purlJam

# Catherine's Wheel Baby Bootees

**Size:** 0–6 months (foot length approx. 3.5" / 9 cm)
**Skill Level:** Intermediate
**Construction:** Toe-up, seamless, worked in joined rounds

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (CYC 4), approx. 50–75 yds (45–70 m)
  - Recommended: soft acrylic/cotton blend or superwash merino
- **Hook:** US H-8 / 5.0 mm (main); US G-6 / 4.0 mm (for cuff ties — optional)
- **Notions:** Stitch marker, yarn needle, scissors
- Optional: 2 small buttons or 24" of ribbon for ties

## Gauge

- 14 sc × 16 rows = 4" (10 cm) in single crochet with H-8 hook
- 1 Catherine's Wheel repeat ≈ 2" wide × 1" tall (10 sts × 2 rounds)
- *Gauge is critical for fit — please swatch.*

## Abbreviations (US Terms)

- **ch** — chain
- **sl st** — slip stitch
- **sc** — single crochet
- **dc** — double crochet
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **sk** — skip
- **CL5** — 5-dc cluster: [yo, insert hook in next st, yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops] 5 times in indicated sts, yo, pull through all 6 loops on hook
- **CL7** — 7-dc cluster: same as CL5 but worked 7 times across 7 sts; yo, pull through all 8 loops
- **shell** — 7 dc in same stitch
- **FLO/BLO** — front/back loop only

## Catherine's Wheel Stitch Pattern (in the round, multiple of 10)

This pattern is worked over 2-round repeats.

**Round A (cluster round):** Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 3 dc in same st (half-shell), *sk 2 sts, sc in next st, sk 2 sts, 7 dc in next st (shell)*; rep from * around, ending last rep with sk 2 sts, sc in next st, sk 2 sts, 3 dc in same st as starting ch-3, sl st to top of beginning ch-3 to join. *(Each 10-st segment now = half-shell + sc + shell.)*

**Round B (close round):** Ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 3, CL7 over next 7 dc, ch 3, sc in next sc*; rep from * around, working final sc into top of beginning ch-3; sl st to first sc. *(Wheels are now "closed.")*

**Round C (cluster round, offset):** Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), shell (7 dc) in next sc, *sc in top of cluster, 7 dc in next sc*; rep from * around, ending with sc in top of last cluster, 3 dc in same base as ch-4, sl st to 3rd ch of ch-4. *(Shells now stack between previous wheels.)*

**Round D:** Repeat Round B.

Alternate Rounds A/B and C/D to keep wheels offset and fully closed.

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## Bootee (Make 2)

### Toe

Begin with a magic ring.

- **Rnd 1:** Ch 1, 8 sc in ring. Pull ring tight. Do not join; place marker, work in continuous spiral. **(8 sts)**
- **Rnd 2:** 2 sc in each st around. **(16 sts)** ✓ *8 × 2 = 16*
- **Rnd 3:** [sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] 8 times. **(24 sts)**
- **Rnd 4:** sc in each st around. **(24 sts)**
- **Rnd 5:** [sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog] — work as: sc 11, sc2tog, sc 10, sc2tog. **(22 sts)**
- **Rnd 6:** sc 9, sc2tog, sc 9, sc2tog. Sl st to next st to join. **(20 sts)** ✓ *20 = 10 × 2 repeats — ready for Catherine's Wheel*

Toe should measure approx. 1.25" (3 cm) long.

### Foot — Catherine's Wheel

Switch to joined rounds.

- **Rnd 7 (Round A):** Ch 3, 3 dc in same st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st, sk 2 sts, 7 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st, sk 2 sts, 7 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st, sk 2 sts, 3 dc in same st as ch-3 base, sl st to top of ch-3 to join.
  - *Count check: 2 half-shells (4+3=7 dc) + 1 full shell (7 dc) + 2 sc on one side; mirror = wheel base of 20 sts. ✓*

Wait — for a clean wheel layout in the round over 20 sts, work as:
- **Rnd 7 (Round A, revised for the round):** Ch 1, sc in first st, *sk 2, 7 dc in next, sk 2, sc in next*; rep from * once more — you'll have 2 shells separated by sc's. Sl st to first sc. **(2 shells + 2 sc = wheel bases established)**
- **Rnd 8 (Round B):** Ch 3 (counts as ch 3), CL7 over next 7 dc, ch 3, sc in next sc, ch 3, CL7 over next 7 dc, ch 3, sl st to first sc of previous round to join.
- **Rnd 9 (Round C — offset):** Ch 1, sc in top of first cluster, 7 dc in next sc, sc in top of next cluster, 7 dc in next sc, sl st to first sc.
- **Rnd 10 (Round D):** Repeat Rnd 8 with new clusters/sc placement.

Foot section = Rnds 7–10 (approx. 2 wheel repeats / ~1.25" of foot fabric).

Try on baby (or measure): total length from toe tip should be approx. 2.25" (5.5 cm). Add one more A/B repeat if needed.

### Heel (Short Rows in sc)

For fit and durability, the heel is worked in sc over the back half of the bootee.

After completing a Round B (closed wheels), work a **transition round**:
- **Transition Rnd:** Ch 1, sc evenly around, working 3 sc into each ch-3 space and 1 sc in each sc/cluster top — aim for 20 sc total. Sl st to join. **(20 sts)** ✓

**Heel set-up:** Identify the back 10 sts (heel) and front 10 sts (instep).

- **Row 1:** Ch 1, sc in next 10 heel sts. Turn. **(10 sts)**
- **Row 2:** Ch 1, sc in next 9 sts. Turn, leaving last st unworked. **(9 sts)**
- **Row 3:** Ch 1, sc in next 8 sts. Turn. **(8)**
- **Row 4:** Ch 1, sc 7. Turn. **(7)**
- **Row 5:** Ch 1, sc 6. Turn. **(6)**
- **Row 6:** Ch 1, sc 5. Turn. **(5)**
- **Row 7:** Ch 1, sc 4. Turn. **(4)** *— center 4 sts; now work back out*
- **Row 8:** Ch 1, sc 4, then sc 1 in next unworked st (5 sts). Turn. **(5)**
- **Row 9:** Ch 1, sc 5, sc 1 in next unworked st. Turn. **(6)**
- **Row 10:** Ch 1, sc 6, sc 1 in next unworked st. Turn. **(7)**
- **Row 11:** Ch 1, sc 7, sc 1 in next unworked st. Turn. **(8)**
- **Row 12:** Ch 1, sc 8, sc 1 in next unworked st. Turn. **(9)**
- **Row 13:** Ch 1, sc 9, sc 1 in next unworked st. **(10)** Do not turn.

Heel cup complete. Continue around the instep with sc to re-establish the round: sc 10 across instep. **(20 sc total around)** ✓ Sl st to first heel st to join.

### Leg / Ankle — Catherine's Wheel

Resume Catherine's Wheel:

- **Rnd L1 (Round A):** Ch 1, sc in first st, *sk 2, 7 dc in next, sk 2, sc in next*; rep around. Sl st to first sc.
- **Rnd L2 (Round B):** Work cluster round as before.
- **Rnd L3 (Round C):** Offset shells.
- **Rnd L4 (Round D):** Close clusters.

Work Rnds L1–L4 once (or repeat L1–L2 once more for a taller bootee). Leg height should measure approx. 1.5" (4 cm) from top of heel.

### Eyelet & Cuff Round

- **Eyelet Rnd:** Ch 1, sc evenly around (approx. 20 sc), *ch 1, sk 1 st, sc in next st*; rep around for a row of small eyelets. Sl st to join. **(~10 eyelets)**
- **Cuff Rnd 1:** Ch 1, sc in each st and ch-1 space around. **(20 sc)**
- **Cuff Rnd 2:** Ch 1, sc in BLO around. Sl st to join.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

### Ties

With smaller hook, ch 60 (approx. 14"). Fasten off, leaving small tails. Weave through eyelet round starting at center front; knot ends or add small tassels/pompoms.

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## Finishing

1. Weave in all ends securely on the wrong side.
2. Lightly steam-block; do not stretch — preserve the puffy Catherine's Wheel texture.
3. Make a second bootee identical to the first.
4. Thread ties; tie in a soft bow at front of ankle.

## Math Validation Summary

- Toe increases: 8 → 16 → 24, then decreased to 20 for wheel multiple. ✓
- Catherine's Wheel base: 20 sts ÷ 10 = 2 full wheel repeats. ✓
- Heel: 10 sts (half of 20) worked in short rows, center 4 sts retained, expanded back to 10. ✓
- Final round count maintained at 20 sts throughout. ✓
- Total length: toe (1.25") + foot (1") + heel depth (1") = 3.25–3.5" ✓ (target 3.5")
- Cuff height: ankle wheels (1") + eyelet/cuff (0.5") = 1.5" ✓

## Notes & Tips

- **Stitch count discipline:** After each Catherine's Wheel close round, double-check you have 2 cluster tops + 2 sc = 4 "anchor" sts before starting the next offset round.
- **Safety:** For infants under 6 months, prefer short ties (≤ 6" total length when tied) or elastic ribbon to avoid loose ends. Buttons are not recommended for newborns.
- **Sizing up:** For 6–12 months, increase toe to 25 sts (multiple of 10 + 5 — work 2 full wheels + half repeat) OR use sport-weight yarn with H hook to keep 20-st count but enlarge slightly.
- **Yarn choice:** Avoid mohair or anything with long fibers near baby's face/hands.

Enjoy your wheelie-cute bootees!