Little Stars Mary Jane Shoes

Make a pair of soft crochet Mary Jane baby shoes in cream, with cream inner soles, sage sole borders and straps, and a cream opening edge above a narrow sage line and a little blue-grey star on each toe. One design, seven sizes, from newborn to 24 months, chosen by the length of your baby's foot. Every size has its own charts and written rows, with the stitch count checked on every row.

The toe cap and the ring of sides on each shoe are charts that are yours to change. Keep the star, move it, or clear it and chart initials, a heart or a stripe. Each shoe closes with one flat strap and a pressed snap, with two snap positions so you can set it snug or roomy. Socket centres are 0.5 and 1.5 in from the rim, 1.0 in apart, on a 2.0 in folded tab. The visible strap is never longer than 3.0 in; check both settings on the foot. There are no ties, cords, buttons or bows, and nothing is sewn on to come loose.

These are soft indoor shoes for dress-up, photos and time on a soft floor. They are not walking shoes.

You'll need:

• Soft, smooth, washable sport weight yarn (category 2) in three colours: A Sage for the sole perimeter, lower rim, straps and tabs; B Cream for the inner sole, sides, toe cap and top rim edge; C Mist, a light blue-grey, for the stars and dots
• A 3.75 mm crochet hook, or the size that gives you the gauge
• One pair's worth of plastic snaps made for baby clothes (size 20: 2 studs and 4 sockets) and the setting tool made for them
• A yarn needle, stitch markers and scissors

Gauge: 18 single crochet and 20 rows = 4 inches, washed and blocked. Make and wash a swatch first. Sizes: Newborn, 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, 9-12 months, 12-18 months and 18-24 months. Measure your baby's foot from heel to longest toe and choose the size from the table; the age is only a guide. Finished sizes are within half an inch at gauge.

Important Safety Notes#

Shoes: Keep soles soft and flexible for babies who are not walking, close the strap with a snap, and add no beads or buttons.

Soft indoor shoe: Crochet soles are slippery and give no protection. Use these for dress-up, photos and time on a soft floor, never for walking outdoors. A baby who is walking needs shoes with non-skid soles.

Check the fit: Leave about a finger's width of room beyond the big toe, and stop using the shoes when a toe presses on the end or the strap leaves a mark. Start on the roomy snap and move to the snug one only if the shoe stays on. Check the fit every month.

Snaps, not buttons: Close this item with pressed (no-sew) snaps made for baby clothes, set with the tool made for them. Do not use buttons. Before every wear, tug each snap firmly in every direction; if one loosens, stop using the item.

No small parts: Do not add buttons, beads, plastic eyes, charms or bells. Make faces and details in embroidery stitched through the fabric, and tug them firmly before use.

Check the toes: Before each wear, turn the shoes inside out and look in the toe for loose threads or hair, which can wrap tightly around a toe.

Everyday wear: Made as everyday clothing, not sleepwear. Children's sleepwear has separate flammability rules (16 CFR 1615 and 1616).

Yarn and care: Use soft, smooth, washable yarn that does not shed or fuzz, and wash a swatch first. Weave in every end and check inside the finished item for loose strands, which can wrap around a baby's fingers or toes. Wash inside out.

If you sell what you make: Children's products sold in the US must meet CPSC rules, including testing, a Children's Product Certificate and a tracking label. Start at cpsc.gov.