Baby booties

Even before I became pregnant I used to make baby booties for all my friends who were expecting babies. It became my thing and any time a friend or colleague at work got pregnant or had a baby, I would present them with a pair of baby booties in bright colours.
I searched for various patterns but none of them were as straight forward as I wanted. Eventually I came up with my own pattern. The idea is very simple. I make sole and top parts separately and then join them together with a number of single crochet rows which become the sides of the booties.

The yarn I use is mostly merino wool dk, 4 ply or baby yarn. I use a 2.5mm or 3mm hook to make the newborn sizes and a 3.5mm hook for the bigger size of booties.
First make 11 chains, then make 10 single crochet (sc) stitches starting from the second chain from hook.
Make 20 rows of  sc, fasten off and the sole is done.
Then either make 10 rows of sc for the instep part of a shoe or make a more complicated square which will measure half the length of the sole.
Now with either contrast yarn or the same colour make 7 rows of sc around the sole part of a shoe starting from the side of the sole. The results in raised borders which later become the sides of the booties. Attach the instep part with a row of sc in the same colour as the sides of the shoe. Continue working with the same tread to make a cuff around the ankle. Make 3 double crochet stitches (dc) in the first chain of the side of a shoe, then make 3 chains. Put a slip stitch into the top of the last dc, 3 dc into the same chain as the first 3 dc, skip 3 chains and then repeat across the side of a shoe until you reach the end. Fasten off.
To finish up make a chain 15-20 cm long to insert into the holes in the cuff for the booties not to fall from feet. Alternatively you can use some silk ribbons or just make some shoe lace yourself.
You can also decorate the instep with some flowers, funny faces, etc.