On the fifth day of Christmas, Tin Can Knits gave to me…
booties warm and wee,
hip slouchy hat,
honey flavoured mitts,
sea inspired socks,
and cabled mittens for under the tree!
Day 5 of the Tin Can Knits 12 Days of Christmas features the Mukluks pattern, free for 24 hours only, from now until 23:59 PST Dec 18 2015. [check your local time here].
Get it now… it will be full price again tomorrow! [confused? see the FAQs]
the fight against cold feet
I designed these cuddly booties when I was in a COLD place! I was living in a traditional flat in Edinburgh, with lovely tall ceilings, beautiful (single-glazed) windows, and woefully insufficient insulation and heating. Every day, to prepare for work at my desk near the window, I would layer 2 pairs of socks, a couple of sweaters, and then a housecoat (dressing gown) on top of it all. Some days, a toque was required.
Mukluks by Tin Can Knits
Growing up in Canada, where we overheat our homes in response to the chill outside, I was unprepared for the cold in the UK. I had never understood what you might use a hot water bottle for, but embraced my hot water bottle nightly in my new British home! After wishing for mittens in June when I arrived in Edinburgh, I came to fully understand the practical purpose of wearing wool.
So to wrap my feet in a generously layer of this miracle fibre, I designed Mukluks! They’re sized from little all the way to big dude, so you can enjoy them yourself, or make an adorable matching set for the munchkins in your life.
Mukluks Project Details:
Pattern: Mukluks
Sizing: baby (toddler, child S,M,L, adult S, M, L)
Foot Length: 4.75 (5.5, 6, 6.5, 7.5, 8, 10, 12)” (foot length is adjustable, and size can be adjusted after-the-fact by slightly fulling the finished bootie)
Yarn: baby size: 60 yds DK weight yarn in both MC and CC; child sizes: 90 yds worsted / aran weight yarn in both MC and CC; adult sizes: 160 yds super bulky weight yarn in both MC and CC (samples shown in Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Aran and Rowan Big Wool)
Needles: baby size: US #3 / 3.25 or 3.0 mm
child sizes: US#5 / 3.75 mm
adult sizes: US #10 / 6.0 mm
DPNs or circular needles using magic loop technique
Gauge: baby size: 24 sts / 4” in stockinette stitch
child sizes: 22 sts / 4” in stockinette
adult sizes: 14 sts / 4” in stockinette
mukluk bootie construction
The construction of these booties is simple, but interesting. You knit the foot portion from heel to toe, leaving an opening for the ankle. Then you pick up and knit stitches around the edge of the ankle opening. The fair-isle cuffs are knit in the round from ankle up to cuff.
You’ll find that the baby and toddler sizes are quite TALL on your baby – they’re designed to come up above the knee for maximum cosiness! You can add further padding to the booties by knitting and sewing on a separate sole liner.
Worried about colourwork? We’ve got tutorials how to knit fair-isle, and how to select a colour palette, and also 2 free fair-isle hat patterns to get you started… so give it a go today!
There are some lovely colour combinations by Ravelry knitters… Check them all out here.
Have a friend with famously cold feet? Click the links below and share this post!
More Fair-Isle from TCK: