Baby Booties

I live in sheep country. There is a Wool Growers Association here. My father-in-law, and his father before him, raised sheep in these hills. Our high school mascot is The Sheepherders. (You can't even make that up!)


I tried for years to come up with a project, a craft of some sort that I could make for all of my girlfriends and relatives who were expecting babies. (And I have a LOT of friends, and even MORE relatives!) I found the answer in the traditional baby booties.


It's perfect. It's simple. It's quick, which is particularly important when you get the informal, "By the way, we're gonna have a baby shower for so-and-so this Saturday. Can you come?" (Usually comes on a Thursday.)


The pattern is based loosely on a pair of woolen baby booties my aunt brought home from Ireland for my infant daughter. The pattern is tradition and unusual in these modern times, which makes it stand out at baby showers. Paired with a pattern I was already using I was able to make it my own. The upper portion is knit in one piece, then stitched down the back. The sole is a piece of fleece, leather on one side with fluffy wool on the other, which makes them non-skid and still super cozy on baby's feet! A ribbon through the eyelet row helps keep them on little kicky feet.





And, the most important part, I make them with Sweet Grass Yarn, the wool grown locally and processed in a way that allows the natural lanolin to remain in the yarn. And of course I package them in a custom, hand-painted box featuring (what else?) fluffy sheep.

It's a very personal gift that I am quite proud of. Hopefully I will continue to be able to use local wool and support my local sheep ranchers!