Free Pattern: Petite Jeté Baby Ballet Flats

How cute are these!?  In ballet "jeté" means to jump while kicking out with one foot.  It reminds me of the way babies kick their legs all the time, invariably knocking off whatever sock or bootie you just put on them.  So I designed these little ballet flats with a row of elastic hidden in the cast off, to help them stay on while the kid jeté's away.  The simple design has plenty of room in the toes, and is perfect for customizing anyway you like.  They're fast to knit, too, so you can easily whip up a pair during nap time!   Are you ready?  Allons-y!

Petite Jeté 

Sizes NB (3mo, 6mo, 9mo)

You will need:

Dk weight yarn
US #2 (3mm) dpns
Beading cord elastic (two 10’’ pieces)  - This stuff
large yarn needle

Cast on 25 (29, 33, 37) sts with your preferred seamless cast on 
(Check out my better bootie cast on tutorial here)
Join in the round and distribute sts across either three or four dpns, depending on preference.

I prefer to place my stitches across three dpns, and use the “breaks” between needles in place of stitch markers, but you can distribute them whichever way is most comfortable for you.

The sole is worked in garter stitch starting with a “wrong side” round:
Round 1 and all odd rounds: Purl
Round 2: [k1, m1] twice, k10 (12, 14, 16), m1, k1, m1, k10 (12, 14, 16), [m1, k1]twice
Round 4: [k1, m1] twice, k12 (14, 16, 18), [m1, k1] three times, m1, k12 (14, 16, 18), [m1, k1]twice
Round 6: [k1, m1] twice, k14 (16, 18, 20), [m1, k1] twice , m1, k3, [m1, k1] twice, m1, k14 (16, 18, 20), [m1, k1]twice
Round 8: k1, m1, k17 (19, 21, 23), [m1, k2] twice, m1, k5, m1, [k2, m1] twice, k17 (19, 21, 23), m1, k1
You should have a total of 57 (61, 65, 69) stitches at this point.
Knit 4 (4, 6, 6) more rounds of garter stitch, ending with a knit round

Now for the top of the bootie, which is knit in 1x1 garter rib:
Round 1: k1, p1 
Round 2: k
Repeat these two rounds for a total of 8 (8, 10, 10) rounds, ending with a k round.
Knit one more round of k1,p1
Next work decreases to shape the toe:
k20 (20,  22, 22), ssk 4 (5, 5, 6) times, k1, k2tog 4 (5, 5, 6) times, k20 (20,  22, 22)
Now we need to make a short row across the back of the heel:
[k1,p1] across 9 sts, w&t, p9, [p1, k1] across 9 sts, w&t, k9
You should end up back at the beginning of the round.

The next round will be the bind off round, but before we do that we need to put in the elastic.  This step is totally optional, but it will make a big difference in helping the booties stay on.  Cut a piece of elastic 10 inches long, and thread it onto a large yarn needle.  Starting at the beginning of the round at the back of the heel, thread the elastic through the stitches without taking them off the needles.  (This is the same way you’d put in a lifeline, only using elastic instead of waste yarn.)  If you find that it gets a bit tight, you can slip your stitches onto smaller dpns to make it easier.  Be careful not to pull the other end of you elastic too far through!
  

Bind off using a stretchy bind off.  I prefer the k2tog tbl bind off.  (K2 tog, slip resulting stitch back to the left needle, k2tog tbl, and repeat.)  Tie an overhand knot in the elastic at the back of the heel, and trim the tails to around an inch long.  The elastic should be completely hidden under the cast off, resulting in a magically super-stretchy edge.

You want the elastic to be snug enough to help the bootie stay on, but not so snug that it distorts the shape.  Tuck the tails into the purl bumps on the inside of the bootie.  Sew in your ends, and you’re done!

I like to add a crochet chain with the bind off tail, and make a little tab to help pull the bootie on.  I can just picture these dressed up with a little bow, or buttons, or ribbon… the options are endless! 

Now, this pattern hasn't been tested, so if you find anything wrong with it or have any comments about sizing, let me know!

Happy Knitting!
-Sparrow