations that contribute to the three-dimensional submarine aesthetic.