2 x 25g balls of Patons Dream Time 3-ply baby wool
2.5mm crochet hook

Special Abbreviations:

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

ds = daisy stitch. Approaching from the left-hand side insert hook through ch just made, yoh, draw through a loop, insert hook into one strand only on the left-hand front side of the last daisy (this was the final loop drawn up on the previous daisy), yoh, draw through a loop, insert hook into same space the last daisy finished, yoh, draw through a loop, (insert hook into back loop of next st, yoh, draw through a loop) twice, yoh, draw through all six loops on hook, ch 1.

ids = initial daisy stitch. 3 ch (keep the 3^rd chain loose so you can work into it at the end of the round), insert hook through the back ridge of the 2^nd ch from hook, yoh, draw through a loop, insert hook into the back ridge of the next ch, yoh, draw through a loop, insert hook into the back loop of the same space the 3ch came from, yoh, draw through a loop, (insert hook into back loop of next st, yoh, draw through a loop) twice, yoh, draw through all six loops on hook, ch 1.

To make a nice daisy do not let the loops tighten up. Hold them in place against the hook as you go to draw through the subsequent loops. The loop drawn through the same space as the last daisy finished should be a little longer than all the other loops.

Sole

Round 1: Ch 20 loosely. Working into the back ridge work 1htr into the 3^rd 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, 1htr into the same space as the 1^st st of the round. Close the rnd with a ss into the 2^nd ch at the beg of the rnd.

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

Round 3: Ss into the next st, 3ch, 2tr into each of the next 5 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 each of the next 4 sts, 1tr into the next st (at the base of the 3ch). Close the rnd with a ss into the 3^rd ch at the beg of the rnd. You now have 72 sts.

Side of the Foot

Round 4: Start the rnd with an ids and continue in ds all the way around. Close the rnd with a dc into the 3^rd ch of the ids at the beg of the rnd. You now have 36 daisies.

Round 5: 1ch, 1dc into the top of the same daisy, *1dc into the next ch sp, 1dc into the top of the next daisy, repeat from * all the way around ending with 1dc into the next ch sp. Close the rnd with a ss into the back loop of the 1^st dc of the rnd.

Round 6: Repeat row 4.

Round 7: Treating the ch spaces and tops of the daisies the same way you did on rnd 5, 1ch, 10 dc dec, 1dc into each of the next 36 sts, dc-dec 8 times. Close the rnd with a ss into the 1^st dc-dec 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 st and into the back loops 1dc into each st across the instep and then 1dc into the next 2 free stitches on the Side of the Foot, turn.

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

Row 4: Ch1, working into every st and into the back loops 1dc into each st across the instep and then 1dc into the next free st 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 3 and 4 until you have 11 stitches on the instep. From now until Row 18 miss the 1^st st after you turn to keep the instep st count constant at 11 and also keep joining to the Side of the Foot as you go. The 'joining st' is the 12^th st.

At the end of Row 18 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 next 2 dc, (1tr into the next dc on the instep, 1ch, skip 1 dc on the instep) x 5, 1ch, 1tr into the last st used on the Side of the Foot and at the same time go through the turning ch from rows 17-18 as you do so, 1ch, skip 1 dc on the Side of the Foot, 1tr into the next dc. (1ch, skip 1 st, 1 tr) x 15, 1ch. Close the rnd with a dc into the back loop of the 2^nd ch at the start of the rnd. You now have 22 ribbon slots.

Cuff

Round 1: Treating each tr and each ch as a st start the rnd with an ids and continue in ds all the way around. Close the rnd with a dc into the 3^rd ch of the ids at the beg of the rnd. You now have 22 daisies.

Round 2: (1ch, 1dc into the top of the same daisy, *1dc into the next ch sp, 1dc into the top of the next daisy, repeat from * all the way around ending with 1dc into the next ch sp . Close the rnd with a ss into the 1^st dc of the rnd.

Rounds 3-6: Repeat rnds 1 and 2 two times more.

Note: If you wish the cuff to be longer or shorter you can do more or less rnds of daisies.

Trim for the Cuff

*1dc in top of daisy, 3ch, dc in same space as last dc. Repeat from* all around. 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 2^nd ch from 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.

Variations

The Slipper version was done by working the Sole sts through the back loops. The Trim for the Cuff was done after only 1 rnd of daisies after the Ribbon Slot row.

The Trim for the Cuff and the Bootee Tie can be worked in another colour. You may also wish to 'trim' the sole. With contrast yarn join near the back of the sole at the top of Rnd 3. Working entirely from the outside of the bootee work one ss into every st 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.