Quick and easy knitted boot toppers (or cuffs) with sweet scalloped edges are a great handmade gift, especially with the free printable wrap tag included!
I'm so happy to be able to share this great pattern I found for knitted boot toppers (also called cuffs) with you and the free printable labels that you can wrap them with to make a sweet gift!
I shared a picture of me knitting these on Instagram and Facebook when I made my first set and realized how easy - and fun - they were, and a number of you agreed with me. I then went on to make many of these for family and friend gifts - and they LOVED them.
Aren't they cute? I adapted the pattern (find the link below) to have a slightly smaller scallop like the boot cuffs/toppers I have seen for sale and I love how they turned out with a fun, but subtle edge.
To be honest, I had never even thought to knit boot toppers (because my calves are huge and who needs more attention drawn to them, really?) until a friend of mine asked me to knit some for her - and I was just so happy with the outcome that I started thinking of all the people I could give them to! One of the reasons I was so happy with these is that I can finish one in the time it takes to watch a movie with my family - I love it when I can feel productive while sitting in front of the TV, ha!
So, here's the secret to a boot 'topper' - it's just an illusion of a thick sock, so there's no bunching up in your actual boot. I've found that they stay in place without any problems. One person on a knitting site I was on asked what you do when you need to take your boots off at someone's house and you don't want to walk around with the cuffs on the outside of your pants (ha!). The answer? Just take the toppers off, too, and set them in your boots.
How to Make Knitted Scalloped Edge Boot Toppers
(Note: Read through my pattern adjustments first before heading to the pattern, if you want them to look like mine!)
Materials: about 130 yards worsted weight yarn (depending on how long you make the toppers), size 7 circular needles (12" to knit in the round, larger for knitting flat - or can use straight needles if knitting flat), yarn needle if knit flat to sew seam.
Free pattern here: Feather Lace Boot Topper by Paula McKeever
Pattern Adjustments for boot toppers:
- Use size 7 needles for both the lace top and the ribbing.
- Use a worsted weight wool yarn.
- Knit the topper flat and then stitch the seam closed (I didn't have 12" circular needle- you may prefer knitting in the round).
- Knit only 2 lace pattern repeats before changing to rib pattern.
- Make the cuffs 6 inches long total.
- Use a regular, but loose, bind-off.
Note: sometimes when I finished the lace pattern I had lost stitches (I know, but it happens to the best of us!) and didn't need to knit stitches together 3 times on the row before starting the ribbing - sometimes it was only 2, or 1, or even none. It seems to be a pretty forgiving pattern since I just proceeded, making sure I had 60 stitches for the ribbing section, and everything turned out.
To make these into a fun gift (and to let your recipient know what the heck these are!), download and print out the gift labels I created below. Then cut out, wrap around your finished cuffs, and staple or tape it closed.
The printable is dark brown and sepia colors if printed in color, but comes out black and gray if printed in black and white. Print out on card stock for the best results.
Click on the image below to open in a new window {then click on the download arrow at the top to save to your computer}:
PS: I purposely made these with the word 'handmade' instead of 'hand knit' so that you could use them even if you were making toppers from old sweaters or something!
Do you wear boot toppers? And do you call them cuffs or toppers?
Oh, and make sure to let me know if you make these and how you like them!
Knitted Scallop Edged Boot Toppers {+ Free Printable Gift Labels!}
Tools
- Size 7 circular needles (12″ to knit in the round, larger for knitting flat – or can use straight needles if knitting flat)
- Yarn needle if knit flat (to sew seam)
- Free pattern: Feather Lace Boot Topper by Paula McKeever
Materials
- About 130 yards worsted weight yarn (depending on how long you make the toppers),
Instructions
Pattern Adjustments for Boot Toppers
- Use size 7 needles for both the lace top and the ribbing.
- Use a worsted weight wool yarn.
- Knit the topper flat and then stitch the seam closed (I didn’t have 12″ circular needle- you may prefer knitting in the round).
- Knit only 2 lace pattern repeats before changing to rib pattern.
- Make the cuffs 6 inches long total.
- Use a regular, but loose, bind-off.
