Baby Shoe Origami
So the second set of booties has begun. This pair is also from Zoe Mellor's book, and is entitled, descriptively enough, Simple Shoes. They are knit using Rowan 4 Ply Cotton, and the color I picked is titled, very appropriately, "Baby". I selected this pair from the book for three reasons: 1) I wanted to try out the 4 Ply Cotton; 2) I wanted to try out a bootie that had a different construction technique from the first bootie project I completed; and 3) I didn't have the needles I needed in my collection in Toronto to do anything with the Cotton Glace.
The knitting for this pair of shoes is straightforward. I am somewhat concerned that the finishing and seaming will be on the more challenging side if I want these little shoes to look polished, but that is just part of the adventure. What I am more concerned about is attaching a button that will allow closure of the little shoe strap, but that won't be removable, and thus consumable, by Miss Z. Any suggestions? Or should these little shoes just end up being for special dress up and worn only when significant monitoring can be applied?
That is a nifty looking way of building baby booties. I still do not have the greatest confidence in my finishing abilities, but I bet you will do great. I never know about buttons on baby things. I am sure others who know more can be of more help.
How old will she be when she wears these booties? Any guesses? If they're newborn size, or if they'll be worn at, say, three months and under, I wouldn't worry too much about the buttons. They're too busy figuring out what their hands are to bother with pulling off things to choke on at that stage, in my experience.
Otherwise, I'd just say to use some kind of facing to be sure you have something firm to attach the button to, then sew it on well and check to be sure there's no fraying of the button-threads each time she wears them.
If it's for the first three months I'd second the commenter above. Those little ones haven't enough skills to pull on such a little button. With about three months they put their little feet into the mouth and maybe eat up everything, that's not fixed well.
I'd recommend push-buttons. They may not look that nice but are much easier to fix well.
As a mother of 4, I'd say after about TWO months all bets are off in terms of them not being able to eat stuff. I was amazed what mine could do and the feet were one of the first things they figured out how to get into their mouths. I'd recommend little I-cord knot buttons. They would look nice and could be secured well. Without the leverage of a hard button to pull on, Miss Z could probably not pull them off and, knowing my kids, could probably successfully EAT them (with no ill effects) if she did get them off!
There's a nice example of one here:
http://wolfandturtle.net/Yarnpath/index.php/Yarnpath/comments/when_is_a_button_knot_a_button/
How about a felt "button"? Would still be cute from a distance. And yeah, if they are newborn size it's no big deal. You could also put elastic in the straps and just tie them down...like slippers.
They're cute! I've never made those, but I have made the ones from Debbie Bliss' easy baby knits book and the construction is similar, without the strap though. A little tricky if I remember correctly, but the end result was adorable!
As for the button. What size did you make? If you made newborn, I would not worry at all about Miss Z getting to it. She won't be able to get foot to mouth for several months.
If your really concerned about it though.. I have an industrial nylon snap press with a nice collection of colored snaps. I'd be happy to put them on there for you.
how big are they? if they are
I repeat the observations of those previous--3 months and under, you can use pretty much anything. Admitedly, my son didn't discover his feet until he was about 5 months old, but that was more because of the footy-romper things than anything else.
Hmm, you've got some great suggestions already! Mine is more a guess than personal experience with babies, but what about knitted bobbles for closures?
Why not use a velcro closure? Then there's no chance of anything choke-able coming loose.
I'm interested in seeing how these look once they're put together!
Snaps or velcro would work, as would a firm bobble. Or a well-secured button of any type. As others have said, it will be a while before a baby is coordinated enough to pull off the booties, much less remove a button!
I like these booties and I think I'd like to try them but I have a major problem with booties: mine always come out large enough for Paul Bunyon! In fact, the only success I've ever had with footware for babies is a sock pattern that appeared in Interweave Knits a couple of years ago.
These booties look really great! I think I might like to try them eventho I have a major problem with footwear for babies: mine always end up big enough for Paul Bunyon to use! In fact, the only success I've ever had is with a baby sock pattern that appeared in Interweave Knits a couple of years ago.
If you are the one to sew on the buttons, they should be secure enough for your daughter. It is probably the IK Summer '05 referenced above--cute socks from Ann Budd and a Kimono.
Too cute booties!
Hey T -- wish me luck and send good vibes on Friday ... it's my turn for the glucose test! (yikes!)
Cute booties! I've made a couple of pairs from her other book and love the patterns.
Seems like this is mostly an echo of what others have said, but until she's at least 3 months old she won't be able to find her feet, so a well-secured button is fine. I was honestly fine with really well-secured buttons for Jacob after that, too, but if it makes you nervous I'd go with a strap or velcro.
How is the 4ply cotton to work with? I kind of want to knit Coastal from the latest Rowan out of it, but cotton can really hurt my hands so I'm nervous about it.
I would wait and see what kind of baby she is. My daughter never showed much interest in her feet, so having booties with a button wouldn't have been a problem. Each baby is different.
Two options. One, if you just want the look of a button, make a felt "button" and use a snap as someone else has said to actually close it. Two, use a real button but choose a big enough button for it to be "safe". There's a little thingy you can get at a baby store that you can use to check and see if something is choke-able on or not. If the item in question is small enough to fit into the thingy then it's small enough to be a choking hazard. Otherwise, it's ok even if she does manage to pull it off and put it into her mouth. (Which she probably won't if it is sewn on well. Just pull the whole bootie off and stuff the toe into her mouth most likely.)
For baby garments I am a HUGE fan of snaps. While they are neither cute nor decorative they really work and are not a choking hazard. They require a wee bit of hand sewing for each side and then you are done. Snaps, I say! Have a great day.
If you sew on a button (on the right side) and sew thru the 'fabric' and into a 4 - hole button on the wrong side, it becomes pretty secure. I also use a strand of thread and a strand of dental floss held together. Has worked for me. Good luck!
If you sew in a thin piece of round elastic(in the ankle area), the bootees will be sure to stay on, thus eliminating the choking hazard. I love all the bootees in Zoe's book. Yours are adorable!!
As a mildly paranoid mom of two (and an OB/GYN, for what that's worth!), I would not be worried about buttons as long as I was the one that sewed them on: I'd use strong thread (carpet thread's the favorite for sewing around here!) and either use a facing or go through and through the cotton yarn; but think about it, is she not going to wear anything with buttons until she's old enough not to put things in her mouth? Doubt it! It's just a question of making sure they're well sewn on and not fragile/breakable/come-apart-able. That's my opinion, for what it's worth!
On another note -- I am visiting Chicago this very week, arriving Thursday by Amtrak! I saw the KIP button -- is that indeed happening this very Thursday?? And how accessible is it from -- say -- Michigan and E. Oak St.?? Sorry, I'm Chicago geography-impaired. Looks like on the map Letizia's is about 3 miles from my hotel, but is it walkable (I'm a good walker, but don't know the neighborhoods I'd be walking through) or public transport-able or should I take a taxi if I indeed can make it and if there's room for another knitter?!
I greatly appreciate any help you can give or resources you can point me to -- thanks so much for your time -- Cathy(Cate)
Those look hilarious just now, but I bet they'll be darling stitched up.
I would recommend carpet thread or dental floss as they are both difficult to break. Most children are not into buttons until they are older so if they are small enough--go with the button, if they are larger go with velcro or perhaps make an icord tie?!?
Those are going to be adorable when they're finished. I can see how the seaming might be a little difficult - I've never gotten the best results from seed stitch but there must be a way to do it properly that I just haven't discovered yet =)
I made a pair of those booties (the pattern, or one very close to it, is also in Adorable Knits for Tots) and attached an i-cord on each side to make a bow-tie instead of the button closure. To my mind this had the added bonus of being able to tie them snugly to stay on better. But I agree with Heather that you will have to see what kind of baby she is. My daughter took most pleasure in ripping them off and throwing them rather than trying to eat them, so it wouldn't have mattered if there was a button. I think you will find the finishing not too bad...I am pretty inexperienced in that area, but mine came out looking better than I expected when they were at the origami stage.
BTW, my first peony of the season bloomed on the same day you posted about it. Summer has arrived here in Michigan, too.
How about velcro or clip-on instead? Be a perfect toy for the little one, yet safe.
My daughter's one pair of dress shoes (pediped brand) have velcro, but some of her other clothes have buttons and she's not ripped any of them off, yet. I echo the others who say that if you sew them on very securely, and check them often, you'll be fine!
Yeah, what the other's said. It takes awhile for a baby to be able to get a foot in their mouth...I've seen it listed on websites under physical developmental milestones. Even still, the chances of a (probably) toothless babe chewing off a button on her foot, is rather slight.
And for what it's worth...significant monitoring? LOL! Maybe somewhat acheivable with your first, but you will be AMAZED at what babies can do while you blink :)