How to Knit Baby Mitts and Booties: A Knit-Along

Sometimes you just need a quick project that delivers instant gratification. Knitting adorable baby mitts and booties is the perfect solution, especially when they make such a thoughtful, handmade gift. In this guide, we’ll follow along with a step-by-step video from instructor Jenny Fish of One Big Happy Yarn Co. to help you cast on and finish your set with confidence. They're a fantastic gift for baby showers or your own little one. As Jenny says, the mitts are "like a teeny tiny hat"—so if you can knit in the round, you can absolutely make these!

This tutorial is part of a three-episode baby knitting series that also includes a baby hat (Episodes 1 and 2). This guide focuses on the mitts and booties from Episode 3. Follow along with the videos below and use this written guide as your reference.

Knit Along With Our Video Tutorial

Gather Your Tools & Yarn

• Yarn: DK weight, soft, washable yarn — approximately 50–75 yards for a pair of mitts and 75–100 yards for booties. Jenny uses a cashmere merino blend for extra softness. Look for yarns labeled "baby" or "superwash" that can handle frequent washing.
• Needles: US 2 (2.75mm) and US 3 (3.25mm) — you'll use the smaller size for ribbing and the larger for the body
• Circular needles: 40-inch cord for magic loop technique
• Double-pointed needles (DPNs): Same sizes, for when the circumference gets very small
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle
• Row counter: Helpful for tracking ribbing and body rounds

A Quick Guide to the Pattern

This knit-along uses the Knitting Pure and Simple pattern by Diane Soucy, which includes a baby hat, mitts, and booties in three sizes: newborn, 3–6 months, and 12–18 months. The mitts and booties are both worked in the round — the mitts using magic loop and the booties starting flat, then joining in the round.

As Jenny explains, the mitts really are "like a teeny tiny hat" — you cast on a small number of stitches, work ribbing for the cuff, knit the body in stockinette, then decrease at the top and cinch closed. The booties follow a similar logic but with some shaping for the foot.

Part 1: Let's Knit the Baby Mitts

Step 1: Casting On the Cuff

Using the smaller needles (US 2) and the long-tail cast-on method, cast on the number of stitches specified for your size. Join to work in the round using the magic loop technique — Jenny demonstrates this clearly in the video.

Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round.

Step 2: Working the Ribbing

Work 1×1 ribbing (knit 1, purl 1) for the cuff. This creates a stretchy edge that gently hugs baby's wrist and keeps the mitt in place.

Work the number of ribbing rounds specified in your pattern (typically 4–6 rounds). Keep your ribbing consistent — knit the knits and purl the purls.

Step 3: Knit the Hand of the Mitt

After the ribbing, switch to the larger needles (US 3). Knit every stitch, every round (stockinette stitch in the round) for the body of the mitt. This is the easy, relaxing part — just knit around and around until the mitt reaches the desired length.

No thumb shaping is needed for baby mitts — babies don't use their thumbs separately, and the simple tube shape is both adorable and functional.

Step 4: Shaping the Top of the Mitt

When the mitt body is long enough, begin decreasing:

1. Work K2tog decreases evenly around — typically knit 2, K2tog around the round.
2. Knit one plain round.
3. Decrease again on the next round.
4. When only a few stitches remain, switch to double-pointed needles if the magic loop becomes too tight.
5. Cut the yarn, thread it through the remaining stitches with a tapestry needle, and cinch closed.

Part 2: Let's Knit the Baby Booties

Step 1: Cast On & Knit the Cuff

The booties start similarly to the mitts — cast on using the smaller needles, join in the round, and work 1×1 ribbing for the cuff (ankle portion). The cuff folds down for an adorable finished look.

Step 2: Work the Leg & Turn the Heel

After the cuff ribbing, switch to larger needles and work stockinette rounds for the leg. Then comes the heel shaping — the bootie transitions from a tube to a foot shape using short rows or heel-flap techniques, depending on the pattern variation.

Step 3: Shape the Foot & Close the Toe

After the heel turn, continue knitting in the round for the foot portion. When you reach the toe, decrease similarly to the mitts — K2tog evenly around, then cinch closed.

Step 4: Add the Finishing Touches

Weave in all yarn tails securely — baby items get washed frequently, so secure ends are essential. Give the finished booties a gentle soak and lay flat to dry. Blocking evens out the stitches and gives the booties a polished, gift-ready look.

Pro Tips for Perfect Baby Mitts and Booties

• Use lifelines. Before starting your decreases, thread a piece of scrap yarn through all your stitches. If you make a mistake, you can rip back to the lifeline without losing everything.
• Magic loop is your friend. For tiny circumferences like baby mitts, magic loop on a long circular needle is much easier than wrangling tiny DPNs — until the very end when you switch to DPNs for the final decreases.
• Choose washable yarn. Baby items need to be machine washable. Look for superwash wool, cotton blends, or acrylic. If you choose a luxury fiber like cashmere merino, make sure it's superwash-treated.
• Make a matching set. The full pattern includes a baby hat too (Episodes 1 & 2). A hat-mitts-booties set in matching yarn makes an incredible gift. You can also add pom-poms and ear flaps to the hat for extra cuteness.
• Knit the smallest size first. If you're new to knitting in the round, start with the newborn size — it works up fastest and lets you practice the techniques before committing to a larger size.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Key Takeaways

• Master Small-Circumference Knitting: This project is a great opportunity to practice knitting in the round on a small scale. The video tutorial walks you through the magic loop technique, a versatile skill for making socks, sleeves, and of course, baby items.
• Follow a Simple, Repeatable Formula: Baby mitts are constructed just like a tiny hat. You will cast on, create a ribbed cuff, knit the main body in stockinette, and decrease to close the top, a straightforward process you can apply to other projects.
• Select the Right Tools for the Job: For the best results, use a soft and washable DK weight yarn that is gentle on a baby's skin. You will also need two different needle sizes, a smaller one for the stretchy ribbing and a larger one for the body of the mitts and booties.

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