Free Vintage Crochet Baby Shoes Pattern - Handbook of Wool Knitting and Crochet

This free vintage crochet Baby Shoes pattern is from the Handbook of Wool Knitting and Crochet. The pattern has been updated to modern use with AI. You will find the original text from the book at the bottom of this page in italics. The book's how to crochet section is here: A Lesson In Crochet - Handbook of Wool Knitting and Crochet.  The modern pattern is untested. I am adding these free vintage crochet patterns to my blog so they are in one place and easily searched.

Vintage Crochet Baby Shoes Free Pattern

Modern Pattern:

This vintage crochet pattern creates a pair of baby shoes. The pattern uses US crochet terminology. Modern crocheters might find it helpful to substitute more modern yarn weights and hook sizes to achieve a similar look. The pair in the picture was made with No. 15 cotton crochet thread. Gauge is not specified, so you may need to adjust hook size to achieve the desired size.

Sole:

Chain 33.

Round 1: Skip the first chain, double crochet (dc) in each of the next 31 chains. Work 3 dc in the last chain. Continue dc down the other side of the chain, working 1 dc in each of the next 31 chains. Work 3 dc in the last chain. Join with a slip stitch to the first dc.

Round 2: Dc in the first stitch, 2 dc in the next stitch. Dc in each stitch down the side to within 2 stitches of the middle of the toe. 2 dc in the next stitch, dc in the next stitch, 3 dc in the middle stitch, dc in the next stitch, 2 dc in the next stitch. Dc in each stitch down the side, ending with 2 dc in the 3rd stitch from the middle of the heel, dc in the next stitch, and 3 dc in the next stitch. Join with a slip stitch.

Round 3: Chain 1. Dc in each of the next 2 stitches, 2 dc in the next stitch. Dc in each stitch down the side to within 4 stitches of the end. 2 dc in the next stitch, dc in each of the next 3 stitches, 3 dc in the middle stitch, dc in each of the next 3 stitches, 2 dc in the next stitch. Dc in each stitch down the side, 2 dc in the 4th stitch from the end, dc in each of the next 3 stitches, 2 dc in the middle stitch of the heel. Join with a slip stitch.

Round 4: Repeat Round 3, adding one extra dc between each increase.

Round 5: Chain 4. Skip 1 stitch, treble crochet (tr) in the next stitch, chain 1. Repeat from * around. Work 2 tr with chain 1 between in each of the toe increases and 3 tr with chain 1 between at the back of the heel.

Round 6: Chain 1. Dc in each stitch around, working 2 dc in the chain spaces at the toe and the middle of the heel.

Rounds 7-8: Repeat Round 6, increasing as usual at the toe and heel.

Round 9: Chain 4. Skip 1 stitch, tr in the next stitch, chain 1. Repeat from * around. Join to the 3rd chain of the initial chain-4.

Rounds 10-12: Chain 1. Dc in each tr and in each chain space. Narrow 11 stitches from the middle of the toe by working two stitches together or skipping a stitch. Also narrow at the middle of the toe. Join.

Vamp:

Rounds 13-14: Repeat Rounds 11 and 12, narrowing as directed.

Rounds 15-18: Repeat Rounds 13 and 14.

Round 19: Chain 1. Dc in each stitch, narrowing at the middle of the vamp and on the sides.

Round 20: Turn and work across the top of the vamp, dc in each stitch.

Upper Part of Shoe:

Row 21: Slip stitch to the first dc on the side of the vamp (2nd row back). Chain 11, turn. Skip 1 chain, dc in each of the next 10 chains. Catch the yarn in the first dc on the side of the shoe, single crochet (sc) in the next dc on the side of the shoe. Turn. Dc in each of the next 9 dc, 2 dc in the last dc. Turn. Chain 1, 2 dc in the first dc, dc in each of the following dc. Join to the next dc on the side of the shoe, sc in the next dc. Turn. Dc in each dc of the last row, 2 dc in the last dc. Turn. Chain 1, 2 dc in the first dc, dc in each of the following dc. Join to the next dc on the side of the shoe, sc in the next dc. Turn. Dc in each dc, 5 dc in the chain-5 space. Turn. Chain 1, dc in each dc. Join. Slip stitch in the next dc on the side. Turn. Work 5 more rows, increasing 1 stitch at the end of every other row. Then chain 4, turn. Skip 1 chain, dc in each of the next 3 stitches and dc in each dc. Join, slip stitch in the next dc. Turn. Work back with dc in each dc. Chain 1, turn. 2 dc in the next 2 dc, chain 5, skip 5, dc in the dc. Join, slip stitch in the next dc. Turn. Work back with dc in each dc. Chain 1, turn, and work dc in each dc around to within 14 stitches of the top of the vamp on the other side. Turn. Chain 1, dc in each dc to the edge of the flap. Turn. Chain 1 and dc in each dc around to the other side. Continue in this manner for 6 rows around the top of the shoe. Then make a buttonhole as before, and finish with 4 rows. You can add more rows for a higher shoe and add more buttonholes as needed.

Buttons:

Chain 3, join with a slip stitch to form a ring. Work 8 dc in the ring. Work 2 dc in each dc around. Dc in each dc around. Dc in every other dc. Slip stitch in a pearl or porcelain button of the desired size, draw the opening closed, and sew the button to the shoe, matching the position of the buttonholes.

Original Text:

These little shoes may be made of crochet-cotton, or silk, white or delicate color, or of wool. They are very firm and neat, and shaped to the foot. The sample pair was made of No. 15 crochet-cotton; finer or coarser material will result in a smaller or larger shoe, by the same directions.

Commence at bottom of the sole with a chain of 33 stitches.

1. Miss 1st stitch, a double in each of 31 stitches, 3 in end stitch, 1 in each of 31 stitches down other side and 3 in last, join.

2. A double in 1st stitch, 2 in next, 1 in each double down the side to within 2 stitches of middle of toe, 2 in next, 1 in next, 3 in middle stitch, 1 in next, 2 in next, 1 in each down side, ending with 2 in 3d stitch from middle of heel, 1 in next, and 3 in next, join.

3. Chain 1, a double in each of 2 stitches, 2 in next, 1 in each down the side to within 4 of the end, 2 in next, 1 in each of 3, 3 in middle stitch, 1 in each of 3, 2 in next, 1 in each down side, 2 in 4th stitch from the end, 1 in each of 3, 2 in middle stitch of heel, join.

4. Same as 3d row, making an extra stitch between widenings.

5. Chain 4, miss 1, a treble in next, chain 1; repeat, making 2 trebles with 1 chain between in each of the widenings of the toe, and 3 trebles, with 1 chain between, at back of heel.

6. Chain 1, a double in each stitch all around, making 2 doubles in the widening spaces at side of toe and in the middle of heel.

7. Chain 1, a double in each stitch around, widening as usual on each side of toe and in the middle, also in middle of heel; join.

8. Same as 7th row.

9. Chain 4, * miss 1, a treble in next, chain 1; repeat around, join to 3d of 4 chain.

10. Chain 1, a double in each treble and in space; narrow 11 stitches from middle of toe by putting hook through 2 stitches at once, or by missing a stitch, also at middle of toe, join.

11, 12. Same as 10th row, making double in double, and narrowing as directed.

13. Like 11th row until you have reached the 3d narrowing on the vamp, then turn and work back across vamp, narrowing at the end, turn.

14. Chain 1, a double in each double across vamp, narrowing in the middle and at end.

15, 17. Like 13th row.

16, 18. Like 14th row.

19. Chain 1, a double in each double, narrowing at middle of vamp and on the sides.

20. Turn and work across top of vamp with a double in each stitch.

21. For the upper part of shoe, slip to 1st double at side of vamp, 2d row back, chain 11, turn, miss 1, 10 doubles in 10 stitches, catch in 1st double of side of shoe, a single in next double on side of shoe, turn; a double in each of 9 doubles, 2 in last, turn; chain 1, 2 doubles in 1st double, 1 in each following double, join to next double of side, a single in next, turn; a double in each double of last row, with 2 at end, turn; chain 1, a double in each of 2 doubles, chain 5, miss 5, a double in each following double, join to next double of side, a single in next, turn; double in each double, with 5 in 5 stitches of chain, turn; chain 1, a double in each double; join, slip in next double of side, turn; work 5 more rows, widening 1 stitch at end of every other row; then chain 4, turn; miss 1, a double in each of 3 stitches and double in each double, join, slip in next double, turn; work back with double in each double, chain 1, turn, 2 doubles in 2 doubles, chain 5, miss 5, double in double, join, slip in next double, turn, work back with double in double, chain 1, turn, and work double in double around to within 14 stitches of top of vamp on other side, turn; chain 1, double in double to edge of flap, turn; chain 1 and make a double in double around to the other side. Continue thus until you have worked 6 rows around top of shoe, then make a buttonhole as before, and finish with 4 rows. The shoe may be made higher, if desired, and more buttonholes added.

For the buttons. Chain 3, join; 8 doubles in ring; 2 doubles in each double; a double in each double; a double in every other double; slip in a pearl or porcelain button of requisite size, draw together, and sew to the shoe, matching the position of the buttonholes.

Happy Hooking!
 
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This free vintage crochet pattern is from Handbook of Wool Knitting and Crochet by Anonymous. It is available for download on Project Gutenberg at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26113 . The wording has been updated for modern readers with the assistance of Google Gemini 2.0 Flash.