Easter Basket Booties

My favorite baby booties all have cross straps - they just stay on wiggling little feet so much better. So I decided to make a pair and incorporate a decorative stitch that would be just perfect for Easter. The wicker stitch is worked over a two-stitch repeat with a one stitch border.  Here's the pattern for these newborn to 6 month size booties (they look really short and boxy in the photo but they stretch - the downside of the wicker stitch is that it is less stretchy than many stitches, but for this pattern it works just fine).

Materials

4 ply yarn (I'm using up some vintage yarn I received from Aunt Carol) - a skein of yarn should make 4 to 6 booties.
Size 4 circular needles
4 small buttons
Yarn needle

Pattern:
Cast on 40 stitches
Row 1: Knit to end
Row 2: Knit one front and back (K1 f&b), knit 18, make 1, knit 2, make 1, knit 18, K1 f&b
Row 3: Knit to end
Row 4: K1 f&b, knit 19, make 1, knit 4, make 1, knit 19, K1 f&b
Row 5: Knit to end
Row 6: K1 f&b, knit 20, make 1, knit 1, make 1, knit 4, make 1, knit 1, make 1, knit 20, K1 f&b
Row 7: Knit to end
Row 8: K1 f&b, knit 21, make 1, knit 1, make 1, knit 8, make 1, knit 1, make 1, knit 21, K1 f&b
Row 9 (begin wicker stitch pattern): - knit 1, *knit into the back loop of the second stitch on left hand needle then knit into the first stitch. Slip both stitches off left hand needle.* Repeat until last stitch. Knit 1.
Row 10: Knit 1, purl 1 *purl into second stitch, then into first stitch. Slip both stitches off the left hand needle.* Repeat until two stitches remain. Purl 1, knit 1.
Row 11: Repeat row 9
Row 12: Repeat row 10
Row 13: Repeat row 9
Row 14: Repeat row 10
Row 15: Repeat row 9
Row 16: Repeat row 10
Row 17: Repeat row 9
Row 18: Knit to end
Row 19: Knit 18, SSK 6 times, K2Tog 6 times, knit 18
Rows 20 - 23: knit to end
Row 24: Knit 11, cast off 38, knit 11


Slide the first 11 stitches around and off right handed needle onto left so that the reverse side of the bootie is folded against itself. Hold the fabric so that the back seam is in the center of the needles facing you. Work straps as follows.

Straps
Row 1: Onto the right hand needle cast on 11 stitches using the single or wrap cast on method. Knit the first 10 stitches on the left hand needle (this should be the wrong side of the project), K2tog (joining the two sides), knit 10, cast on 11 stitches using the single or wrap cast on method.
Row 2: Knit to end of row
Row 3: Knit to end of row
Row 4: Knit to end of row
Row 5: Knit 1, yarn over, knit to last stitch, yarn over, knit 1 (this row forms the button holes)
Row 6: Knit 3, K2tog, knit to last 5 stitches, K2tog, knit 3
Row 7: Knit to end of row
Row 8: Knit to end of row
Row 9: Cast off knitwise

Sew two buttons on each bootie about half way between the start of the strap and the center of the bootie.