Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Baby Bootie Dilemma

Okay, so I have a clear problem. No matter how hard I try, I cannot seem to master any pair of baby booties from a pattern I have bought. I am not kidding you, I have probably purchased 8 baby bootie patterns in the past 3 months and somehow I just can't seem to figure them out! They end up too big, or they just take too much time for what I want to spend on a pair of booties. Does anyone else have this problem?

I recently purchase these booties from Holland Designs. She has THE cutest patterns and I always want to buy all of her patterns. Look how cute these are (these are pictures from her site):



Cute, right? Well, for some reason I cannot seem to figure out how to create them. I know I should check gauge, but in all honesty, I have never paid attention to that. Do other people ignore this, or am I just the only one to lazy to check??? Her patterns are written very clear and I can follow along just fine, but in the end I get frustrated and throw in the towel. I should ask for her help, as she has made it very clear she will help anyone out who has questions. I guess I just don't know which questions to ask and how to explain that I really am following everything right, but my crochet skills seems to lack in the bootie making area.

To be fair, it is not just booties from Holland Designs that I can't master. It is pretty much any bootie pattern. I am bootie pattern impaired. So, for all of you who have no problem, I envy you and wish you could teach me your secrets!

I have created my own pattern for a set of booties that I can whip up just fine. Maybe I will forever be subjected to my own patterns...they just aren't nearly as cute as other patterns I have found.

If anyone has any wise words of wisdom I am open to help and suggestions. Otherwise, I will keep on practicing and hopefully I will one day see the light on what I am doing wrong!

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10 comments:

  1. LOL! I can totally agree with you on this one! I've tried several cute little bootie patterns and they never work. I've never really checked gauge on stuff. I just try the same weight yarn and hook and everything else works fine. I hope people have some suggestions to help!

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  2. When I have a problem with a pattern I have my husband read it to me as I follow along. Just being able to keep my eyes on the project helps as I work continious. He has no idea what he is saying but by the end I have a clue. ;) Keep trying!

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  3. I hear ya! I bought the Little Button Loafers and crocheted the durned things at least 8 times and every time I get shoes for a Cabbage Patch doll! They just won't work. Very frustrating!

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  4. I have bought SEVERAL pairs of booties from holland designs, I love her patterns, but I can't for the life of me get two of the booties to turn out the same!! I think I have baby bootie add or something. =)))

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  5. I never check gauge...I have found though that sometimes if I change hook size or yarn weight that I'll have an easier time of making the finished product look like a picture or product from someone elses pattern. I'm a tight crochet-er, sometimes those little tension changes can make all the difference.

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  6. I just found your blog and I LOVE it! I've been crocheting for a while now and feel like I am just now making good progress. Understanding it more and everything, but I totally get what you mean with gauges. I never pay attention to them and sometimes I think it has caused me problems. But I have made one successful pair of booties and with the same pattern I have gotten stuck and have not been able to do it again. So I'm glad you figured it out!

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  7. I am absolutely addicted to baby booties and have made them from lots of patterns. I think sylver designs (hookcandy.com) patterns are the easiest and best explained by her illustrations. I have finally gone and written my own pattern now though since I have made so many. I always wanted to change whatever pattern I bought so it's time to do my own thing!

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  8. I can't do booties either! If I finish a set, they just look like oval tubes--no shape to them. I knit booties, but I REALLY REALLY want to make all those cute crochet ones!

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  9. I have the same problem i have been crocheting for 9 years and i have just now started checking guage some thing HA HA. HONESTLY i hate making booties i would rather take a knitting needle to the eye. I get so frustrated. I have found one bootie pattern than i love, and have been able to make, i wrote my own pattern a few years ago LOVED IT i could make a pair in about 30 minutes, THATS 2 booties (not with the pom poms of course) in 30 minutes. I honestly hate buying patterns because you never know how easy to follow they really are. This is the pattern i use now and its easy to follow and i love it. I will give you a tip make both booties the same day. I have learned that my tension is different provided how TENSE my life is ha ha, and on different days i get different size booties. I ALSO use two separate skeins and i do not finish off a bootie till they are both done and i can compare size. THAT WAY i dont end up with 2 different sizes i can frog if i have to. Oh here is the pattern i love and its EASY EASY http://www.e-patternscentral.com/detail.html?prod_id=7317&cat_id=&criteria=bootie

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  10. Ditto! I have more trouble with booties than any other item I crochet. Do I ever check gauge?? Heck no! But that's not the problem. I just can't get a bootie pattern right - not ever. I always end up frogging at least one or two rows, then "fudge" with the stitch count. What's worse is, after I've "fudged" I have to try to remember how I did it so I do the SAME thing on the other bootie (heaven forbid I should stop crocheting and actually write down my, umm, "improvement").

    If I could figure out a perfect bootie pattern I'd be very happy, since even in spite of the trouble, a pair of booties is my "go to" gift for any new baby.

    You are not alone!

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