Shell Stitch Bootees
a free crochet pattern by
Megan Mills
8th January 2005
megan@kiwi.gen.nz
https://megan.kiwi.gen.nz

British Terminology Version

Special Abbreviation:

dc dec = (insert hook into next st, yoh and draw up a loop) twice, yoh and draw through all 3 loops on the hook.

Sole

Round 1:  Ch 20 loosely.  Working into the back ridge work 2htr into the 3rd ch from the hook, 1tr into each of the next 16 ch, 4htr into the next ch.  Working on the other side of the foundation ch 1tr into each of the next 16 ch.  Close the rnd with a ss into the 2nd ch at the beg of the rnd.

Round 2:  3ch, 1tr into the same sp, 2tr into each of the next 4 sts, 1tr into each of the next 13 sts, 2tr into each of the next 7 sts, 1tr into each of the next 13 sts, 2tr into the next st.  Close the rnd with a ss into the 3rd ch at the beg of the rnd.

Round 3:  3ch, 1tr into the same sp, 2tr into each of the next 8 sts, 1tr into each of the next 16 sts, 2tr into each of the next 10 sts, 1tr into each of the next 16 sts, 2tr into the next st.  Close the rnd with a ss into the 3rd ch at the beg of the rnd.  You now have 72 sts.

Side of the Foot

Round 4:  Keeping the slip stitches 'whole st size' because you will be treating them as sts at the end of this rnd ss over the next 5 sts, 1ch, 1dc into the same sp, *(skip 2 tr, 5tr into the next st, skip 2 tr, 1dc into the next st).  Repeat from * 11 times.  Skip 2 sts, 5tr into the next st.  Close the rnd with a ss into the top of the 1st dc at the beg of the rnd.

Round 5:  3ch, 2tr into the same sp, *(1dc into the 3rd tr of the next shell, 5tr into the next dc).  Repeat from * 11 times.  Dc into the 3rd tr of the next shell, 2tr into the same sp as the beg 3-ch.  Close the rnd with a ss into the 3rd ch at the beg of the rnd.

Round 6:  1dc into the next st, dc dec 10 times, 1dc into each of the next 36 sts, dc dec 7 times.  Close the rnd with a ss into the 1st dc at the beg of the rnd.  You now have 54 sts.

Instep

Row 1:  Ch1, 1dc in the same st, 1dc into each of the next 3 sts, turn.

Row 2:  Ch1, working into every stitch and into the back loops 1dc into each st across the instep and then 1dc into the next free stitch on the Side of the Foot (the first time you do this be careful to use the ss you used to close the previous rnd), turn.

Row 3:  Ch1, working into every stitch and into the front loops 1dc into each st across the instep and then 1dc into the next free stitch on the Side of the Foot, turn.

You will see that working into every st increases the number of sts on the instep with each row done.  Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until you have 11 stitches on the instep.  From now until Row 16 miss the 1st st after you turn to keep the instep stitch count constant at 11 and also keep joining to the Side of the Foot as you go.  The 'joining st' is the 12th st.

At the end of Row 16 1dc into the free st on the Side of the Foot as you have been and then also 1dc into the next free st as well.

Ribbon Slot Row

3ch, turn, skip 2 dc, (1tr into the next dc on the instep, 1ch, skip 1 dc on the instep) x 5, 1ch, 1tr into the same sp that row 15 of the instep joined to the Side of the Foot and at the same time go through the turning ch from rows 15-16 as you do so, (1ch, skip 1 dc on the Side of the Foot, 1tr into the next dc) x 17, 1ch.  Close the rnd with a ss into the 2nd ch at the start of the rnd.  You now have 24 ribbon slots.

Cuff

Round 1:  Ss over the next ch, ss into the next tr, 1ch, 1dc into the same st, [miss the next tr, (3tr, 1ch, 3tr) into the next tr, miss the next tr, 1dc into the next tr] x 5.  Miss the next tr, (3tr, 1ch, 3tr) into the next tr, miss the next tr.  Close the rnd with a ss into the 1st dc of the rnd.

Round 2:  3ch, 2tr into the same sp, [1dc into the next 1-ch, (3tr, 1ch, 3tr) into the next dc] x 5, 1dc into the next 1-ch, 3tr into the same sp as the 3-ch at the beg of the rnd, 1ch, 1dc into the 3rd ch at the beg of the rnd.

Round 3:  (6tr into the next dc, 1dc into the next 1-ch) x 5, 6tr into the next sc.  Fasten off.

Note:  If you wish the cuff to be longer you can do more rnds of shells.

Trim for the Cuff

With contrast yarn join in the dip of a shell near the back and work 1dc into every stitch around the cuff.  Fasten off.

Trim for the Sole

With contrast yarn join near the back of the sole on Rnd 3.  Working entirely from the outside of the bootee work one ss into every stitch of Rnd 3 of the sole.  You will be doing it just under the 'ch tops' of the tr's, where they interlock with each other.  Fasten off.

Finishing

Tidy away all the ends.  Insert a ribbon or any other tie of your choice through the ribbon slots.  Make another bootee the same and enjoy.

Bootee Tie

*Chain 40.  Working into back ridge work 6dc into the 2nd ch from the hook (or a greater number of taller stitches in a further chain from the hook if you want a bigger 'dangle' at the ends - if you do so make the last 'st' a number of ch and a ss into the same sp as all the sts were worked).

Continuing along the back ridge work either 1ss or 1dc (depending on whether you want a thinner or thicker tie) into every st to the end.  Do not turn.  Repeat from * and you will meet up with your first half in the middle of the tie.  Fasten off and tidy away both ends.

These can also be made with no 'dangles' at the ends if you wish by simply turning and working back through the back ridges.  You can make the tie longer or shorter by varying the number of chains worked.